Getting Connected with Meshtastic

Matt Robinson (brimstone)
@brimstone@mastodon.social
brimstone.github.io/meshtastic-prezo

Ah ha!

mtnme.sh

Meshville, TN

meshville.org

History

LoRa

Long Range

Low power wireless communication protocol
~10km (6.2mi) in perfect conditions
More like 2mi in Atlanta trees
Created by Cycleo, Grenoble, France
Patented in 2014
Now owned by Semtech

LoRa Alliance

Amazon Web Services
Cisco
a Comcast Company
Microsoft
MikroTik
Semtech
The Things Industries

Notable Applications

Crypto mining via Helium
Amazon Sidewalk

Devices

Official Devices Docs
42 boards supported by firmware

Radio

Everyone uses the SX1262
RFM96W is also a thing, I guess

## Built Boards

| Manufacturer   | Model           | Price    | mμ       | LCD?         | GPS?         | Battery?   | Solar?   |
              | -------------- | --------------- | -------- | -------- | ------------ | ------------ | ---------- | -------- |
              | Heltec         | v3              | ~$17     | ESP32-S3 | OLED         | Solder It    | 2*1.25 JST | No       |
              | Heltec         | T114            | $27~$40  | nRF52840 | Color TFT    | Dongle       | 2*1.25 JST | Yes      |
              | Rak Wireless   | RAK4631         | $30~$61  | nRF52840 | Module       | Module       | Depends!   | Depends! |
              | B&Q Consulting | Station G2      | $109     | ESP32-S3 | 1.3" OLED    | GROVE Module | No         | No?      |
              | LilyGo         | T-Beam Supreme  | $34~$75  | ESP32-S3 | 1.3" OLED    | Yes          | 18650      | No?      |
              | LilyGo         | T-Echo          | $55      | nRF52840 | 1.54 E-Paper | Yes          | 850mAh     | No       |
              | LilyGo         | T-Deck          | $60~$140 | ESP32-S3 | Color TFT    | Solder It    | 2*1.25 JST | No       |

Heltec

v3 & T114

Rak Wireless

RAK4631 & Starter Kit

Rak Wireless

WisBlock

B&Q Consulting

Station G2

LilyGo

T-Echo

LilyGo

T-Beam

LilyGo

T-Deck

Sensecap

t1000

Raw

E22-900M30S

MeshADV

github.com/chrismyers2000/MeshAdv-Pi-Hat

Flashing the firmware

flasher.meshtastic.org Chrome/Edge
pip install esptool
cp firmware.uf2 /mnt/nRF52840

Initial Pairing

client.meshtastic.org Chrome/Edge
Mobile app via BLE

PIN on screen
PIN 123456
Check serial output

pip install meshtastic

Initial Setup

Region - US
Name
Short name - 4 bytes, emoji?

Channel Options

LONG_FAST (1.07 kbps)
it's fine.
Bandwidth
Spread Factor
Coding Rate
it's fine.
SHORT_FAST @ DEF CON (10.94 kbps)

Role

CLIENT (stationary, relay messages)
CLIENT_MUTE (moving, no relay)

Settings

serial.enabled = true
device.tzdef = EST5EDT,M3.2.0/2:00:00,M11.1.0/2:00:00
device.ledHeartbeatDisabled = true
neighborInfo.enabled = true
lora.hopLimit = 7 (max)
Some meshes may suggest different settings

Antennas

again, the docs

github.com/meshtastic/antenna-reports repo
SMA for mobile units, N for stations

SMA / RP-SMA

N / RP-N

SWR graph

Standing Wave Ratio

"standing wave ratio (SWR) is a measure of impedance matching of loads to the characteristic impedance of a transmission line or waveguide." - Wikipedia

just get something from rokland

(or anywhere that has nerdy graphs)

TX915-BLG-40

Where to buy

Direct from Manufacturer

Muzi Works

muzi.works

Based in Atlanta, GA
Official for Heltec
Pretty cases
Doesn't participate in North Georgia mesh???

Rokland

store.rokland.com

Based in Gainsville, FL
Heltec, RAK, LilyGo
Antennas!

Etsy

etsy.com

3D printed cases
fully assembled devices

FIN

Questions?