LOS ALAMOS MAKERS NEWS RELEASE

What happens when a fiber line is cut and Los Alamos suddenly loses its connection to the internet? Los Alamos residents already know that isn’t a hypothetical question.

Los Alamos Makers invites the community to find out how people can stay connected with a Meshtastic Scavenger Hunt at Los Alamos ScienceFest. Meshtastic uses small LoRa radios to create long-range wireless mesh networks that can exchange messages without cellular service, Wi-Fi, or internet access.

The hunt begins with a familiar scenario: a construction crew has cut the only fiber line serving the Los Alamos community, all lines are down, and you can’t reach the friends you were supposed to meet this afternoon. Fortunately, you have a Meshtastic radio.

Participants will follow clues through downtown Los Alamos while learning to share messages and locations privately, discover other nodes, and communicate with the outside world.

The daytime hunt runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m starting at Fuller Lodge. The after-dark hunt runs from 5 to 9 p.m. starting at Los Alamos Makers. There will be Meshtastic radios available to lend, or bring your own and an Android or iPhone with the Meshtastic app.

Can you find your friends when Los Alamos goes offline? https://meshtastic.org

Los Alamos Makers is a community makerspace for all ages and an informal vocational training center and an idea-stage incubator for technical endeavors. We are located inside the Blue Window / Ruby K’s building at 1789 Central Ave. Los Alamos, NM, 87544. https://losalamosmakers.org