A field lab for off-grid networks — manuals you can actually follow, build lists with real parts and prices, and field notes from the bench. Everything here is free to copy, fork, and improve. This site is early: what is written is written, and what isn’t is marked in progress rather than faked.
Field media on Instagram → @midwest_meshlab
An accurately projected map of Minnesota — Albers Equal Area Conic, drawn from public-domain boundary data, with real city coordinates for orientation. It is a geographic reference, not a telemetry feed: for live node data, use the community maps linked on the right.
Projection: Albers Equal Area Conic, standard parallels 44.48°N / 48.40°N.
City markers are real coordinates and are not mesh nodes. Node and link layers stay empty
until a real data source is connected — see ADMIN.md.
Want the real, MQTT-fed picture? These community projects map nodes nationwide:
Other Midwest outfits working on the same problem, each with the area it actually covers. Independent of this lab — listed because they’re real, not as endorsements.
Step-by-step guides from box to first packet, written to be followed exactly once and then kept as reference.
Bills of materials, wiring, and ballpark costs. Clone one and change what you want.
The hardware and software worth owning before you start. Vendor-neutral — buy wherever you like.
Trends, new gear, firmware, and ideas moving through the mesh world right now.
Long-form build logs and range tests, plus live streams with real-time Q&A. Nothing is published yet — these three slots are reserved, and the play buttons open the channel until real video IDs are set. Video loads only when you press play; nothing from YouTube is requested before that.
A wall for real builds from real operators — filter, then add yours. It starts empty rather than seeded with examples. Threaded discussion runs on GitHub Discussions (no tracking, moderated from GitHub).
giscus in CONFIG, then this panel goes live.Meetups, workshops, and field tests. Add one event or subscribe to the whole calendar — your own device handles the reminders, and we never store your contact info.
Subscribe for new content and event alerts, or reach the lab directly.
New builds, videos, and upcoming events — straight to your inbox.
Co-build a node, contribute a manual, or submit a build for the wall.
If you're anywhere near the Twin Cities, this is the network to plug into. MSP Mesh describes itself as a decentralized, loosely organized group of enthusiasts across the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro, Greater Minnesota, and western Wisconsin — free to use, no licence needed. They put nodes on existing tall infrastructure — buildings, radio towers, grain silos — to keep coverage dense and resilient, run a virtual “Node Night” on Wednesday evenings, and hold in-person metro meetups roughly monthly. They deserve more eyes on the work.
Every manual, BOM, and STL here stays open and free. If something saved you a weekend of trial and error, a coffee keeps the panels charged and the next build coming.
Buy me a coffee