Hardware
To get started
A Linux computer with a desktop, or a Mac, is all you need. Two computers on the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet network can already reach each other. A radio is optional.
LoRa radios
LoRa is a low-power radio that can carry small amounts of data a long way without any internet. Reticulum uses LoRa through an RNode, a small radio board running the RNode firmware. You plug it into your computer with a USB cable.
Radio support in this project is still being tested. The installer does not set up radios yet, and the settings below have not been proven on real hardware. Expect this page to change.
The board we are testing is the Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V4. The RNode firmware also supports many other boards, listed in its documentation, including other Heltec, LilyGO and RAK models. Check that a board covers your region’s frequency before you buy it.
To put the firmware on a board, follow Flash an RNode.
Radio settings
Every radio has to use the same settings to hear the others. The network uses these in North America:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 915.0 MHz |
| Bandwidth | 500 kHz |
| Spreading factor | 10 |
| Coding rate | 5 |
| Transmit power | 17 dBm (50 mW) |
Before you power on a radio
- Attach the antenna first. Running a LoRa radio without one can damage it.
- Follow the rules where you live. Radio rules differ by country, and following them is up to you. Nothing here is legal advice. These settings are meant for the 902 to 928 MHz band in North America, and no test lab has checked them.
- Check your board’s real output. Some boards have an extra amplifier. We have not measured whether a setting of 17 dBm on the Heltec V4 really sends out 17 dBm.
- Radios can be located. Anyone with the right equipment can find where a signal comes from. If that would put you at risk, think about where you place a radio.