Getting started with Meshtastic
Getting started with running a Meshtastic relay is easy. You need to buy some hardware, install an app, and tweak some settings.
You can expect to communicate through text with other relays within a few kilometres without even setting up a special antenna or location.
Warning
Meshtastic exposes your location by default on devices which have
a GPS device! Make sure the Position precision is reduced or
set the GPS Mode to DISABLED.
Tip
Also keep in mind that the hardware address of devices is used routing in Meshtastic. Every message from a device includes that address which is unique and cannot be changed, see this feature request for details. This is a bit like IMEI identifiers on phones.
Hardware
We have hands-on experience with those devices and recommend them for use:
- Cheapest: HELTEC v4, make sure to get a case and the 902-928MHz, you need to provide power over USB, any USB-C charger will do, 20$USD, needs a separate app, for example on your phone
- Low-power: WisBlock RAK4631, longer battery life than HELTEC, 25$USD, 90$ with a case and battery, also needs a phone
- Standalone: T-Deck plus, has keyboard and screen (yes, like a BlackBerry), useful if you don't want to use your phone, 80$
- Solar relay: WishMesh Solar Repeater Mini, 100$USD, to put on your roof or in a tree, also consider the (untested) SenseCAP Solar Node P1
Let us know if you want to buy a lot so we can organize.
See also the official hardware list and our hardware review notes for more options.
Tip
If the device you picked comes with a removable antenna, make sure you connect the antenna before powering up the device. A radio that transmits without an antenna can damage itself!
Software
Once you have some hardware, you need to operate it. Typically, you download an app on your phone (Android, iOS) and control the device over Bluetooth or a USB cable. Some devices can also be controlled over WiFi or wired network. There is also a command line client, a web client, and lots more.
You might need to flash firmware on the device, which requires connecting the device to your computer (or phone?) and running a Chrome-derived web browser.
Anarcat wrote an advanced batch-flashing tool if you need to flash multiple devices, use at your own risk.
Settings
This section describes various settings we advise in the Meshtastic app.
Info
The two settings below are crucial to connect to the mesh. If those are not configured properly, you will not be able to talk to anyone else.
| Setting | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Modem preset | LONG_FAST |
default, don't change it (for now) |
| Region | US |
even though we're in Canada, pick the US preset because those are the frequencies (902.0 - 928.0 MHz) that apply here as well |
Optional
Those settings are optional, but recommended.
| Setting | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth: PIN | (random) | change the default PIN to some random value and keep it in your password manager |
| Device: Role | CLIENT |
consider CLIENT_BASE if you run a relay, don't change the role without reading the Choosing The Right Device Role guide |
| LoRa: Ignore MQTT | true |
this keeps traffic from the wider mesh from entering the network and reduces overall noise. |
| Position: GPS Mode | DISABLE |
or reduce the Position precision in the Channel configuration, otherwise you leak your position to the network by default |
| User: "Short Name" | (arbitrary) | only 4 characters, set to something easy to remember, this is what's visible on the map and chats |
| User: "Long Name" | (arbitrary) | set to something useful, but not offensive, ham operators can set their call sign here |