Resilience Analysis in Off-Grid LoRa Mesh Networks: Evaluation of Meshtastic Profiles in Long-Range Propagation Scenarios

TL;DR

This study evaluates the resilience of off-grid LoRa mesh networks using Meshtastic profiles, providing quantitative criteria for optimal configuration in smart city emergency scenarios.

Contribution

It offers a deterministic characterization of Meshtastic modem presets under various propagation conditions, highlighting the impact of Spreading Factor on network resilience.

Findings

Long presets (SF11-SF12) achieve maximum coverage up to 180 dB attenuation.

Sub-noise-floor demodulation is confirmed down to -18 dB for SF12.

Three operational regimes are defined for different deployment scenarios.

Abstract

The integration of LoRa technologies with mesh topologies represents a robust alternative for off-grid communications in emergency scenarios within smart cities. Meshtastic firmware implements a decentralised mesh network over LoRa where each node acts simultaneously as end device and router, enabling communication via Bluetooth-connected mobile devices without reliance on conventional infrastructure. Within the Colombian context (915 MHz ISM band), this work establishes design and planning criteria through a controlled guided-link methodology that isolates the LoRa physical layer from propagation effects, enabling deterministic characterisation of all eight Meshtastic modem presets at three transmission power levels (42 datasets). The results reveal a performance partitioning governed primarily by Spreading Factor (SF): "Short" presets (SF7-SF8) fail at 110-120 dB of path attenuation, "Medium" presets (SF9-SF10) sustain links up to 135-150 dB, and "Long" presets (SF11-SF12) maximise coverage, with "Long Slow" reaching 180 dB before failure - a 60-70 dB advantage over the fastest profiles. The SNR analysis confirms sub-noise-floor demodulation down to -18 dB for SF12, with abrupt link failure occurring within 2-4 dB of the theoretical limit. Based on these thresholds, three operational regimes are defined (high-density IoT, balanced urban mesh, and maximum-range emergency), providing network designers with quantitative criteria to select the appropriate configuration and node density for smart city deployments.