I now have two working Meshtastic devices, one for my pocket and one for the roof. They use LoRa (Long range radio) tech to send text messages. You can type via the Meshtastic phone app and Bluetooth connection, or hook up a little external keyboard.
The R1 is my nice portable pocket device. It’s a bit expensive but has a nice enclosure. It gave me some difficulties on and off, and finally Danny helped me re-flash it from Windows (still not sure if the issue was Mac weirdness or what, but try Windows, and erasing it before re-flashing.)
The roof one is in a decently waterproof solar power enclosure and I got it off some random seller on Etsy. I can see many more connections from the roof device, and can bluetooth to it from inside the house.
I would like to build a 3rd one from various parts and mount it on a hill somewhere to add an extra long range line of sight hop for myself (and the whole neighborhood) but will have to figure out a bit more about how to properly solder it into its solar-powered floodlight enclosure.
The main default channel 0 (LongFast) is public. There is occasional chatter there as people connect and try to test.
Danny and I set up a second channel which I think is “private” to us, though I have no real idea and don’t well understand if/how it is encrypted, since I haven’t looked this up yet. I have also tried direct messaging people around the neighborhood and have established friendly communications with a few.
There is a Bay Area Meshtastic group with an active Discord server: https://bayme.sh/ .
If I can get some friends and family to have cheap solar mesh devices, we can be prepared to communicate in an emergency (like a big earthquake) that takes out power and cell towers.
If you are a hiker or going to somewhere out of cell range with a group, then pocket Meshtastic devices would be a great way to stay in communication (especially with precise location enabled).
There are lots of sensor options so this device likely has good potential use for weather stations and agriculture.
But aside from that, it is just fun in the way that ham radio is fun!
I also think that the way punkgeek set up the project for open hardware and software development, and kind of handed it off, is a great model for creating vibrant ecosystems and communities!