Featured

This Wednesday – BuffaLoRa Meshtastic Meetup June – Join us!

📅 Wednesday, June 24 @ 7pm – 9pm
📍Old City Pizza (Pearl Street Grill & Brewery downstairs) – 76 Pearl Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
✉️ RSVP to hello@buffalora.org

Join us for pizza and drinks as we support an excellent community partner who is hosting a node on the rooftop!

In the mean time connect with us on LongFast or at:

Featured

BuffaLoRa Meetup January – Join us!

📅 Sunday, January 11th @ 1:00pm – 3:00pm
📍Panera Bread – 1747 Sheridan Dr, Tonawanda, NY 14223
✉️ RSVP to hello@buffalora.org

Hope to see you there!

In the meantime connect with the community on LongFast or on Discord:

Featured

BuffaLoRa Meetup next week – Join us!

📅 Sunday, December 7 @ 1:00pm – 3:00pm
📍TBD – Please propose a location
✉️ RSVP to hello@snydermesh.com

Community feedback on date/time/location welcome. Join us on Discord to discuss:

Featured

Inexpensive Homemade Outdoor Solar Node

You can build your own Solar powered Meshtastic Node for less than $23. This project was inspired by the exceptional post on the official Meshtastic Blog: RAK WisBlock Harbor Breeze Solar Light Enclosure Hack.

Bill of Materials

Build materials
Disassembled Solar Light and build materials

Build instructions:

  1. Flash the Node with the latest version of the Meshtastic Firmware at Meshtastic Web Flasher
  2. Confirm that each component is working as expected before further assembly
  3. Disassemble the Solar Light by removing 4 screws
  4. Temporarily remove the 18650 Battery
  5. Separate the two boards of the Seed Xaio Kit
  6. Solder the wires to the corresponding battery contacts on the Seeed Xaio
  7. Optional: Swap out the LoRa antenna IPEX pigtail connector for the Optional SMA pigtail connector if using an external antenna
  8. Reassemble the Seed Xaio Kit
  9. Solder the other ends of the wires to the battery contacts being sure to respect the positive (+) and negative (-) terminal polarity.
  10. Optional: drill a hole in the Solar Light enclosure to allow for the installation of an SMA antenna connector pigtail and also install the LoRa antenna
  11. Secure the Seeed Xaio Kit and wires inside of the Solar enclosure. Be sure to route wires so they do not get pinched or damaged during re-assembly
  12. Reinstall the 18650 Battery being sure to respect the + and – terminal polarity.
  13. Test that the Solar light functionality works. The switch can be used to test the led lights. Make sure to cover the solar panel to simulate dark conditions
  14. Test that the Seeed Xaio Kit is functional in your chosen Meshtastic app over Bluetooth
  15. Optional: Add a dab of Waterproof Silicone Caulk to seal the hole made for the antenna connector and anywhere else water could intrude
  16. Reassemble the solar enclosure using the 4 screws and the two gutter/fence brackets and thumb screws
  17. Deploy somewhere with a good view of the sky and as high as possible for optimal LoRa range and Solar power, and enjoy!

You can toggle the Solar Light function on or off depending on your requirements.

UPDATE: Because of concerns about potentially no solar charging occurring with the light switch in the off position, I leave my node enclosure in the on position and snip the wire leading to the LED board to prevent lighting while still allowing for optimal Meshtastic battery performance. The battery will provide about a week of power for the node even without very sunny days. A few hours of full sun per week will keep the node running indefinitely. I have confirmed that I get daytime solar charging with limited overnight power draw since no lights are running.

Next Week – BuffaLoRa Meshtastic Meetup August – Join us!

📅 Friday, August 28 @ 6:30pm – 8:30pm
📍 Villaggio Italiano – 278 Central Ave Silver Creek, NY 14136
✉️ RSVP to hello@buffalora.org

Join us for pizza and drinks as we connect with Meshers along the southern Lake Erie shore!

In the mean time connect with us on LongFast or at:

Henderson Amateur Radio Club Presentation

We were honored to present a high level overview of LoRa-APRS and Meshtastic at the W7HEN July General Meeting via Zoom on July 28th.

Mesh communication is growing quickly across the country and the Las Vegas area is a prime location for connecting using off-grid technology with other hams and non hams alike.

Please find the presentation materials at: LoRa High Level.

A list of devices with affiliate links and available discount codes can be found at Devices.

We look forward to the opportunity to make further partnerships, connecting new nodes but most importantly connecting people.

Henderson Amateur Radio Club

East Coast Reflector Meet and Greet Presentation

We had a great presentation on Meshtastic at the East Coast Reflector WNY Meet and Greet on Saturday, June 24th, 2026 at Chestnut Ridge Park in Orchard Park, NY. The East Coast Reflector (W2ECR) group is making amazing progress on achieving their goal of “Connecting the World through Amateur Radio” via a vast platform of globally linked/bridged repeaters and nodes and dedicated team members supporting the community with informative nets, and engaging events which continue to delight users. Please check out their site and feel free to listen in to the live stream.

