Meshtastic GPS vs. your phone or tracker device with monthly service p

This is a question we get asked often- are Meshtastic nodes with GPS full tracking devices just like a GPS enabled cell phone or tracking device that has a monthly service plan?

There are similarities, but key differences. Let's dive in:

Meshtastic GPS: Mesh-Based and Off-Grid

Meshtastic devices are designed to be self-sufficient and operate without a central authority or cellular network.

How GPS Works: A Meshtastic device that has a built-in GPS module acquires its own location by receiving signals from GPS satellites. This part is the same as any other GPS-enabled device.
How Location is Shared: The crucial difference is what happens next. The Meshtastic device's GPS coordinates are not sent to a remote server via a cellular or satellite network. Instead, they are transmitted as a data packet over its LoRa (Long Range) radio to other Meshtastic devices within its range. This means tracking won't always be real time, and location updates will be based on your device's GPS settings. We recommend turning your GPS time interval settings way down or off when location tracking is not needed to help conserve battery.

How to change your GPS interval settings
Mesh Networking: The magic of Meshtastic is its mesh network. When your device broadcasts its location, it's not just received by one other device; it's received by all devices within range. These devices then forward the data to others, "hopping" the message across the network. This means your location can be seen by someone far beyond your direct radio range, as long as there is an unbroken chain of Meshtastic nodes between you and them. However it won't usually be as "real time" as cell phones or trackers that have uplink (which costs $).
No Monthly Fees: Since there is no cellular or satellite uplink, there is no service provider to pay. The network is created and maintained by the users themselves.
"Real-Time" Tracking: Tracking is "real-time" only to the extent that your device can connect to other nodes in the mesh. Location updates are sent at a configurable interval, and other users can see your position on a map on their paired smartphone app. The speed of the update depends on network congestion and how quickly the data can hop between nodes as well as your GPS settings. The more often your interval, the more strain on battery.

The key takeway is Meshtastic devices are designed to be communication devices first, with GPS functionality. They are not designed to replace real time tracking devices with a monthly service fee for instant location updates because they only have satellite downlink (free) vs. downlink and uplink (costs $).

Feature	Meshtastic GPS on LoRa	Cell Phone or Traditional GPS Tracker
Network	Decentralized mesh network of user-owned devices.	Centralized cellular or satellite network.
Data Transmission	Local LoRa radio signals (LORAWAN) hop from device to device.	Cellular or satellite uplink to a central server.
Cost	One-time cost for hardware. No monthly fees.	Initial hardware cost plus a recurring monthly or annual service fee.
Range	Varies based on terrain, line of sight, and density of the mesh network. Can be very long-range in ideal conditions.	Global coverage (cellular) or near-global (satellite).
Dependencies	Requires other Meshtastic devices nearby to form a network and relay messages.	Requires a subscription and an active cellular or satellite signal.
Use Case	Off-grid communication, emergency preparedness, hiking, or group activities where you can't rely on cell service.	Long-distance asset tracking, vehicle fleets, personal safety, or anywhere with good cellular or satellite coverage.