Central Valley Mesh is a volunteer-run community operating a free, encrypted long-range radio network from Stockton and Manteca down through the heart of California — powered by Meshtastic. No internet. No cell towers. No monthly bill.
Central Valley Mesh is run entirely by volunteers. Every node is donated time, hardware, and rooftop space by people who want their community to be able to communicate — no matter what.
Every node is both a radio and a relay. Messages hop device-to-device across the Valley with no central server or infrastructure.
All messages are AES256 encrypted. Private channel keys mean only the people you trust can read what you send.
Solar-powered repeaters and battery-backed nodes keep the network alive when cell towers go down — exactly when you need it most.
Share your location with your group in real-time. Track assets, coordinate fieldwork, or just let friends know where you are — no internet needed.
Meshtastic runs on the unlicensed 915 MHz ISM band. Anyone can participate — no FCC license, no monthly fee, no gatekeeping.
From first-time tinkerers to seasoned ham operators. If you're curious about mesh networking, there's a place for you here.
Got a Meshtastic device? Flash it, set your region to US, and set your modem preset to LongFast (or MediumFast — ask in Discord for your area). Get near a window or step outside — once you're in range of another node you'll see it appear automatically.
For MQTT uplink to the CVM server, grab the settings from the config card. Not sure where to start? The getting started guide and FAQ have everything you need.
* Don't change the modem preset or you won't be heard by other network nodes.
A LILYGO T-Beam or Heltec V3 will get you on the air for $20–40. See the Getting Started guide for a full hardware comparison.
Use the Meshtastic Web Flasher — no software needed. Set Region to US and modem preset to LongFast. Don't change the preset or you won't hear other nodes. Check the FAQ if you get stuck.
Power it up near a window or outdoors — 915 MHz doesn't penetrate walls well. If you're in range of any network nodes they'll appear automatically. Join Discord and let us know you're on! Also check our Tools page for the live node map.
Our network spans the length of California's Central Valley — most active in the north around Stockton and Manteca, with growing coverage all the way south to Bakersfield. The flat terrain makes it ideal for long-range LoRa propagation.
Not seeing nodes near you? Join Discord — a single rooftop node can change that. Check the live map to see current coverage.
We're one of several active Meshtastic communities across the Valley and California. Together we're building something that spans the whole state.
"The Best Mesh in the West." One of the largest and most active Meshtastic communities in California, covering the entire Bay Area with strong infrastructure.
Our neighbors to the north covering Sacramento and Yolo counties. Nodes from both groups can overlap — good coverage between our two networks.
A fellow Central Valley community focused on Visalia and the surrounding area. Running their own infrastructure, Discord, and node map — we're all part of the same valley network.
Hundreds of nodes across Southern California. One of the most active Meshtastic communities in the state — a look at what a mature regional mesh can become.
View the full list of active California mesh groups on our community page.
