*Question E8C15:
What technique do individual nodes use to form a mesh network?*  

*Correct Answer is  C: Discovery and link establishment protocols*  

### AI Response: (may contain errors)  

To understand how individual nodes form a mesh network, let's break down the correct answer and the other options.

### Correct Answer: C - Discovery and link establishment protocols

- **Explanation**: In a mesh network, nodes need to discover each other and establish links to communicate effectively. Discovery protocols allow nodes to identify their neighbors and determine the best paths for data transmission. Link establishment protocols help in setting up the connections between nodes, ensuring that data can be routed through the network efficiently.

### Why the Other Choices are Incorrect:

- **A: Forward error correction and Viterbi codes**  
  - **Explanation**: While forward error correction (FEC) and Viterbi codes are important for improving data integrity and reliability in communication, they do not specifically address how nodes discover each other or establish connections in a mesh network. They are more about correcting errors in transmitted data rather than forming the network itself.

- **B: Acting as store-and-forward digipeaters**  
  - **Explanation**: Store-and-forward techniques involve temporarily holding data before forwarding it to the next node. While this can be a function of some nodes in a mesh network, it does not encompass the initial discovery and link establishment processes that are crucial for forming the network. This option focuses on data handling rather than network formation.

- **D: Custom code plugs for the local trunking systems**  
  - **Explanation**: Code plugs are configurations used in trunked radio systems to manage communication channels. They are not relevant to the formation of a mesh network, which relies on dynamic discovery and link establishment rather than static configurations.

### Summary

In summary, the formation of a mesh network relies on discovery and link establishment protocols, which enable nodes to identify each other and create connections. The other options focus on error correction, data handling, or specific configurations that do not directly relate to the fundamental processes of forming a mesh network.