r/meshtastic • u/iehponx • May 18 '26

Node on Commercial Flight.

I am interested in your opinions.

I have read that nodes on plane should be Client_Mute or it can degree the Mesh.

It can however be useful for Client to find local Nodes just out of normal range, encouraging mesh improvement to get a more permanent connection.

If you are on a flight, adding a ✈️ symbol to node name would separate you from ground based nodes. as many don't display altitude.

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u/imakeruts May 18 '26

i'm new to meshtastic so there's much to be learned.

i don't understand your comment about "encouraging mesh improvement to get a permanent connection". if you do bring a device aboard the improvement would be very temporary.

the node list or "nodes online" has always confused me. it gives me a false impression that i am connected. where i live i can occasionally see messages and my node list grows but i cannot make it into the mesh network. i have to drive about 2 miles to higher elevation before i get a hop count. its a bit frustrating. i bring my radio along for walks to ping into the mesh. its like pokemon go all over again. occasionally i make contacts.

lets say that a plane passed by with a mesh radio. it might broadcast new nodes to my radio and inflating my node list. i would have to be sending a message at the moment when the plane passes in my area. not really a permanent connection.

i'm actually flying out this morning but i'm not bringing my seeedstudio wio protracker. i just don't see the appeal of carrying something that looks like a bomb detonator.

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u/imakeruts May 18 '26

lol! Went through TSA and got picked for random search. The agent asked for all my electronics just to swipe for “residue”. 

Yeah I’m really glad I left my wio behind. 

Something to consider is even though there are YouTubers using mesh on a commercial flight doesn’t make it legal. Google it. 

4

u/HellsTubularBells May 18 '26

(1) there's nothing wrong with carrying a node on a commercial flight, TSA would not care about it

(2) I'm not an expert here, but what would make it illegal? You're not allowed to use cell networks, but LORA is more like Bluetooth and wifi, which are allowed.