Privacy & Security¶
ENCRYPTION · HAM VS ISM · VISIBILITY
What is always visible?¶
Every node must broadcast beacons for routing. Other nodes can see that a node exists and is active. This is necessary for the mesh network to function.
What is NEVER visible (ISM mode)?¶
- Who you communicate with
- Which Rooms you are in
- The content of your messages
- Even the existence of your Rooms
[!NOTE] Encryption: MeshCore uses AES-128, for channels as well as for direct messages. Direct Messages are end-to-end encrypted using public key cryptography.
HAM vs ISM mode¶
| Aspect | ISM mode (868 MHz) | HAM mode (70 cm band) |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | Fully encrypted | None (regulation) |
| Identification | Anonymous possible | Callsign required |
| Frequency | 868 MHz ISM band | 430–440 MHz |
| Licence | Not required | Amateur licence required |
| Power | 500 mW e.r.p. (H4) or 25 mW e.r.p. (H5) | Higher (per licence) |
Translated from Dutch by Anthropic Claude