Mesh Network Guide

🚀 Getting Started with Mesh Networking 🔧 Hardware Recommendations ⚙️ Configuration Guide 🔗 Connecting to the Mesh 📡 Adding Access Points ❓ Frequently Asked Questions 💡 Understanding the Map Interface

🚀 Getting Started with Mesh Networking

Welcome to SD-OpenMesh! This guide will help you set up your mesh network node and connect to the global community.

Choose Your Hardware — Select a compatible router. See the Hardware section below.
Install Firmware — Flash your device with LibreMesh or OpenWRT. Both are free and open-source.
Configure Your Node — Use our Config Generator to create your device configuration.
Connect to the Mesh — Your node will automatically discover nearby mesh nodes.
Register on the Map — Add your hotspot to the global map so others can find and connect to it.

🔧 Hardware Recommendations

Any device that supports OpenWRT/LibreMesh can be used. Here are the recommended options:

Use Case	Device	Cost
Best All-Round	LibreRouter	$50–150
Budget	TP-Link WR841N/941ND	$30–50
Long Range	Ubiquiti NanoStation M2/M5	$80–150
Experimental	Raspberry Pi 5 + USB WiFi	$50–80
High Performance	MikroTik / UniFi	$100–300
Off-Grid Comms	Meshtastic (LoRa)	$30–60

Key Tip: Use devices with multiple radios (one for mesh backhaul, one for client access) to avoid halving bandwidth.

⚙️ Configuration Guide

Use our Config Generator to auto-create configuration files for your device:

Ubiquiti Airmax — JSON config for NanoStation, Rocket, PowerBeam.
OpenWRT UCI Script — Shell script with all UCI commands.
LibreMesh Profile — Community network configuration file.
Universal Guide — Plain text instructions for any device.

Mesh Configuration Generator

Generate ready-to-use configuration files for your mesh device.

Device Type *

Node Name *

Mesh SSID * All nodes must share the same SSID

Mesh Password

Frequency Band

Country Code

LAN IP Address

Gateway IP

Channel Width

Per-Client Bandwidth Limit (0 = unlimited) Limits each connected client's speed in Mbps

Create a public access point (separate SSID for guests)

Enable batman-adv mesh routing

Generated Configuration:

🔗 Connecting to the Mesh

Once your device is configured, it will automatically discover and connect to nearby mesh nodes. Here's how to verify:

Check Mesh Status (OpenWRT)

# Check connected neighbors
batctl o

# Check mesh nodes
batctl n

# Check mesh originators
batctl originators

# Check interface status
iwconfig wlan0

Verify Connectivity

# Ping another node on the mesh
ping 10.x.x.x

# Check internet access
ping 8.8.8.8

# Check DNS
nslookup google.com

Tip: If you don't see neighbors within a few minutes, check that all nodes use the same mesh SSID and frequency.

📡 Adding Access Points

Access Points allow other devices (phones, laptops) to connect to your mesh node.

Creating a Public AP

# OpenWRT: Create a public AP interface
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[1]=wifi-iface
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[1].device=radio0
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[1].mode=ap
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[1].ssid='SD-OpenMesh-Public'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[1].encryption=none
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[1].isolate=1
uci commit wireless
wifi

Bandwidth Management

# Limit each client to 5 Mbps
tc qdisc add dev wlan1 root tbf rate 5mbit burst 32kbit latency 400ms

After setting up your AP, register it on the map so the community knows about it.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is a mesh network?

A mesh network is a group of devices that connect directly to each other, forming a distributed network without needing a central router. Each node forwards data to others, creating a resilient, self-healing network.

How much does it cost to join?

Joining SD-OpenMesh is free. You only need to purchase a compatible router ($30-150) and optionally an internet connection (4G/Starlink/fiber) to share.

Do I need technical skills?

Basic networking knowledge helps. The Config Generator provides ready-to-use configs, and the community is happy to help!

What range can I expect?

Range varies by hardware: 100m-300m with standard routers, 500m-1km+ with directional antennas. Line of sight is key for long-range links.

Is my data secure?

Public mesh traffic can be seen by other nodes. Always use HTTPS (SSL) for sensitive data. You can set up encrypted tunnels (VPN/WireGuard) for private traffic.

Can I use this with Starlink?

Yes! Starlink works great as an internet backhaul for mesh nodes, especially in rural/remote areas.

💡 Understanding the Map Interface

The interactive map is your window into the global mesh network.

Green markers 🟢 — Active hotspots that are verified and online.
Yellow markers 🟡 — Pending hotspots awaiting admin review.
Red markers 🔴 — Inactive or reported offline.
Blue markers 🔵 — Under maintenance.
Grey markers ⚪ — Deprecated or no longer in service.

Click any marker to see details: name, status, sports/activities, last checked time, and comments. Zoom in to see individual markers; zoom out to see clustered groups.