diff --git a/work/meshai/config.py b/work/meshai/config.py
index fe0e31d..46c0cf8 100644
--- a/work/meshai/config.py
+++ b/work/meshai/config.py
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ class ConnectionConfig:
     reconnect_initial_delay: float = 2.0
     reconnect_max_delay: float = 60.0
     reconnect_health_interval: float = 30.0
+    # --- transport selection (Phase 1 seam; MeshCore support is future work) ---
+    transport: str = "meshtastic"  # "meshtastic" | "meshcore" | "both"
 
 
 @dataclass
diff --git a/work/meshai/connector.py b/work/meshai/connector.py
index e805b75..3b6f619 100644
--- a/work/meshai/connector.py
+++ b/work/meshai/connector.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from meshtastic import BROADCAST_NUM
 from pubsub import pub
 
 from .config import ConnectionConfig
+from .transport.base import MeshTransport
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -28,7 +29,11 @@ class MeshMessage:
     text: str  # Message content
     channel: int  # Channel index
     is_dm: bool  # True if direct message to us
-    packet: dict  # Raw packet for additional data
+    # Raw packet for additional data.  Optional so non-Meshtastic transports
+    # (MeshCore, etc.) can leave it None while sharing the same dataclass.
+    packet: Optional[dict] = None
+    # Transport tag so consumers can branch on origin if needed.
+    transport: str = "meshtastic"
     _position: Optional[tuple[float, float]] = field(default=None, repr=False, init=False)
 
     @property
@@ -37,8 +42,8 @@ class MeshMessage:
         return self._position
 
 
-class MeshConnector:
-    """Manages connection to Meshtastic node."""
+class MeshtasticTransport(MeshTransport):
+    """Manages connection to a Meshtastic node (Meshtastic transport backend)."""
 
     def __init__(self, config: ConnectionConfig):
         self.config = config
@@ -487,3 +492,10 @@ class MeshConnector:
             logger.error(f"Failed to send message: {e}")
             return False
 
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Backward-compatibility alias.  All existing imports of ``MeshConnector``
+# continue to work without any changes.  New code should prefer
+# ``MeshtasticTransport`` or use ``build_transport()`` from the factory.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+MeshConnector = MeshtasticTransport
diff --git a/work/meshai/main.py b/work/meshai/main.py
index 5a17582..786819b 100644
--- a/work/meshai/main.py
+++ b/work/meshai/main.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from .commands.status import set_start_time
 from .config import Config
 from .config_loader import load_config, get_config_dir_from_path
 from .connector import MeshConnector, MeshMessage
+from .transport.factory import build_transport
 from .central_normalizer import init_geocoder_config
 from .context import MeshContext
 from .history import ConversationHistory
@@ -372,8 +373,8 @@ class MeshAI:
         # Load persisted summaries into memory cache
         await self._load_summaries()
 
-        # Meshtastic connector
-        self.connector = MeshConnector(self.config.connection)
+        # Transport connector (factory selects backend from config.connection.transport)
+        self.connector = build_transport(self.config.connection)
 
