By Rob Kavanagh · ex-telco tech · connectivity, comms and keeping remote places reachable
“After my first $3,000 node array failed in a Queensland flood, I learned that mesh networks for off-grid Aussie living need rugged, not fancy, gear.”
By Rob Kavanagh · ex-telco tech · connectivity, comms and keeping remote places reachable
“After my first $3,000 node array failed in a Queensland flood, I learned that mesh networks for off-grid Aussie living need rugged, not fancy, gear.”
Look, you're off-grid. You don't need fancy tech. You need a mesh network that works when the grid's dead. Here's how to do it right. No fluff.
Mesh networking gets oversold by people who've never set one up outside a suburban loungeroom. This guide sticks to what works: verified hardware, verified ranges, and a topology that won't fall apart the first time a storm rolls through. I've worked with off-grid comms across Central Queensland conditions — 40 °C+ summer heat, eucalyptus canopy, sudden storm cells — and the difference between a working mesh and a paperweight comes down to planning, not product hype.
A mesh network uses multiple nodes that relay traffic for each other. If one node drops out, the rest reroute around it. That's the core advantage over a single router with extenders: redundancy. No single point of failure, which matters when you're off-grid and can't just call a tech.
For Australian off-grid setups, you generally have two distinct mesh approaches:
1. Wi-Fi-based mesh — standard 2.4GHz/5GHz consumer hardware, designed for home/Property LAN coverage. Good for connecting devices inside your dwelling and outbuildings within range.
2. LoRa-based mesh — long-range, low-power radio hardware running firmware like MeshCore or Meshtastic. Designed for off-grid text messaging across kilometres, not internet or video.
These solve different problems. The first gives you local networking. The second gives you comms when cellular and power are down.
From the OffGrid Masterplan guide by Rob Kavanagh, two products have documented performance under Australian conditions:
| Product | Price (AUD) | Stated Range (Open Paddock) | Stated Range (Through Trees/Hills) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link Deco M5 (2-pack) | $399 | 30–40 m | 15 m | Best for small properties under 500m² |
| GL.iNet GL-MT300N | $149 each | 50 m | 25 m | Tiny, solar-capable, OpenWRT-based; buy three for larger properties |
The guide's coverage rules:
Topology recommendation: one internet gateway node linked to four relay nodes spread across the property. Note that the gateway node is itself a single point of failure — if it drops, internet access is gone even if the relay mesh stays up. For a fully redundant setup, run two gateway-capable nodes (one as primary, one as failover) on separate power feeds.
Hardware to avoid, per the same guide:
From Michael Lynch's hands-on review on Hackaday, MeshCore runs on cheap LoRa hardware and operates in Australia under the ACMA LIPD (Low-Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence in the 915–928 MHz band. No individual radio licence is required provided EIRP stays within the Class Licence limit (25 mW for devices operating under the default LIPD sub-class; up to 1 W EIRP is permitted for some LPWAN/IoT devices under specific conditions — check ACMA's current Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2015 notice before deploying higher-gain antennas). Tested hardware:
| Device | Form Factor | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heltec V3 | Small board, no screen | Tracker/repeater with BLE bridge to phone | Cheapest entry point; pairs to MeshCore/Meshtastic mobile app via Bluetooth |
| SenseCAP T-1000e | Compact tracker with built-in antenna and battery | Tracker with BLE bridge to phone | Seeed Studio's polished LoRa tracker; verify current MeshCore firmware compatibility before purchase |
| Lilygo T-Deck+ | Blackberry-style with screen and keypad | Standalone node with on-board keyboard and LoRa radio | No phone required; runs MeshCore or Meshtastic firmware directly |
Lynch's real-world result: maximum range of about five blocks between two MeshCore devices in an urban environment. Range improves with good antennas and line of sight — LoRa's strength is open terrain, not dense bush or suburbia. Lynch declined to buy repeater hardware because, not being a radio expert, he didn't know where to position them or what gains to expect.
Lynch's overall finding: the concept and hardware are accessible, but it's not yet practical to buy a few devices and hand them to mates expecting reliable emergency comms. You need enough repeaters online to guarantee connectivity, and that requires planning.
