Preppers & Comrades Unite: Building a Decentralized Mesh Network for Resilient Communication

What happens when digital communication systems go down or simply aren't available?
While that might sound like a worst-case scenario, it’s also a practical problem. Communication can become unreliable or inaccessible for all kinds of reasons, ranging from infrastructure outages and remote environments to situations where networks are congested, limited, or impeded.
In this session we’ll explore Meshtastic, an open-source, off-grid communication platform that uses low-power LoRa radios to create decentralized mesh networks. These networks allow devices to send text messages and share location data without relying on cellular service, Wi-Fi, or traditional infrastructure.
You’ll learn how Meshtastic works, what makes it unique, and where it fits into real-world use cases from outdoor adventures to emergency preparedness, as well as grassroots communication with privacy in mind.
I’ll also demo a personal project I built which extends Meshtastic’s capabilities by bridging it with a modern messaging platform, opening up new possibilities for resilient and adaptable communication systems that can operate across network boundaries.
Whether you're curious about off-grid tech, mesh networking, or building resilient systems, this talk will give you a practical introduction and a look at what’s already happening in Minneapolis and across the world.