LoRa (Long Range) is a very low powered (150mW-2W) modulation technique with an amazing range.

There are many different types of technology which use LoRa, from IoT telemetry devices, to APRS, Meshtastic and Meshcore.

LoRa Modules are as cheap as $15 DIY, or $30+ ready to go. 

LoRa operates in various Unlicenced ISM bands (433Mhz/915Mhz), as well as the 70cm band.

LoRa APRS

With a $25-30 Heltec unit you can build a LoRa APRS i-Gate, or for $35 a LoRa APRS Tracker.

Flasher for i-Gate

Flasher for APRS Tracker

LoRa APRS Map  (Syslog and beacon over TCP/IP needs to be enabled to show on map, not enabled by default, so many nodes don't appear)

Meshcore - Created by HAM's, for the masses!

meshcore.co.uk 

meshcore.nz  - Primary Author/Coder of Meshcore (Liam Cottle ZL2DEV)

Meshcore Android App 

Meshcore Flasher (use Chromium Based Browser)

Windows/Linux/MacOS/Android Apps

Browser USB/Bluetooth access to companion node (vs via smartphone app)

EastMesh Map (Australian Live Map)

Global Map of Nodes (official - only if node is set to report location which isn't on by default)

Meshcore Analyzer map sourced from Meshcore Analyzer 

Meshtastic (now largely superseded by Meshcore, but good for Ad-Hoc Mesh's and ATAK integration etc)

meshtastic.org

flasher.meshtastic.org (To flash the firmware onto your device. (chromium based recommended)

Browser Configuration tool - connect via USB cable or WiFi  (chromium based recommended)

Official map - defaut settings in firmware, Need to enable mqtt/map reporting if you want node to be on map: Config>module>MQTT>Map reporting)

Alternate Map (More Features)

ATAK (Android Team Awareness Kit) 

meshtastic ATAK-plugin

Reticulum

Reticulum - A Complete MESH network Stack which can be used with many different protocols.

Sideband App

MeshChat App by Meshcore Developer

XTOC/XCOM apps - Mesh Ops Stack (Youtube)

Hardware and other info.

My Spreadsheet with hundreds of Hardware options/sources, other information, links and tid-bits LoRa related.

This file/page will receive multiple/frequent updates (coming soon - 2026).