Mesh Network Routing Visualization
This interactive visualization demonstrates the different routing approaches used by Meshtastic and MeshCore. Use the controls below to explore how packets are routed through the network.
Meshtastic Radio Wave
MeshCore Radio Wave
Discovery Wave
Dropped Signal
Route ACK Signal
Red Blink: Node Received But Won't Forward ACK
Node Transmission Range
Network Topology:
Meshtastic Flooding: Radio signals propagate through all nodes within range, which rebroadcast once per message to maximize delivery probability.
Total Packets Sent
0
Network Efficiency
0%
Delivery Time
0ms
Hops Required
0
Routing Methods Compared
Meshtastic Flooding Approach
- High redundancy: Messages are sent to all nodes within range, which rebroadcast to their neighbors
- Simple implementation: No complex routing tables or path discovery needed
- Higher delivery probability: Multiple paths increase chances of message delivery
- Bandwidth intensive: Network congestion increases with the number of nodes
- No path optimization: Uses the same bandwidth regardless of optimal paths
MeshCore Selective Routing
- Path discovery phase: Initial flooding to find optimal route to destination
- Route establishment: Creates a persistent path between nodes
- Bandwidth efficiency: After path discovery, only nodes on the route forward packets
- Selective forwarding: Nodes not on the established route drop packets
- Adaptable routing: Routes can be re-established if network topology changes
Network Performance Considerations
The choice between flooding and selective routing depends on several factors:
- Network density: Dense networks benefit more from selective routing to reduce congestion
- Node reliability: Unreliable or mobile nodes may benefit from flooding's redundancy
- Message priority: MeshCore can prioritize critical messages while Meshtastic treats all messages equally
- Power consumption: Selective routing typically requires less overall transmission, saving power across the network