May 27, 2026
Offline and absolutely unhinged
I'm Getting into Mesh Networks (Meshtastic, MeshCore, and Reticulum)
Fans dream of a DIY backup internet, while skeptics call it a nerdy toy box
TLDR: The article argues that small device-to-device networks could become a practical backup to today’s corporate-controlled internet, especially for simple messaging. Commenters are split between loving the low-speed, old-school freedom and dismissing it as a cool-but-limited hobby for radio geeks.
A self-described networking superfan has gone all-in on mesh networks: small, direct device-to-device systems that could keep messages flowing even without the big internet giants in the middle. The pitch is deliciously rebellious: why should we rent our digital lives from giant companies when our own gadgets are powerful enough to talk to each other? The article hypes tools like Meshtastic, MeshCore, and Reticulum as a possible people-powered backup internet for messaging, community updates, and staying connected when normal networks fail.
But in the comments, the real fireworks begin. One camp is absolutely enchanted by the idea of a slower, simpler “para-internet” built for text, not endless video sludge. One commenter even said a network too slow for photos and audio might be a feature, not a bug, because it would naturally block spammy, addictive content. Another is already shopping, proudly announcing they bought hardware for MeshCore because the whole vibe feels like nostalgia mixed with realism.
Then the skeptics arrive with the eye-rolls. The harshest hot take? Mesh gadgets are basically fun toys for finding nearby nerds with obvious real-world problems. Ouch. Another commenter says they’d rather improve ordinary Wi‑Fi so devices can talk directly, instead of betting on these more limited systems. And in a delightfully retro side quest, someone wonders if this whole thing could pair with weird old-school text-first internet culture like Gemini and Gopher. Translation: the crowd is split between digital liberation fantasy and “cool hobby, but be serious” energy.
Key Points
- •The article argues that even operating an ISP with its own ASN and IP space does not remove dependence on centralized internet providers and registries.
- •It presents mesh networking as a peer-to-peer model that can reduce reliance on centralized datacenters and service providers.
- •The article says mesh networks are better suited to messaging, social networking, and information sharing than to high-bandwidth or low-latency applications like streaming or gaming.
- •It identifies LoRa radios as a major area of current mesh networking innovation because they use license-free sub-gigahertz bands and provide long range at low power.
- •The article describes Meshtastic as a leading consumer LoRa mesh platform focused on mobile messaging and device tracking, while asserting that its design limits broader potential.