         # Passive mesh context buffer
         ctx_cfg = self.config.context
diff --git a/work/meshai/transport/__init__.py b/work/meshai/transport/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd86125
--- /dev/null
+++ b/work/meshai/transport/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+"""MeshTransport abstraction layer."""
+
+from .base import MeshTransport
+from .factory import build_transport
+
+__all__ = ["MeshTransport", "build_transport"]
diff --git a/work/meshai/transport/base.py b/work/meshai/transport/base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7171c30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/work/meshai/transport/base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+"""Abstract base class for mesh transport backends."""
+
+import abc
+import asyncio
+from typing import Callable, Optional
+
+
+class MeshTransport(abc.ABC):
+    """Abstract interface every mesh transport must satisfy.
+
+    The surface matches exactly what downstream code (main.py, router.py,
+    responder.py, notification pipeline) calls on the connector today.
+    Transport-specific internals (watchdog hooks, socket probing, etc.) live
+    in the concrete subclass and are NOT part of this interface.
+    """
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Lifecycle
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def connect(self) -> None:
+        """Establish the transport connection."""
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def disconnect(self) -> None:
+        """Close the transport connection."""
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Message I/O
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def send_message(
+        self,
+        text: str,
+        destination: Optional[str] = None,
+        channel: int = 0,
+    ) -> bool:
+        """Send a text message.
+
+        Args:
+            text: Message text to send.
+            destination: Node ID for a DM, or None for broadcast.
+            channel: Channel index to send on.
+
+        Returns:
+            True if send was initiated successfully.
+        """
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def set_message_callback(
+        self,
+        callback: Callable,
+        loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop,
+    ) -> None:
+        """Register a callback for incoming messages.
+
+        Args:
+            callback: Async callable invoked with a MeshMessage on each
+                      received text message.
+            loop: The running asyncio event loop used to schedule the
+                  callback from a background thread.
+        """
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Node identity / topology
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    @property
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def my_node_id(self) -> Optional[str]:
+        """Our own node ID (hex string e.g. '!abcd1234'), or None."""
+
+    @property
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def connected(self) -> bool:
+        """True when the transport has an active connection."""
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def get_node_name(self, node_id: str) -> str:
+        """Return the cached display name for *node_id*, or *node_id* itself."""
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def get_node_position(self, node_id: str) -> Optional[tuple]:
+        """Return cached (latitude, longitude) for *node_id*, or None."""
diff --git a/work/meshai/transport/factory.py b/work/meshai/transport/factory.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0373f11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/work/meshai/transport/factory.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+"""Transport factory: build the correct MeshTransport from config."""
+
+from .base import MeshTransport
+
+
+def build_transport(config) -> MeshTransport:
+    """Instantiate and return the configured MeshTransport.
+
+    Args:
+        config: A ConnectionConfig (or duck-compatible object).  The
+                ``transport`` field selects the backend; it defaults to
+                ``"meshtastic"`` so existing configs require no changes.
+
+    Returns:
+        A concrete MeshTransport instance ready to be connected.
+
+    Raises:
+        NotImplementedError: When the requested transport is known but not
+            yet implemented (e.g. ``"meshcore"`` or ``"both"``).
+        ValueError: When the transport name is unrecognised.
+    """
+    transport_name = getattr(config, "transport", "meshtastic")
+
+    if transport_name == "meshtastic":
+        # Import here to avoid a circular import at module load time.
+        from meshai.connector import MeshtasticTransport
+        return MeshtasticTransport(config)
+
+    if transport_name in ("meshcore", "both"):
+        raise NotImplementedError(
+            f"Transport {transport_name!r} is not yet implemented. "
+            "This is a Phase 1 seam; MeshCore support lands in a later phase."
+        )
+
+    raise ValueError(
+        f"Unknown transport {transport_name!r}. "
+        "Expected one of: 'meshtastic', 'meshcore', 'both'."
+    )
diff --git a/work/tests/test_transport_abstraction.py b/work/tests/test_transport_abstraction.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f27fd5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/work/tests/test_transport_abstraction.py
