Neat. How many messages/sec could a router handle? Could it serve a couple hundred connections?
Discussion
Not sure on throughput. It's probably not super high. It's meant to be low power, low bandwidth. It's mainly text based messages. Routers are just nodes that listen better and have more priority, they need to be in optimal spots.
Most connection are within a few KM, but with the right setup it can go further.
Most nodes can handle about 100 other nodes in their active list, the list just rolls off after that. Messages should still transfer through although the network, but I havent had to deal with a network that big.
Overall it's not a replacement for internet and not really geared toward huge numbers of people, but it's useful in many ways. I'm actually using it at work for comms as well. It's lots of fun and pretty cheap to get into.
Still sounds great. I got a ham license during covid and its cool but synchronous voice chat leaves much to be desired. Especially with the old guard. I found the hobby to be largely insufferable. Text with dozens of people seems like it could be pretty resilient in a disaster.
Cool. I want to get my ham licence at some point soon. Just have to study some finer points of radio parts, I've done alright in the online tests.
Mesh is fun hobby and there seems to be a lot of people receptive to the idea. Especially if you can find some people who recreate outdoors.
I think it has some use for families who don't want their kids having internet/cell phone but still want to talk to them.