Disclaimer
Spectrum law and UK 868 MHz limits, realistic bandwidth, what a mesh does not give you, ISP terms, safety and no warranty.
Updated 29 Oct 2026
This site is general technical information, not legal, regulatory or professional advice. You are responsible for what you build, install and transmit.
Radio law
UK: LoRa meshes on 868 MHz
In the UK, LoRa mesh radios (Meshtastic, MeshCore, Reticulum over LoRa) fall under Ofcom's licence-exempt rules for non-specific short-range devices, set out in Ofcom IR 2030. No licence is needed if you stay within these limits:
| Interface | Band | Max power | Access rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| IR2030/1/16 | 868.0 – 868.6 MHz | 25 mW e.r.p. | LBT/AFA per EN 300 220, or ≤ 1 % duty cycle |
| IR2030/1/17 | 868.7 – 869.2 MHz | 25 mW e.r.p. | ≤ 0.1 % duty cycle (or equivalent mitigation) |
| IR2030/1/18 | 869.30 – 869.40 MHz | 10 mW e.r.p. | ≤ 25 kHz channel, ≤ 10 % duty cycle |
| IR2030/1/19 | 869.40 – 869.65 MHz | 500 mW e.r.p. | LBT/AFA, or ≤ 10 % duty cycle |
| IR2030/1/20 | 869.7 – 870 MHz | 25 mW e.r.p. | LBT/AFA, or ≤ 1 % duty cycle |
These figures are as of Ofcom IR 2030 version 1.15 (March 2023), the version we checked. A newer version may exist, so check the current text on the Ofcom website before relying on them.
- The UK uses the 868 MHz band, not 915 MHz. Buy the 863–870 MHz ("868") variant of a board. A range such as "863–928 MHz" printed on a board describes what the hardware can tune to, not what is legal.
- The higher-power slot is 869.40–869.65 MHz (500 mW e.r.p., 10 % duty cycle). The Meshtastic EU_868 region defaults sit in this slot.
- The limits are in e.r.p., which includes antenna gain. A radio with high conducted output plus a gain antenna can exceed 500 mW e.r.p. Turn the transmit power down to compensate.
Other countries
Other countries use different bands, power limits and duty-cycle rules. Do not assume the UK figures apply elsewhere. See Resources for links to regulators.
Amateur-radio meshes
Networks such as AREDN operate in amateur-radio bands. These need an amateur licence, and traffic on amateur bands may not be encrypted in a way that obscures its meaning. That is a different regime from the licence-exempt LoRa rules above.
Realistic bandwidth
Low-bandwidth LoRa meshes carry short text messages and sensor readings. They cannot browse the web, stream or make calls. Broadband community meshes can carry internet traffic, but real-world throughput depends on distance, line of sight, congestion and how many hops separate you from an uplink. Figures on this site are indicative and dated.
Sharing a home connection
Sharing or reselling a home internet connection may breach your ISP's terms of service. Read your contract before connecting a mesh node to your home router, and see what the network you are joining asks of uplink providers.
Whoever provides an uplink may also be answerable for traffic that leaves through it. Understand what you are agreeing to, and take your own advice if you are unsure.
Safety
Installing antennas, masts and mains or battery power carries risk of falls, electric shock and fire. Follow local safety rules, get permission before using a roof or shared structure, and use a qualified person where in doubt. Lithium batteries need particular care in charging, storage and outdoor enclosures.
No warranty
Information is provided as is, without warranty of any kind. Network details, rules and prices change; verify against the linked sources before acting, and check the "Updated" date on the page you are reading. getuncabled.com accepts no liability for loss or damage arising from use of this information.