MeshCore Quick Start Guide

• MeshCore is a simple, secure, off-grid, mesh communications app.
• It’s powered by long range LoRa radios and the open source MeshCore firmware.
• You can send text messages to other mesh nodes that are in radio range without the internet. This means it still works even when WiFi, Cellular and Starlink are down.
• Solar powered repeater nodes can be placed on high points to increase messaging range.

• The MeshCore app downloaded to your phone or computer.
• A mesh node with the MeshCore companion firmware to send messages from.
• If needed, a mesh node with the MeshCore repeater firmware to extend messaging range.
• Each person that wants to send messages will need their own companion node.

• Search for “MeshCore” by “Liam Cottle” on Google Play or the Apple App Store.
• Alternatively, download for Windows, MacOS and Web from https://meshcore.io
• You should save an offline copy of the software so it’s available without the internet.

• Recommended devices are listed at https://meshcore.io
• Alternatively, supported devices listed on https://meshcore.io/flasher can be purchased online from overseas suppliers such as AliExpress or SeeedStudio, or Robot Shop in Canada.

sudo usermod -a -G dialout USER

If you already have Meshcore installed, download your current settings:

• Open the MeshCore app (Android, iOS, Web App, NodeJS, Python)
• Navigate to the Settings (the gear in the top right corner)
• Scroll down to the “Extra Tools” section and select “Export Config”
• “Select All” and click on the check mark in the top right corner to save the “.json” file to your phone.

Flash the Meshcore Firmware:

• Connect the companion device to your computer via USB.
• Go to https://meshcore.io/flasher (using a Chromium Browser).
• Select your device
• Select Companion Bluetooth
• Select Enter DFU Mode
• Select Erase Flash
• Select Flash

To re-load the config file:

• Open the MeshCore App
• Connect to the companion device, but it probably had a different bluetooth name now
• The PIN might be listed on your companion's screen
• Skip Setup
• Navigate to the Settings (the gear in the top right corner)
• Scroll down to the “Extra Tools” section and select “Import Config”
• Click on “Select File”
• Select the “*.json” file
• “Select All” and click on the check mark in the top right corner.

See Scott Baker's article for more information.

• Turn on your node.
• Open the MeshCore App.
• Tap the “Connect” button in the top right corner.
• Tap the “MeshCore-XXXX” device that matches the name shown on your MeshCore device’s screen.
• Enter the PIN displayed on your MeshCore device’s screen.
• If your device doesn’t have a screen, the default pin is 123456.
• Once pairing is successful, you’ll be taken to the main screen.

You should now rename your MeshCore node. The name you choose will be seen by other users on the MeshCore network.

• Tap the settings icon in the top right corner.
• Tap the name field, backspace until it’s empty, then type your name.
• After entering your name, tap the tick icon in the top right to save it.

MeshCore can be used all over the world. Different countries have different regulations on which radio frequencies can be used for public, license free communication. To ensure your node is operating legally, please make sure to select radio settings that are compliant in your country.

The MeshCore app provides a list of radio presets that have been suggested by the community for use in specific countries/regions.

To configure the radio settings for your MeshCore node:

• Tap the settings icon in the top right corner.
• Tap the “Choose Preset” button in the radio settings section.
• Tap the radio settings that match the name of your country/region.
• You will be taken back to the settings screen.
• Tap the tick icon in the top right corner to save your settings.

Messages sent to the Public channel can be seen by anyone on the MeshCore network. They are repeated across the mesh by all repeaters that hear them. Other mesh nodes in range of you or a repeater that rebroadcast the message, should receive it.

The public channel can be used as a large group chat for general conversation amongst all users on the mesh. It could also be used to send emergency alerts.

It’s not recommended to send confidential information on the public channel as anyone can read these messages.

To send a message:

• Tap the channels tab at the bottom of the screen.
• Tap the “Public” channel.
• Type a message and press the send icon.

Before you can send private, encrypted, direct messages to someone, you and the person you send the message to must both add each other as contacts. If the other person doesn’t also add you as a contact, your messages to them will fail to deliver.

Contacts can be added in multiple ways:

• Privately in person by scanning QR Codes.
• Publicly via the mesh by sending and receiving an “Advert”.

To share your contact details privately via QR Code:

• Tap the 3 dot menu in the top right.
• Tap the “My Contact Code” menu item.
• Show the QR Code to the other person.

• Tap the 3 dot menu in the top right.
• Tap the “Add Contact” menu item.
• Tap the “Scan QR Code” button.
• If requested, grant access to the device’s camera.
• Point the device’s camera at the QR Code.
• The contact details will be automatically added to your contacts list.

If you are unable to privately share your contact details in person via a QR Code, you may alternatively share them publicly to everyone on the mesh by sending an “Advert”.

An advert is an unencrypted packet transmitted by your MeshCore node. It includes your node name, node type, public identity key and a cryptographic signature to prevent anyone from tampering with the information as it’s sent across the mesh.

You can send two types of adverts:

To share your contact details publicly via the mesh:

• Tap the signal icon in the top right.
• Tap the “Advert (Zero Hop)” or “Advert (Flood Routed)” menu item.
• Your contact details will be transmitted to the mesh.

Once you’ve added a contact, and that contact has added you back, you can send private messages to each other across the mesh. These messages are encrypted and only the intended recipient can read the message contents.

To send a private message:

• Tap the contact you want to send a message to.
• Type a message and press the send icon.
• The app will try several times to deliver your message to the recipient.
• If it’s successful, it will show “Delivered” with a check mark.
• If an automatic acknowledgement from the recipient is not received after some time, the message will turn red and show as “Failed”.
• When messages are received, they will show up in the conversation viewer.

When you send a direct message to someone, it’s possible that it may not go through after several automatic attempts. This can happen for many different reasons, such as:

• Being out of range of the intended recipient.
• There are no repeaters in between you and the intended recipient.
• The intended recipient’s radio might be turned off.
• There might be interference on the radio spectrum.

To try sending the failed message again:

• Long press the failed message shown in red.
• Tap the “Retry Sending” button shown in the message actions popup.
• Your message will try sending again.

To check the signal strength to and from a nearby repeater, you can run a ping test.

• Tap the 3 dot menu icon next to a repeater contact.
• Tap the “Ping (Zero Hop)” menu item.
• A green popup will show signal strengths if successful.
• A red popup will show “Timeout” if your companion didn’t hear the repeater.

• Create/Join Private Channels
• Create/Join Public Hashtag Channels
• Backup / Export Config
• Restore / Import Config
• Repeater Trace Tools
• Discover Nearby Nodes
• Repeater Remote Management
• Internet Map
• Discover Map
• Settings
• Telemetry and Sensors
• Region Scoping
• Best Practices
  • Upgrade Antenna
  • Ensure antenna is vertical
  • Ensure antenna has line of sight to repeaters
  • More reliable outside in the open, less reliable inside buildings
  • Keep companion radio charged, can be plugged in while in use
  • Take regular config exports to save identity and contacts
• Troubleshooting
  • Node won’t power on
  • Node can’t send or receive any messages with other nodes