Skip to main content

Create an Off-Grid Group

An off-grid group works without any internet connection. Data is shared over the Meshtastic mesh network via LoRa radio.

Create the group​

  1. From the home screen, tap +
  2. Select Create a group
  3. At the top of the creation screen, switch the type to Off-Grid
  4. Fill in the group details:
    • Name — your group name
    • Color — accent color
    • Icon (optional)
    • LoRa Channel — choose a channel number (0–7). All team members must use the same channel.
    • Squelch code — a short code (e.g., A3K9) that filters messages so only your group's traffic is processed. All team members must use the same squelch code.
  5. Tap Create

Share group settings with your team​

Off-grid groups don't use invite links (there's no internet to relay them). Instead, share the group settings directly with teammates:

  • Group name
  • LoRa channel (0–7)
  • Squelch code (the short code you set)

Each teammate creates an off-grid group on their own device with the same channel and squelch code. Flaresat uses the squelch code to route mesh packets to the correct group.

LoRa channel explained​

Meshtastic supports channels 0–7. Think of them like walkie-talkie frequencies — only devices on the same channel can hear each other. This means:

  • Your group won't interfere with other Meshtastic users on different channels
  • Different groups in the same area can use different channels to maintain separation
  • In practice, channel 0 is the default Meshtastic channel — if you're using dedicated team hardware, pick a different channel to avoid cross-talk

Squelch code explained​

The squelch code is an additional layer of filtering. Even if two groups are on the same LoRa channel, they'll only see each other's messages if they share the same squelch code. Pick something short and memorable that your team agrees on ahead of time.

Group data stays on-device​

Unlike cloud groups, all off-grid data (pins, routes, messages) is stored locally on each device. If someone installs Flaresat fresh, they won't see historical items — only items transmitted over the mesh while they're connected.

To preserve off-grid group data across device changes, use Cloud Backup →