Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Radio rules, national frequency plans and technical conditions can change. Before transmitting, verify the latest requirements with RATEL, the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Postal Services. The operator is responsible for the complete radio installation, not only the number shown in the Meshtastic app.
Is Meshtastic legal in Serbia?
Meshtastic can generally be operated without an individual radio licence in Serbia when it uses a permitted short-range-device band and meets every condition attached to that band. “Licence-exempt” does not mean unregulated. Frequency, effective radiated power, duty cycle, bandwidth, equipment conformity and interference rules still apply.
Serbia is not an EU member, but its short-range-device framework follows the European CEPT/ETSI structure. The controlling documents are Serbia’s current frequency allocation plan and RATEL’s rulebook for use of radio frequencies under the general-authorisation regime. RATEL is therefore the authority to consult before a permanent installation, a high-gain antenna, an amplifier, or any non-standard frequency override.
RATEL’s current general-authorisation material should be treated as the legal source, not the country label inside an app. A compliant ordinary node normally uses EU_868 without a personal spectrum licence, provided the complete installation stays within the applicable power, duty-cycle, bandwidth and equipment requirements.
The practical Meshtastic settings
| Meshtastic region | Firmware frequency range | Firmware duty-cycle limit | Firmware power limit | Practical status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU_868 | 869.4–869.65 MHz | 10% | 27 dBm | Normal first choice, subject to the current national SRD rules |
| EU_433 | 433.0–434.0 MHz | 10% | 10 dBm | Possible alternative; antenna is larger and the wider 433 MHz allocation has several regulatory rows |
| LORA_24 | 2400–2483.5 MHz | 100% in Meshtastic | 10 dBm | Broadly usable 2.4 GHz option, but verify national technical conditions |
These values describe current Meshtastic firmware profiles. They are not a substitute for national law. The relevant European SRD category for EU_868 permits up to 500 mW ERP, which is 27 dBm ERP, in 869.4–869.65 MHz, normally with a duty cycle below or equal to 10% or an allowed spectrum-access mechanism. Meshtastic enforces a rolling one-hour duty-cycle limit for EU_868 and EU_433 unless the user deliberately overrides it.
EU_868: the usual choice
For most Meshtastic users in Serbia, EU_868 is the sensible default. It confines the radio to 869.4–869.65 MHz and applies the 10% rolling hourly limit. The 27 dBm figure is a radiated-power ceiling, not an invitation to set every radio to maximum output. Most handheld boards transmit well below 500 mW, and lower power reduces battery consumption and unnecessary interference.
The special 500 mW/10% condition applies to this narrow 250 kHz sub-band. It must not be generalized to the whole 863–870 MHz range. Nearby European SRD sub-bands commonly have limits such as 25 mW ERP with 1% or 0.1% duty cycle. A manual frequency override can therefore move an otherwise compliant node into a sub-band with materially stricter conditions.
EU_433: useful, but not “12 dBm everywhere”
Current Meshtastic documentation defines EU_433 as 433.0–434.0 MHz, 10% duty cycle and 10 dBm. Older guides and informal tables sometimes quote 12 dBm. Do not use that older number as the legal limit. National 433 MHz SRD tables can split 433.05–434.79 MHz into different rows according to bandwidth, application and access method. The conservative action is to retain the official firmware profile and confirm the current RATEL table before changing frequency, bandwidth or power.
A 433 MHz antenna is physically longer than an equivalent 868 MHz antenna. An unsuitable shortened antenna can waste power, while an efficient external antenna can materially increase ERP. Hardware marked “433 MHz” and hardware marked “868/915 MHz” are not interchangeable merely because the connector fits.
What a 10% duty cycle means
A 10% duty cycle permits a transmitter to occupy the channel for at most six minutes during a one-hour measurement window. It does not mean six minutes for every message type, every channel or every neighbour. Automatic position reports, telemetry, acknowledgements and relayed packets all consume airtime. A router that repeats traffic for other users can reach the limit even when its owner sends few manual messages.
Meshtastic calculates the European restriction on a rolling one-hour basis and pauses transmissions when the allowance is exhausted. Do not enable “override duty cycle” for normal licence-exempt use. The software switch can disable a safeguard; it cannot change the law.
