---
title: Introduction
sidebar_label: Introduction
slug: /introduction
sidebar_position: 1
---

import Link from "@docusaurus/Link";

Meshtastic® is a project that enables you to use inexpensive LoRa radios as a long range off-grid communication platform in areas without existing or reliable communications infrastructure. This project is 100% community driven and open source!


![LoRa Topology](/img/introduction/lora-topology-2.png)

### Features

- Long range ([_254km record by kboxlabs_](/docs/overview/range-tests#current-record))
- No phone required for mesh communication
- Decentralized communication - no dedicated router required
- Encrypted communication
- Excellent battery life
- Send and receive text messages between members of the mesh
- Optional GPS based location features
- And more!

## How it works

The underlying technology, LoRa, is a long range radio protocol available to most regions without requiring additional licensing or certification, like HAM operators.

The radios automatically rebroadcast messages they receive in order to create a mesh network so that everyone in the group can receive messages - even from the furthest member. Depending on settings used, the Meshtastic mesh can sustain up to 80 device nodes.

Meshtastic radios can be paired to a single phone so that your friends and family are able to address a message to your specific radio. Each device supports a connection from a single user at a time.

If you are interested in a more technical overview of how Meshtastic works, visit the overview section below:

<div className="indexCtasBody">
  <Link
    className={"button button--outline  button--lg cta--button"}
    to={"/docs/overview"}
  >
    Technical Overview
  </Link>
</div>

## Contributors

Meshtastic is an open source project available on GitHub. Our generous volunteers donate their personal time to write and maintain this codebase. If you would like to contribute see our [GitHub](https://github.com/meshtastic), join our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/ktMAKGBnBs), and read up on our [forum](https://meshtastic.discourse.group).

<div className="indexCtasBody">
  <Link
    className={"button button--outline  button--lg cta--button"}
    to={"/docs/contributing"}
  >
    Contribute!
  </Link>
</div>

<!--- FIXME add Github organization list/contributor list --->

## Start using Meshtastic

Hopefully your "Getting Started" experience is straight forward and headache free. If you encounter any issues, please consider updating our documentation to improve future user experiences or reach out on the forum or Discord.

Our support is 100% volunteer based. We are passionate about the project and hope to help newcomers become Meshtastic experts!

<div className="indexCtasBody">
  <Link
    className={"button button--outline  button--lg cta--button"}
    to={"/docs/getting-started"}
  >
    Getting Started
  </Link>
</div>