D-Central Technologies — decentralized computing powering your digital sovereignty.
Sovereign mesh networking lets you send messages — and even Bitcoin transactions — with no internet, no cell tower, and no carrier, over inexpensive long-range LoRa radios running open-source Meshtastic firmware. When the ISP drops, the sovereign stack keeps communicating. This hub is D-Central’s home for Canadian Meshtastic and LoRa: how it works, what it is for, the hardware, and how to have us build it.
What is Meshtastic?
Meshtastic is a free, open-source project that turns cheap LoRa radio modules into a self-healing mesh: each node relays messages for the others, so a chain of inexpensive devices can carry text across kilometres with no infrastructure in between. You pair a node to your phone over Bluetooth and message off-grid. Credit where it is due — Meshtastic and the broader LoRa ecosystem are community-built open source, and our work here stands on theirs. Start with our getting-started primer for Bitcoiners and the deeper LoRa protocol explainer.
LoRa frequencies in Canada
In Canada, Meshtastic runs on the 902–928 MHz ISM band — the same license-free band used in the United States, regulated by ISED. For standard low-power nodes you do not need a licence. If you add a high-gain antenna for long-range relay, keep your setup within ISED’s license-free limits (RSS-210); we will size antennas accordingly. (Orientation, not regulatory advice — confirm current rules at ised-isde.canada.ca.)
Why Bitcoiners and sovereign operators use mesh
- Connectivity that can’t be cut. Keep a node, miner, or agent reachable when the ISP or grid goes down — see Mesh Keeps Your Node Online When the ISP Drops.
- Off-grid Hashcenter comms. A redundant communications layer for remote mining and compute sites — Off-Grid Hashcenter Mesh Comms.
- Bitcoin without the internet. You can broadcast a raw Bitcoin transaction over LoRa to a relay that forwards it to the network. It genuinely works — but LoRa is low-bandwidth, so a single transaction takes tens of seconds and it is not suitable for Lightning or high-frequency payments. The honest walkthrough is in Bitcoin Over Meshtastic.
Mesh + Nostr: the decentralized comms layer
Mesh handles transport; Nostr handles identity and publishing. Together they are the communications layer of the sovereign stack — own your money (Bitcoin), your intelligence (a local LLM), your connectivity (mesh), and your identity (Nostr), and no single actor holds an off-switch over you. Start with Nostr for Bitcoiners, then run your own relay.
Hardware and pre-configured nodes
We supply Meshtastic / LoRa gear and hand-built D-Central nodes through Sovereign Mesh — quote-only and build-to-order, so a node arrives configured for the 902–928 MHz Canadian band and ready to join your mesh.
Have D-Central design and deploy it
From a single home node to a multi-site community mesh, an off-grid relay on solar, or a comms overlay for a Hashcenter, we design the network, pick and place the nodes, and set up the firmware. It is the same conversation as our wider sovereign-stack work.
- Request a mesh deployment quote
- Explore the rest of the stack: Sovereignty hub · Distributed compute & Hashcenters · Sovereign AI in Canada
Frequently asked questions
What is Meshtastic and what is it for?
Meshtastic is open-source firmware that turns low-cost LoRa radios into a self-healing mesh network for off-grid text messaging and telemetry. Each node relays for the others, so messages travel kilometres with no internet, cell tower, or carrier — useful for remote properties, emergency resilience, and keeping a Bitcoin node or miner reachable when the ISP drops.
Do I need a licence to run Meshtastic in Canada?
For standard low-power nodes on the 902–928 MHz ISM band, no — it is a license-free band in Canada under ISED, the same band used in the US. If you add a high-gain antenna for long-range relay, keep the setup within ISED’s license-free limits (RSS-210). This is orientation, not regulatory advice; confirm current rules with ISED.
Can I really send Bitcoin over a mesh network?
Yes. Open-source projects let you broadcast a raw Bitcoin transaction over LoRa to a relay node that forwards it to the Bitcoin network. It works for sovereignty and censorship-resistance, but LoRa is low-bandwidth — a single transaction takes tens of seconds and it is not suitable for Lightning or high-frequency payments.
How far does a Meshtastic node reach?
It depends heavily on terrain and antenna. Expect up to a few kilometres in a town and 20 km or more line-of-sight from a rooftop or hilltop with a good antenna; dense urban areas are shorter. Check the public Meshtastic community map for documented links in your area before planning a deployment.
Can D-Central set up a mesh network for me?
Yes — from a single home node to an off-grid solar relay or a full community mesh. We design the network, select and place the nodes, and configure the firmware for the Canadian band. Everything is quote-only and build-to-order; request a quote.
The sovereign stack: own every layer
Sovereignty is layered: Bitcoin for money, a local LLM for intelligence, mesh for connectivity, Nostr for identity, and your own power. Each piece is one more layer no single actor can switch off.