Network Policies

These policies govern the use of the Inland NW Mesh network and its infrastructure. They exist to keep the network reliable, accessible, and welcoming for everyone. This is a living document and will be updated as the network grows and the community develops consensus.

General Use
Acceptable Use
Repeater Standards
Naming Conventions
Radio and Frequency Standards
Privacy and Encryption
Community Standards
Enforcement

General Use

The Inland NW Mesh network is a shared, community-owned resource. Use of the network is a privilege, not a right. By participating in the network — whether as a client user, repeater operator, or contributor — you agree to these policies.

The network operates under FCC Part 15 rules for unlicensed operation in the 915 MHz ISM band. All users are responsible for ensuring their equipment and usage complies with applicable FCC regulations and local laws.

Acceptable Use

Permitted uses:

Personal text communication, messaging, and coordination
Emergency and disaster communications
Community outreach, events, and group coordination
Network testing, diagnostics, and development
Educational and experimental use consistent with the network's mission

Prohibited uses:

Harassment, threats, or abusive communication directed at any person
Transmission of illegal content of any kind
Intentional interference with network operations, including jamming, flooding, or denial-of-service activity
Attempting to gain unauthorized access to repeaters, room servers, or other nodes
Using the network for commercial advertising or spam
Impersonating other users or nodes
Transmitting content that violates applicable laws

The network is provided as-is with no guarantees of availability, security, or message delivery. Do not rely on it as your sole means of emergency communication.

Repeater Standards

Repeaters are the backbone of the network. Operators who deploy repeaters take on responsibility for maintaining them in good working order and in compliance with these policies.

Repeater operators agree to:

Keep the repeater on a fixed, semi-permanent location — mobile repeaters cause routing instability
Use the correct regional radio preset — USA/Canada (Recommended): 910.525 MHz, SF7, BW62.5
Set an admin password to protect the repeater from unauthorized configuration changes
Leave the guest password blank or set a simple guest password so community members can view stats and neighbors
Set flood advert interval to a minimum of 6 hours to reduce unnecessary network traffic (24 hours or longer preferred for established nodes)
Include owner contact info in the repeater's owner info field (callsign, email, or Discord handle)
Respond to reasonable requests from network coordinators regarding repeater configuration
Remove or disable a repeater that is causing network issues if asked by the coordination team

Repeater placement guidance:

Prioritize elevation and line of sight — height is the single biggest factor in coverage
Coordinate with the community on Discord before deploying in areas that already have good coverage
Solar-powered outdoor installs are strongly preferred for repeaters — they keep the network running during power outages

Naming Conventions

Clear, consistent naming helps everyone identify nodes on the network.

Clients:

Use your name, callsign, or a recognizable handle
Avoid generic names like "Node" or "Device" that make it hard to identify who you are

Repeaters:

Use a descriptive location-based name that helps identify where the repeater is
Recommended format: [Location]-[Descriptor] — for example: SpokaneValley-High, CdA-Tower, Palouse-Solar
Avoid names that could be confused with other repeaters already on the network
Licensed amateur radio operators are encouraged to include their callsign in the owner info field

Radio and Frequency Standards

All nodes on the Inland NW Mesh must use the same radio settings to communicate with each other.

Parameter	Value
Preset	USA/Canada (Recommended)
Frequency	910.525 MHz
Spreading Factor	SF7
Bandwidth	BW62.5 kHz
Coding Rate	CR5

Do not change frequency, bandwidth, or spreading factor without coordination with the network group. Nodes on different settings will not communicate with the rest of the mesh.

Transmit power should be set to the maximum legal and safe value supported by your hardware. Most boards support 22 dBm. Do not exceed your hardware's rated output.

Privacy and Encryption

All direct messages on MeshCore are end-to-end encrypted using AES-256. Each device has a unique cryptographic identity.

Do not share or publish your private key
Do not attempt to intercept or decrypt other users' private messages
Be aware that channel messages are visible to all members of that channel
Node names, positions, and public keys transmitted via adverts are visible to anyone on the mesh

The network does not collect or store user data centrally. Message history may be stored on room servers you connect to — be aware of this when using shared room servers.

Community Standards

Inland NW Mesh is a volunteer community. We expect everyone to treat each other with respect.

Be welcoming to new members — everyone starts somewhere
Share knowledge and help others troubleshoot
Raise concerns or disagreements constructively — on Discord or via email
Credit others' work and contributions
Remember this network exists to serve the whole community, not any individual

Enforcement

Inland NW Mesh is a volunteer-run community with no formal enforcement mechanism at this time. We rely on community good faith and self-governance.

If you observe a violation of these policies:

Report it in the Discord to the coordination team
Contact us at spokanemesh@gmail.com for serious concerns

Repeated or serious violations may result in removal from the Discord community and coordination of repeater exclusion with other network operators.

Once Inland NW Mesh achieves 501(c)(3) status, these policies will be formalized as part of the organization's governance documents.

Last updated: May 2026. These policies are a draft and subject to community review and revision.