ERP, transmitter power and antenna gain
ERP means effective radiated power referenced to a half-wave dipole. It describes the combined effect of transmitter output, cable and connector losses, and antenna gain. A simplified calculation is:
ERP dBm ≈ transmitter dBm − cable loss dB + antenna gain dBd
Antenna specifications are often given in dBi rather than dBd. Subtract approximately 2.15 dB to convert dBi to dBd. For example, a transmitter producing 27 dBm into an antenna with 5 dBi gain and 1 dB of cable loss would radiate about 28.85 dBm ERP, exceeding a 27 dBm ERP ceiling. The transmitter would have to be reduced. “My board is legal power” is therefore not enough when an external high-gain antenna is added.
Use an antenna made for the selected band, keep connectors sound, account for feed-line loss and avoid unapproved power amplifiers. Good placement and a clear path usually improve range more safely than brute-force power. See Antennas, placement, and real-world range.
Licence-exempt SRD operation versus amateur radio
Ordinary Meshtastic operation uses short-range-device spectrum under a general authorisation. The operator does not need an amateur licence, so family members, hikers and community volunteers can use compliant nodes. The trade-off is strict shared-band power and airtime limits, no protection from normal interference, and an obligation not to cause harmful interference.
Amateur radio is a separate radio service. It requires the appropriate operator authorisation, use of an amateur allocation, station identification and compliance with national amateur rules. Amateur allocations can permit different power levels, but private encrypted messages are generally prohibited or severely restricted. Meshtastic’s normal encrypted channels therefore must not simply be moved onto an amateur frequency. Firmware documentation tells licensed operators using an override to enable ham mode and disable encryption, but RATEL rules remain controlling. Read How amateur radio complements Meshtastic.
The European framework and the national rule
CEPT’s Electronic Communications Committee develops shared spectrum arrangements, including ERC Recommendation 70-03 for short-range devices. ETSI publishes harmonised technical standards, including EN 300 220 for non-specific SRDs below 1 GHz. In EU countries, the Radio Equipment Directive and the European Commission’s SRD harmonisation decision add another legal layer.
CEPT recommendations and ETSI standards do different jobs. CEPT describes spectrum conditions; ETSI specifies technical tests and performance requirements used for compliant radio equipment. Neither removes the role of RATEL. National implementation is the final check for operation in Serbia.
How to operate legally
- Set the Meshtastic region to
EU_868for a normal 868 MHz node in Serbia; never use the US 915 MHz profile. - Leave duty-cycle enforcement enabled and avoid unnecessarily slow presets or excessive automated telemetry.
- Set transmit power so the complete installation, including antenna gain and cable loss, remains within ERP limits.
- Use equipment intended for the chosen band and follow its conformity, installation and antenna instructions.
- Do not add an amplifier or arbitrary frequency override without confirming the applicable RATEL rule.
- Recheck regulations before travelling, operating near a border or installing a permanent high-site relay.
What can happen if the rules are broken?
Unauthorised spectrum use can lead to investigation, an order to stop transmitting, administrative or court proceedings, fines, and in serious cases seizure or confiscation of equipment under applicable national law. Exact consequences depend on the facts and current legislation, so this article deliberately does not quote a penalty amount. Interference to safety, public or licensed communications is likely to be treated more seriously than an accidental configuration error promptly corrected.
Comparison with the United States and 2.4 GHz
Meshtastic’s US profile covers 902–928 MHz and lists 100% duty cycle and 30 dBm. Those are firmware-profile values, not a complete statement of FCC Part 15. US rules depend on modulation, occupied bandwidth, antenna gain and other technical conditions. A US 915 MHz device must not be used with the US profile in Serbia.
LORA_24 uses 2400–2483.5 MHz and Meshtastic lists 100% duty cycle with 10 dBm. It offers one hardware profile across many countries and smaller antennas, but normally has poorer obstruction penetration and may face heavy Wi-Fi and Bluetooth activity. “Worldwide” should be read as broadly harmonised spectrum, not universal exemption from national rules. Verify its present status with RATEL.