Meshtastic vs APRS: What’s the difference?

Among amateur radio (HAM) enthusiasts (especially those using APRS), Meshtastic, a low-power, easy-to-deploy LoRa communication project, is gradually gaining attention.

Many enthusiasts who stumbled upon Meshtastic while researching APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) will compare the two systems.

This article will combine the characteristics of the two and take you to quickly understand Meshtastic and APRS from the perspectives of similarities and differences.

1. Similarities

Relay role (Digipeater / Meshtastic node)

In APRS, if a walkie-talkie or repeater is configured as a digipeater, it forwards all received packets; a standard APRS client only sends its own packets. Meshtastic provides relay functionality by default: every Meshtastic node can act as a relay, forwarding all received messages. This is similar to the digipeater concept in APRS.

Gateway (iGate / MQTT Gateway)

The APRS iGate uploads locally received APRS data packets to the internet, enabling interoperability with the global APRS network. Meshtastic also features an MQTT Gateway, which uploads local LoRa data to a server and then exchanges it with other MQTT Gateway nodes, achieving a similar "global interconnectivity" as the APRS iGate.

Group Services (ANSRVR / Meshtastic Secondary Channels)

In the APRS community, ANSRVR serves as a centralized service where users can subscribe to specific groups (such as #APRSThursday, etc.), where many-to-many chat communication can be achieved.

In Meshtastic, there is also a similar concept of "Secondary Channels". Users can subscribe to a secondary channel and send group messages to all online nodes through the channel to achieve a group chat experience similar to ANSRVR.

Burst Communication

APRS uses the AX.25 protocol and sends data in bursts of 0.3 to 0.5 seconds. Meshtastic relies on LoRa's air modulation protocol, and depending on the spreading factor and bandwidth settings, messages take 0.5 to 10 seconds to send.

Both are operating modes that send data in relatively short bursts.

2. Differences

Primary Channel (broadcast to the entire network)

In an APRS network, if you want all online stations to receive a message, each party must configure its own routing and utilize Digipeater and iGate in the area to ensure transmission. APRS itself does not have a core channel concept that "reaches all nodes with one click."

The Primary Channel in Meshtastic is the channel that all nodes subscribe to by default. As long as a message is sent on the primary channel, all Meshtastic nodes currently connected to the network will receive it.

Encryption

Due to regulatory requirements, APRS cannot use encryption on the amateur radio bands; therefore, all information on APRS is transmitted in clear text.

Since Meshtastic mainly operates in the unlicensed ISM band (such as 900 MHz) and is not restricted by amateur radio encryption, it can use encryption by default to protect the privacy of conversations: both group channels (private chats) and directed messages between different users can be encrypted.

License requirements

APRS is part of the amateur radio protocol and its use requires a valid amateur radio operator certificate. Without an amateur radio license, individuals cannot legally transmit AX.25 data signals on the corresponding frequency band.

Meshtastic, on the other hand, doesn't require an amateur radio license. It operates in the ISM license-free band, making it more user-friendly. Simply purchase the equipment and download the official app, and you can quickly set up and use it.

Equipment Cost

A handheld walkie-talkie or car radio with APRS function usually costs several hundred to several thousand RMB (common international brand APRS walkie-talkies may start at US$400), while Meshtastic devices usually cost less than a thousand RMB, and even a starter kit of a few hundred RMB is enough to realize the complete LoRa node function, greatly lowering the threshold for networking.

Expansion capabilities (Email / SMS)

The APRS community offers many existing third-party services, such as those that forward APRS messages to email or SMS, allowing users to stay connected with non-amateur radio users. Meshtastic currently doesn't have an official or mature service for forwarding LoRa messages directly to email or SMS, but this could be achieved in the future through software development or MQTT interfaces, leaving significant room for expansion.

Simplicity

For beginners, APRS involves many third-party software tools or hardware configuration options, which is cumbersome to operate and there is no unified official user interface.

Meshtastic provides a dedicated iPhone/Android app with a more consistent and intuitive interface. Most settings can be completed directly in the app, which lowers the threshold and makes it easier for beginners to get started.

3. Summary

For amateur radio enthusiasts already familiar with APRS, Meshtastic is a novel, interesting, and easily scalable LoRa communication solution. It shares similarities with APRS (such as node relay, global gateway, group messaging, and short-duration burst communication), but also significant differences (such as encryption, license-free, unified mobile app, and lower hardware costs). This makes Meshtastic more suitable for general outdoor activities, emergency communications, small-scale team communications, or scenarios requiring greater privacy.

Although Meshtastic currently lacks mature and comprehensive third-party services like APRS (e.g., email and SMS gateways), it has rapidly grown around the world thanks to its open source, low-cost, encrypted, and license-free features, as well as its user-friendly mobile interface. It provides a more flexible and user-friendly community-based self-organizing network solution for radio and communications enthusiasts.

Author: Hays Chan | Community blogger

Translator:Joe Tan | KEEPTEEN | meshtastic node repeater

Website: https//www.keepteen.com

Article link:https://www.keepteen.com/blog-Solar-Lora-12710/Meshtastic-vs-APRS-What%E2%80%99s-the-difference-11942948.html