FreakWAN: A floor-routing WAN implementing a chat over bare-LoRa (no LoRaWAN)

5 months ago

FreakWAN is a LoRa-based open WAN network, independent of the Internet and cellular networks.
It provides a distributed chat system (plaintext and encrypted) for tech enthusiasts and disaster scenarios.
The network also supports applications like sensor data collection and home automation.
FreakWAN aims to cover parts of Sicily with this network, with open-source code available for others to build upon.
Key features include distributed networking, chat functionality, media support, encryption, and configurable retransmissions.
The protocol includes bandwidth mitigation, duty cycle tracking, local message storage, and OLED display support.
FreakWAN supports various ESP32-based devices and can be adapted to others with minimal changes.
Installation involves flashing MicroPython, configuring settings, and transferring files to the device.
Communication can be done via USB serial, Bluetooth LE, IRC, or Telegram bot.
Encrypted messaging is supported with symmetric AES encryption for private or group chats.
FreakWAN includes a custom image format (FCI) for sending small images over LoRa.
Power management features include battery level monitoring and deep sleep for low battery.
The protocol details include message types (Data, Ack, Hello), routing, encryption, and fragmentation for large messages.

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