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MESHCORE

Foxton Beach Operation

LoRa mesh apps, firmware and how-to guides — built and field-tested on the New Zealand mesh, for reliable off-grid communication where cellular and internet coverage runs thin.

MeshCore OTA MeshCore Chat MeshCore IP Bridge Get support

Product

MeshCore OTA Workbench

Android · Available

A workbench for building, connecting to, and updating MeshCore repeaters — over the air. Build · Connect · Update.

  • Pair with a MeshCore companion node over Bluetooth LE
  • Push firmware updates over the air, no cables in the field
  • Inspect node status and manage devices from your phone
Download for Androidapp-release.apk
Android 8.0+ARM / ARM64Requires sideload permission

How to install

  1. Tap Download for Android above and let the app-release.apk file finish downloading.
  2. Open the downloaded file. Android will ask to allow installs from this source — tap Settings, then enable Allow from this source (also called "Install unknown apps").
  3. Go back and tap Install. When it finishes, tap Open to launch MeshCore OTA Workbench.
This app is installed directly (sideloaded), not through the Play Store, so the "unknown source" prompt is expected. You can turn that permission back off after installing.

Product

MeshCore Chat

iOS & CarPlay · Coming soon

Hands-free MeshCore messaging for iPhone and CarPlay. Send and receive channel and direct messages over the mesh — and while you drive, have incoming messages read aloud and reply by voice.

  • Connects to your BLE companion node to reach the mesh
  • #channels and direct messages, with per-sender colours and message details
  • CarPlay: scrollable channel list, text-to-speech read-out, and voice dictation for replies
  • Create or join private and #hashtag channels by link or QR — cross-compatible with the official MeshCore app
  • Node presence — hear when contacts come online
Coming soon to the App Store

In final on-device testing. CarPlay in-car use is pending Apple's entitlement approval.

Product

MeshCore IP Bridge

Hardware + Apps · In development

Link two separate MeshCore meshes across the internet. A pair of Heltec V4 devices forward raw LoRa packets between radio-isolated networks over an encrypted IP tunnel — giving areas with no local repeaters live access to the wider mesh, and enabling long-distance, even international, bridging.

  • Runs natively on a Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V4 — one small device at each end, no separate computer
  • Bi-directional, transparent raw-packet forwarding with loop-preventing de-duplication
  • AES-256 encrypted tunnel over TCP/IP between the two ends
  • On-device web dashboard and OLED status screen
  • Bluetooth provisioning from an iPhone or Android app to set WiFi, network and peer
Downloads coming soon

Proven end-to-end — two boards bridged two radio-isolated meshes over the encrypted link. Firmware and provisioning apps are in active development.

About us

The Foxton Beach Operation

We're a small New Zealand operation building practical tools for the MeshCore LoRa mesh network.

Based at Foxton Beach — an area with no nearby mesh repeaters — the work is driven by a simple need: reliable, low-power, off-grid communication where cellular and broadband coverage is thin or absent. With a background in embedded systems and firmware, we design apps and hardware that make MeshCore easier to run, update and use in the real world.

Everything here is built and field-tested on actual hardware on the New Zealand mesh. This site is where we publish our MeshCore projects, share app downloads, and post how-to guides so others can get set up too.

Support

Help & how-to

Guides and answers for getting the apps and hardware running.

Installing the Android app (sideloading)
  1. From the MeshCore OTA section, tap Download for Android and let app-release.apk finish downloading.
  2. Open the file. When Android asks, allow installs from this source (Install unknown apps).
  3. Tap Install, then Open. You can switch the "unknown source" permission back off afterwards.
What is MeshCore?

MeshCore is a low-power, long-range radio (LoRa) mesh network. Messages hop node-to-node across the mesh, so devices can communicate over long distances without cellular or internet — ideal for rural, remote and off-grid areas.

What's a companion node, and do I need one?

A companion node is a small LoRa radio device that your phone connects to over Bluetooth to reach the mesh. Yes — the apps talk to the mesh through a companion node, so you'll need one paired to your phone.

Why does Android warn about an "unknown source"?

Our Android app is installed directly (sideloaded) rather than from the Play Store, so Android shows a one-time prompt asking you to allow the install. It's expected, and you can turn the permission back off once the app is installed.

When will MeshCore Chat and the IP Bridge be available?

MeshCore Chat for iPhone/CarPlay is in final testing, with CarPlay pending Apple's approval. The MeshCore IP Bridge is working end-to-end and its firmware and provisioning apps are in development. These will be open sourced under the Apache 2.0 license in due course. Check back here — downloads will be posted on this page as each is released.

Get in touch

Have a question or found a bug? Reach us over the MeshCore network, or email: pogicci@gmail.com.