Our presentation materials are at: Meshtastic High Level. If you want to join the mesh, a list of devices with affiliate links and available discount codes can be found at Devices.

Anyone interested in learning more about Meshtastic or to get help with connecting to the mesh can join us for a Meetup this Wednesday at 7pm at Old City Pizza in Buffalo, NY. Additional details at June Meetup.

We look forward to the opportunity to make further partnerships in the Western New York region, connecting new nodes but most importantly connecting people.

East Coast Reflector Meet and Greet 2026

Weekly WNY Net – Sundays at 7pm

Join us for the Weekly WNY Net (check in) Sundays at 7pm for all Meshtastic users across Western New York whether you are a seasoned veteran or completely new.

All participants send a brief check-in message with:
• Node name / operator handle (callsign optional if licensed)
• General location (neighborhood or town – no need for exact address)
• Node type (mobile, home base, rooftop router, etc.)
• Hop count to net control (tests actual mesh path)

Feel free to share helpful community relevant information or raise a question to the net if any help is needed.

How to join?
Use LongFast Presets and message the following Private Channel Name: WNY_Net
Key: CMlSD9oZ63kB6LdLylcqxdjQElSz1mQzjMfHsYq89Ro=
MQTT Root Topic (optional): msh/US/NY/WNY

Suggested by e104 🏆

Meshtastic Hits the Road: Apple CarPlay Support Arrives for Off-Grid Messaging

If you’ve ever wished you could stay connected to your Meshtastic network while driving, and without fumbling with your phone, the wait is over.

As of April 2026, the official Meshtastic app for iPhone now supports Apple CarPlay, bringing hands-free, off-grid LoRa messaging directly to your vehicle dashboard. The feature arrived in version 2.7.11 of the app, which added both a dedicated CarPlay communications interface and Siri messaging support.

For the Meshtastic community, this is a major quality-of-life upgrade especially for mobile operators, overlanders, road trippers, emergency communicators, and anyone running a node while on the move.

What Is Meshtastic CarPlay Support?

The new CarPlay integration allows your iPhone to act as a bridge between your vehicle and your Meshtastic node over Bluetooth. Once connected, you can interact with your mesh network directly from your car’s infotainment screen.

  • Channel message history
  • Active node lists
  • Connection and radio status
  • Siri voice messaging support
  • Incoming message announcements through Siri

Instead of reaching for your phone, you can now use voice commands while driving to communicate over your local LoRa mesh.

That means true off-grid messaging from your dashboard.

What You Need

To use Meshtastic with Apple CarPlay, you’ll need:

  • An iPhone running a current version of iOS
  • The latest version of the official Meshtastic iOS app
  • A supported Meshtastic-compatible LoRa radio connected via Bluetooth
  • A vehicle with Apple CarPlay support

Popular compatible nodes include:

  • Heltec V3
  • Seeed Studio Wio Tracker / T1000-E Tracker
  • LilyGo T-Echo
  • RAK-based Meshtastic devices
  • Other Bluetooth-enabled Meshtastic radios

The CarPlay functionality was officially introduced in Meshtastic iOS app version 2.7.11 in late April 2026.

How the CarPlay Interface Works

Once your node is paired and your iPhone connects to CarPlay, the Meshtastic app appears alongside your other CarPlay apps on the dashboard.

The interface is intentionally simple and optimized for driving:

Channels View

Displays recent channel traffic and unread messages from your mesh network.

Nodes View

Shows nearby and connected nodes currently visible on the mesh.

Connection Status

Lets you confirm your radio is connected and communicating properly.

Siri Messaging

This is where things get especially interesting.

Drivers can use Siri voice commands to send Meshtastic messages without touching their phone.

“Send a message on Meshtastic.”

Incoming messages can also be read aloud through Siri when notifications are enabled.

Why This Matters

Meshtastic has always excelled at portable and mobile communication, but using it while driving usually meant:

  • Handling a phone manually
  • Mounting tablets or secondary displays
  • Using standalone hardware interfaces
  • Pulling over to respond safely

CarPlay changes that.

Now mobile operators can participate in mesh communications while:

  • Traveling in remote areas
  • Running storm spotting operations
  • Supporting public events
  • Off-roading or overlanding
  • Coordinating convoy communications
  • Monitoring local mesh activity during commutes

For emergency preparedness enthusiasts, this is also another example of decentralized communications becoming more practical in everyday life.

Setup Instructions

Getting started is straightforward.

1. Pair Your Meshtastic Node

Connect your Meshtastic radio to your iPhone using Bluetooth through the Meshtastic app.

2. Update the App

Make sure you’re running the latest version of the iOS app from the App Store.

3. Connect to CarPlay

Plug your iPhone into your vehicle or connect wirelessly if your car supports wireless CarPlay.

4. Launch Meshtastic

The Meshtastic icon should now appear on your CarPlay dashboard.

5. Enable Notifications

To hear incoming messages through Siri:

  • Open iPhone Settings
  • Go to Notifications
  • Select Meshtastic
  • Enable notification alerts and Siri announcements

Current Limitations

Like many first-generation features, the rollout hasn’t been perfect.