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+"""Lightweight tests for the Phase-1 MeshTransport abstraction.
+
+These tests exercise the structural contracts introduced by the refactor:
+  - MeshtasticTransport is a concrete subclass of MeshTransport
+  - build_transport returns the right type for the default config
+  - build_transport raises appropriately for unimplemented / unknown transports
+  - MeshMessage has the new additive fields with the expected defaults
+
+No real radio, socket, or asyncio loop is required.
+"""
+
+import pytest
+
+from meshai.transport.base import MeshTransport
+from meshai.transport.factory import build_transport
+from meshai.connector import MeshtasticTransport, MeshConnector, MeshMessage
+from meshai.config import ConnectionConfig
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# MeshtasticTransport hierarchy
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestMeshtasticTransportABC:
+    def test_is_subclass_of_mesh_transport(self):
+        assert issubclass(MeshtasticTransport, MeshTransport)
+
+    def test_backward_compat_alias_is_same_class(self):
+        """MeshConnector must still be MeshtasticTransport (alias, not a copy)."""
+        assert MeshConnector is MeshtasticTransport
+
+    def test_implements_abstract_surface(self):
+        """MeshtasticTransport must not leave any abstract methods unimplemented."""
+        abstract_methods = getattr(MeshTransport, "__abstractmethods__", set())
+        # Build the set of methods MeshtasticTransport provides
+        provided = set(vars(MeshtasticTransport))
+        # Every abstract method must be overridden (present in the class dict
+        # or resolvable via MRO without being abstract itself)
+        for method_name in abstract_methods:
+            attr = getattr(MeshtasticTransport, method_name, None)
+            assert attr is not None, f"abstract method {method_name!r} not implemented"
+            # The attribute must NOT still be abstract on the concrete class
+            assert not getattr(attr, "__isabstractmethod__", False), (
+                f"{method_name!r} is still abstract on MeshtasticTransport"
+            )
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Factory
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestBuildTransport:
+    def _default_config(self):
+        return ConnectionConfig()  # transport defaults to "meshtastic"
+
+    def _config_with(self, transport_name):
+        cfg = ConnectionConfig()
+        cfg.transport = transport_name
+        return cfg
+
+    def test_default_config_returns_meshtastic_transport(self):
+        cfg = self._default_config()
+        transport = build_transport(cfg)
+        assert isinstance(transport, MeshtasticTransport)
+
+    def test_explicit_meshtastic_returns_meshtastic_transport(self):
+        cfg = self._config_with("meshtastic")
+        transport = build_transport(cfg)
+        assert isinstance(transport, MeshtasticTransport)
+
+    def test_meshcore_raises_not_implemented(self):
+        cfg = self._config_with("meshcore")
+        with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
+            build_transport(cfg)
+
+    def test_both_raises_not_implemented(self):
+        cfg = self._config_with("both")
+        with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
+            build_transport(cfg)
+
+    def test_unknown_transport_raises_value_error(self):
+        cfg = self._config_with("unknown_transport_xyz")
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            build_transport(cfg)
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# MeshMessage additive fields
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestMeshMessageAdditiveFields:
+    def _make_message(self, **overrides):
+        defaults = dict(
+            sender_id="!aabbccdd",
+            sender_name="TestNode",
+            text="hello",
+            channel=0,
+            is_dm=False,
+        )
+        defaults.update(overrides)
+        return MeshMessage(**defaults)
+
+    def test_transport_defaults_to_meshtastic(self):
+        msg = self._make_message()
+        assert msg.transport == "meshtastic"
+
+    def test_transport_can_be_overridden(self):
+        msg = self._make_message(transport="meshcore")
+        assert msg.transport == "meshcore"
+
+    def test_packet_defaults_to_none(self):
+        msg = self._make_message()
+        assert msg.packet is None
+
+    def test_packet_can_be_set(self):
+        pkt = {"from": 12345, "decoded": {"text": "hi"}}
+        msg = self._make_message(packet=pkt)
+        assert msg.packet is pkt
+
+    def test_existing_fields_unchanged(self):
+        """All pre-existing fields must still be present and functional."""
+        msg = self._make_message(
+            sender_id="!11223344",
+            sender_name="Alpha",
+            text="test",
+            channel=3,
+            is_dm=True,
+            packet={"raw": True},
+        )
+        assert msg.sender_id == "!11223344"
+        assert msg.sender_name == "Alpha"
+        assert msg.text == "test"
+        assert msg.channel == 3
+        assert msg.is_dm is True
+        assert msg.packet == {"raw": True}
+
+    def test_sender_position_property_still_works(self):
+        msg = self._make_message()
+        assert msg.sender_position is None
+        msg._position = (43.5, -114.2)
+        assert msg.sender_position == (43.5, -114.2)