MeshCore SAR

MeshCore SAR

Off-Grid LoRa Mesh Communication for Search & Rescue

Resilient, offline communication for field operations — built on MeshCore and LoRa mesh networking. Transform ordinary smartphones into off-grid communication tools with messaging, GPS tracking, and tactical mapping even when cellular and internet infrastructure fail.

Features

  • Off-Grid Communication - Works without cellular or internet connectivity
  • LoRa Mesh Networking - Leverages MeshCore devices for long-range communication
  • GPS Tracking - Real-time location tracking with bearing and distance
  • Tactical Mapping - Offline vector maps with drawing tools
  • SAR Markers - Quick geo-tagged alerts (Found Person, Fire Location, Staging Area, Object Found)
  • Team Coordination - Direct messages, public channels, and persistent rooms
  • Battery Telemetry - Monitor team member device status
  • Compass Navigation - Direction and range to contacts and markers
  • Role Badges - Visual identification (Police, Firefighter, Medic)
  • Multi-hop Routing - Automatic message relay through the mesh network

Hardware Requirements

MeshCore SAR requires MeshCore devices to transmit data over the LoRa mesh network. The app connects to these devices via Bluetooth, transforming your smartphone into a mesh communication terminal.

MeshCore Device Options

  • Dedicated MeshCore nodes — purpose-built for field deployment
  • Existing repeaters — leverage installed infrastructure
  • Client devices — other team members’ MeshCore units
  • Room nodes — persistent communication hubs

Seamless Integration: MeshCore SAR works with any existing MeshCore network — no separate infrastructure needed.

Communication Features

Messages

  • Direct Messages – private one-to-one communication
  • Public Channels – broadcast updates across nodes
  • Rooms – persistent logs (e.g., General, Emergency)
  • SAR Marker Messages – geo-tagged alerts with delivery tracking

Tactical Display

  • Offline vector maps (MBTiles) with street, topo, and satellite layers
  • SAR event markers — color-coded by type
  • Drawing tools for quick visual planning (lines, rectangles, zones)
  • Compass integration — precise direction and range to any object or person

Client Device Improvements

The enhanced firmware brings reliability and usability improvements:

  • Multi-language support — interface available in multiple languages including Slovenian and Croatian
  • Watchdog timer implementation — automatic recovery from software freezes
  • NRF52 hardware watchdog — prevents system lockups
  • Improved navigation with redesigned screens
  • Better visual hierarchy with optimized layouts
  • Enhanced GPS display showing time since last fix alongside accuracy metrics

Download

Get MeshCore SAR for your device:

iOS (TestFlight Beta)
Download for iOS

Android / Windows / Linux / macOS
Download Latest Release

Enhanced Client Firmware
github.com/dz0ny/MeshCore/tree/revert-ble-advert

Additional Information

Built for Search & Rescue Operations | Open Source on GitHub