Early user feedback has noted:

  • Laggy navigation between screens
  • Delayed message rendering
  • Occasional unread message sync bugs
  • Siri readback inconsistencies
  • Sluggish performance in some vehicles

There is currently a 200-character limit on messages sent through the CarPlay interface because of a Siri platform requirement.

Still, for an initial release, the functionality is impressive — and likely to improve quickly as the Meshtastic development community iterates.

What About Android Auto?

At the moment, official support appears limited to Apple CarPlay.

There is currently no official Android Auto implementation for Meshtastic, although community members are already asking for it.

Given the popularity of mobile Meshtastic deployments, Android Auto support will likely remain a highly requested feature.

Final Thoughts

The addition of Apple CarPlay support marks another major milestone for Meshtastic.

What started as a grassroots LoRa mesh networking project continues evolving into a mature communications platform with integrations that make decentralized, off-grid messaging more accessible than ever.

Being able to safely send and receive mesh messages from your vehicle dashboard feels like the kind of capability that used to belong only to expensive commercial radio systems.

Now it’s available through an open-source ecosystem powered by affordable LoRa hardware.

For mobile operators and road warriors in the Meshtastic community, that’s a very big deal.

Learn More

📡 Pushing the Limits: Using the Meshtastic Range Test Module with BuffaLoRa

If you’re part of the growing BuffaLoRa community, you’ve probably wondered: how far can my node really reach? The answer depends on terrain, antenna height, interference, and configuration—but with the Range Test Module from Meshtastic, you can move beyond guesswork and collect real, actionable data.

Let’s walk through how to properly run a range test—and why it’s one of the most valuable things you can do to strengthen the mesh.

🚀 Why Run a Range Test?

  • Validate coverage: Know exactly where your node reaches (and where it doesn’t)
  • Optimize placement: Confirm that “height is might” really works
  • Compare antennas: Evaluate real-world performance differences
  • Improve the mesh: Identify dead zones and expansion opportunities
  • Understand RF behavior: Learn how terrain and obstacles impact signal

Range testing transforms your node from a passive participant into a powerful diagnostic tool.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Range Test Setup

🔐 Step 1: Create a Private Primary Channel

Start by configuring both nodes with a private primary channel, a shared encryption key, and position sharing enabled.

This prevents flooding public channels like LongFast with test traffic.

  • Sender node: stationary
  • Receiver node: mobile

📲 Step 2: Enable Range Test on the Receiver

On your mobile node, enable the Range Test Module. An ESP32-based device is recommended so you can store logs and capture GPS data for later analysis.

📡 Step 3: Configure the Sender (Range Test Server)

On the stationary node, enable the Range Test Module and turn on server mode. This node will broadcast sequential test packets.

Tip: Use a reasonable interval between messages to avoid unnecessary airtime usage.

🚶 Step 4: Start Moving

Once packets are being received, begin moving with the receiver node—walking, biking, or driving safely.

  • Test open areas and dense environments
  • Try elevated positions when possible
  • Don’t assume one missed packet means you’ve reached the limit

Height and line of sight can dramatically improve range.

🛑 Step 5: Disable the Range Test Module

When finished, disable the module on both nodes to avoid unnecessary airtime usage and reduce network congestion.

🔄 Step 6: Return to Public Channel

Switch back to your public primary channel and resume normal telemetry and position sharing.

📊 Step 7: Analyze the Data

Review your logs to examine RSSI, SNR, and packet success rates across distances and terrain.

  • Identify coverage limits
  • Spot signal drop zones
  • Find unexpected strong signal areas

🤖 A Practical Alternative: Mesh Bots

If you don’t have time for a full range test, there’s a simpler method.

Using tools like Meshmonitor and Meshing-around BBS, a home node can automatically respond to messages like “ping” or “test”.

  • Send a message to the bot
  • Receive a confirmation reply
  • Get real-time RSSI and SNR data

This provides quick insight into your connectivity back to a known location.

📣 Try It Yourself

If you’re on the BuffaLoRa mesh, send a “ping” or “test” message via Direct Message to one of the Bots and watch for a response. It’s an easy way to check your signal performance in real time.

🌐 Final Thoughts

Range testing helps build a stronger, more reliable mesh network. Every test improves coverage awareness and node placement decisions.

Because in LoRa… height is might.

Lockport Amateur Radio Association Presentation

We are looking forward to present a high level overview of Meshtastic and MeshCore at the upcoming LARA March Meeting at 7:00pm on Wednesday, March 25th, 2025 at the Cambria Fire Hall in Cambria, NY.

Mesh communication is growing quickly across Western New York and the Lockport area this area is in a prime location for connecting with nearby neighbors.

Please find the planned presentation materials at: Meshtastic High Level.

A list of devices with affiliate links and available discount codes can be found at Devices.

We look forward to the opportunity to make further partnerships in the Western New York region, connecting new nodes but most importantly connecting people.