When the towers go quiet, the mesh keeps talking
Building practical MeshCore coverage in the northwest Chicago suburbs, starting near O’Hare.
MeshCore is a free, local, off-grid text messaging system. It uses low-power radio in the unlicensed 900 MHz band and continues to work when cellular service, Wi-Fi, or the internet are down or overloaded.
There are two main kinds of devices:
- Personal devices (companions) — Small radios people carry or keep at home. Many connect to a smartphone over Bluetooth and are controlled through the MeshCore app. Others work as stand-alone units with their own screen.
- Repeaters — Fixed, usually solar-powered nodes placed on rooftops or high points. They don’t start conversations; they receive messages and retransmit them so the signal can travel farther across the neighborhood.
Anyone can use the network free of charge. There are no subscriptions, no fees, and no license required.
Why this matters here
The area around O’Hare is nearly ideal for this kind of network, flat terrain, dense towns, and plenty of rooftops. What has been missing is enough nodes and well-placed repeaters. OHare Mesh is an independent local effort to help fill that gap, one rooftop at a time.
What you can do
- Get a personal node and start talking on the mesh
- Host a repeater on a rooftop, tower, or elevated structure
- Learn how the system works and where coverage currently exists
A basic starter device can cost as little as $20–$60. A solid solar-powered repeater typically runs $80–$150. Elevation is the single biggest factor in coverage, rooftops and high structures make the biggest difference.
Start here
- How This Started — Why this project exists
- Getting Started — How to join the mesh
- Host a Repeater — Information for property owners and managers
- Local Coverage — Notes on the O’Hare area and northwest suburbs
Whether you already have a node, are thinking about putting one up, or are just curious, you’re in the right place.
OHare Mesh 