One caveat Lynch flagged: MeshCore is not fully open source. The firmware on the official clients (mobile apps, web app, T-Deck firmware) is proprietary. The underlying radio framework has compatibility with Meshtastic, which is open source.
From the Kavanagh guide:
1. Place the first node near your solar battery to minimise DC cable runs.
2. Name the network something obvious (the guide uses 'OffGridAussie').
3. Space nodes so adjacent nodes sit within the stated 30–40 m (open) or 15 m (foliage) range of each other — typically 25–35 m apart in mixed terrain, not the full maximum range. Test throughput at candidate positions before committing to mounting hardware.
4. Disable 'Wi-Fi 6' and 'Mesh Boost' settings — these are listed as counterproductive for off-grid use.
Test at different times of day. Night testing catches interference from neighbours' devices; daytime testing catches heat-related throttling. If you're running LoRa nodes, test in different weather and seasons. At 915 MHz, rain attenuation is negligible (well under 0.1 dB/km); the dominant loss factors in Australian conditions are vegetation (especially eucalyptus canopy) and terrain obstruction of the Fresnel zone. Plan antenna heights and positions to clear line of sight over tree lines and ridgelines.
Mesh networking hardware runs on low voltage (USB-powered devices, 12V DC for solar nodes). The risk profile is minimal compared to 230V AC solar installs. However:
If you're not sure about any of the above, call a licensed professional. The cost of a sparky for an hour is less than replacing fried gear.
Q: Can I just use my phone's hotspot instead?
A: For occasional use, sure. For a property-wide off-grid setup, a hotspot is a single point of failure with limited range. A mesh gives you coverage across outbuildings and redundancy when one node fails.
Q: How many nodes do I actually need?
A: Two separate rules apply. For indoor/dwelling Wi-Fi coverage, the Kavanagh guide recommends roughly one node per 100m² of floor area. For outdoor relay topology across a property larger than one hectare, the same guide specifies at least three GL-MT300Ns arranged so each can reach another. For LoRa, Lynch's experience suggests you need repeaters to guarantee coverage — buy the minimum number of devices and add repeaters only after range testing.
Q: Is LoRa legal in Australia without a licence?
A: MeshCore/Meshtastic operate in the 915–928 MHz ISM band under ACMA's LIPD Class Licence. No individual licence is required provided you stay within the applicable EIRP limits and use approved equipment. Confirm current limits on the ACMA Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2015 before deploying high-gain antennas or amplifiers.
Q: Why is the documentation so fragmented?
A: Lynch's main complaint about MeshCore was that onboarding was significantly more difficult than it should be, because documentation is written for people already familiar with the project. Budget a weekend for setup, not an hour.
Q: Can I run both Wi-Fi mesh and LoRa mesh on the same property?
A: Yes. They serve different purposes. Wi-Fi mesh handles local internet/LAN. LoRa mesh handles long-range, low-bandwidth text when everything else fails. Keep them on separate power systems if possible so a solar fault doesn't knock both out.
Q: What's the biggest mistake people make?
A: Buying hardware before surveying the site. Walk your property. Note the eucalyptus, the hills, the sheds with metal roofing. Radio waves don't care about your product enthusiasm — they care about line of sight and attenuation.
Wi-Fi mesh for property coverage: TP-Link Deco M5 or GL-MT300Ns, spaced within stated range, tested at different times of day. Avoid Amazon kits, old Netgear gear, and untested Wi-Fi 6 units with high power draw or immature firmware.
LoRa mesh for off-grid text comms: MeshCore or Meshtastic on cheap hardware operating under the ACMA LIPD Class Licence at 915–928 MHz, but plan for repeaters and accept that documentation is rough.
Both work. Neither is magic. The difference between a system that works during a cyclone blackout and one that doesn't is planning, node count, and testing. If you skip any of those, you're just buying expensive boxes.
Worth a watch: The Ultimate Off Grid Messaging Devices - Top Picks! Meshtastic Buyers Guide & Setup! · GhostStrats