Editor’s Introductory Note: The following primer introduces mesh networking. As a survivalist, I see the biggest limitations of present-day mesh networks are that: A.) Most are urban, and B.) Most are dependent on the continuity of grid power. But one implementation of mesh networking that overcomes both of those limitations is sold under the trade name GoTenna. A competing brand is called Radacat. Either of these will enable your existing Android or iOS phones to become Mesh devices that will continue to work in text mode even if the power grid and cellular networks go down. They both also have GPS capability. They need to be used in at least pairs. At under $160 per pair, that is a viable option for fairly secure communications at a group retreat or for comms between nearby rural neighbors. If you have teenage kids that are heavily smartphone and text dependent, then I recommend that you get them these. This way, they can at least keep in touch with their neighbor friends. That may help keep them sane, sensible, and productively coordinating local security, in the midst of TEOTWAWKI.
The historical photo that I chose for the top of this article (just for fun) is of the Newark, New Jersey Police Department, demonstrating a two-way UHF radio, back in the 1940s. I suppose we should call them Early Adopters.
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I recently finished reading Matthew Mather’s novel Cyber Storm, which I found to be incredibly well-woven, and appreciated just how tangible Mather’s makes living in a world post-cyberattack without any power. Throughout the story, Mather’s characters make extensive use of a technology called mesh networking. I’d never heard of this term before. I found it fascinating, and began to delve deeper into the research behind “meshnets” to figure out just how they worked, and what benefits and services they could provide in a post-disaster situation.
