Recently I started experimenting with something that feels both futuristic and nostalgic at the same time. I created a small website for my company DET3D, but instead of hosting it on the traditional internet, it lives on the Reticulum network using NomadNet. The entire setup runs on a tiny Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, a Heltec V4 ESP32 microcontroller running RNode with 915 MHz LoRa antenna, and the site itself is written using Micron markup language.
What makes this project interesting is that the site does not depend on the normal internet. There is no web hosting company, no domain name service, and no centralized server controlling access. Instead the pages live on a decentralized network where devices communicate directly with each other.
A Cryptography-based Networking Stack
Reticulum is a communication network stack that allows devices to talk to one another without relying on the traditional internet protocols most people are familiar with. The internet today depends heavily on TCP and IP networking which in turn relies on routers, service providers, and large infrastructure systems. Reticulum approaches communication in a different way. It allows devices to discover each other and exchange encrypted information across many kinds of connections including local networks and radio links.
Hosting on NomadNet
NomadNet runs on top of Reticulum and provides a simple way to host and browse pages using Micron markup. In some ways it feels like a very early version of the web. The experience reminded me a lot of the bulletin board systems from the early days of the internet.
The hardware that hosts the DET3D site is simple but effective. The site runs on a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W which quietly runs NomadNet and serves pages to other nodes on the network. Connected to the Pi is an RNode radio interface running on a Heltec V4 microcontroller that I flashed with firmware so it can operate with Reticulum. The radio communicates using 915 MHz LoRa, and I upgraded the antenna to help improve range and reliability.
Because LoRa radios have limited range, I also tried to give the device the best chance of reaching other nodes. I designed and printed a small case for the Pi and radio, then mounted it high on a window using a suction cup and a few zip ties. Raising the antenna higher helps improve radio signal coverage and gives the device a better chance of reaching other Reticulum nodes nearby.
The pages themselves are written using Micron, which is a lightweight markup language used by NomadNet. It is simple and easy to work with, which makes building pages feel a bit like creating classic text based systems from the past. When designing the site I wanted it to feel playful and nostalgic. I used colorful text and ASCII art to give it a strong retro feel. The design leans into a Nintendo NES inspired look while also giving it a slightly cyberpunk style. The result feels like a small retro gaming terminal rather than a modern website.
NomadNet Site Address: 5ad606b61a75ac0840c24f3a2f9771bb
The DET3D pages exist entirely within the Reticulum network. They are served directly from the Pi rather than from a traditional web server. Anyone running Reticulum and NomadNet who discovers the node can browse the pages through the network. The communication between nodes is encrypted and does not require a normal internet connection such as TCP, WiFi, or cellular service. In my setup the connection travels through LoRa radio.
I am still learning more about how the Reticulum network works and how to configure nodes and services within it. The ecosystem is still growing and there is a lot to explore. Even so, it has already been an exciting experience discovering new ways that devices can communicate with each other without relying on centralized infrastructure.
For now my small Pi Zero continues to quietly host the DET3D site on the network. In many ways it feels like running a personal bulletin board system again, but with modern encryption and radio communication behind it. I am excited to continue exploring the Reticulum network and discovering more of the creative projects people are building within it.
