FAQ
Answers to common questions about LoRa mesh networking, MeshCore, Meshtastic, hardware, range, privacy, and legality.
📖 Start Here — FAQ Guide
This book answers the most common questions about LoRa mesh networking, MeshCore, and Meshtastic....
General Questions
Answers to the most common general questions about LoRa mesh networking, MeshCore, and Meshtastic...
Hardware and Setup
Answers to common questions about choosing hardware, flashing firmware, and configuring your firs...
Battery and Power
Answers to common questions about battery life, power management, battery chemistry, solar sizing...
Common Questions
Glossary
MeshCore Official FAQ
FAQ: 1. Introduction
1.1. Q: What is MeshCore? A: MeshCore is a multi platform system for enabling secure text based c...
FAQ: 2. Initial Setup
2.1. Q: How many devices do I need to start using MeshCore? A: If you have one supported device, ...
FAQ: 3. Server Administration
3.1. Q: How do you configure a repeater or a room server? A: - When MeshCore is flashed onto a Lo...
FAQ: 4. T-Deck Related
4.1. Q: Is there a user guide for T-Deck, T-Pager, T-Watch, or T-Display Pro? A: Yes, it is avail...
FAQ: 5. General
5.1. Q: What are BW, SF, and CR? A: BW is bandwidth - width of frequency spectrum that is used fo...
FAQ: 6. Troubleshooting
6.1. Q: My client says another client or a repeater or a room server was last seen many, many day...
FAQ: 7. Other Questions:
7.1. Q: How to update nRF (RAK, T114, Seed XIAO) companion, repeater and room server firmware ove...
Troubleshooting Guide
My node cannot connect to others
Work through these checks in order.Verify antenna is connected. Most common cause. Never transmit...
My messages are not getting through
First: identify the failure modeNode visible in list but messages do not arrive: routing or range...
My battery drains too fast
Step 1: Measure actual power drawUse a USB inline power meter to measure real current draw. This ...
My solar node keeps going offline
Systematic diagnosis in order of likelihood:Undersized battery or panel. Goes offline at night or...
Common Beginner Questions
Do I need an amateur radio license?
Short answer: No Meshtastic and MeshCore operate in the 902–928 MHz ISM band under FCC Part 15 ru...
How far can my node reach?
Range varies enormously by terrain, antenna height, modem preset, and local conditions.Realistic ...
MeshCore or Meshtastic - which should I choose?
Both are excellent. Choose based primarily on what your local community already uses. Don't pick ...
Hardware FAQ
Which board should I buy as a beginner?
Short answer: Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3 or T-Beam Supreme For most beginners in North America, eithe...
Why isn't my GPS getting a fix?
GPS fix time expectations Getting a GPS fix takes time - particularly on a cold start (first powe...
Can I use my node inside my house or vehicle?
Short Answer Yes, with significant range reduction. Interior use is practical for connecting to a...
Solar and Power FAQ
How big a solar panel do I need?
Short Answer For most LoRa mesh nodes: a 5W panel for nRF52840-based nodes, 10-20W for ESP32-base...
Why does my solar node keep dying at night?
Diagnosing Night Drain If your solar node runs fine during daylight but goes offline overnight, y...
What battery chemistry should I use outdoors?
Short Answer: LiFePO4 for outdoor deployments Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) is the recommended...
Networking and Range FAQ
How many hops can a message travel?
Meshtastic Hop Limits In Meshtastic, every packet is born with a "hop limit" - a countdown that d...
Why do I see duplicate messages?
Why Duplicates Happen Duplicate messages in Meshtastic are normal and expected - they are a featu...
What is channel utilization and why does it matter?
What Channel Utilization Means Channel utilization is the percentage of time the LoRa radio chann...
Firmware and Software FAQ
How do I update my Meshtastic firmware?
The Easy Way: Web Flasher The Meshtastic web flasher at flasher.meshtastic.org handles everything...
What Meshtastic firmware version should I run?
Always Run Stable Releases on Infrastructure Meshtastic releases three types of firmware builds: ...
How do I factory reset my node?
When to Factory Reset Factory reset clears all configuration and returns the node to out-of-box d...
Security and Privacy FAQ
Is Meshtastic encrypted? Can anyone read my messages?
Short Answer Meshtastic messages are encrypted, but the level of protection depends on which chan...
Who can see my location on the mesh?
How Position Data Spreads When position reporting is enabled on a Meshtastic node, GPS coordinate...
Can I trust MeshCore encryption for sensitive communications?
MeshCore Encryption Summary MeshCore provides two layers of encryption: Channel encryption - AE...
Troubleshooting Advanced Issues
My node is flooding the channel with repeated messages
My node is flooding the channel with repeated messages If you notice unusually high channel utili...
My Meshtastic node and MeshCore node cannot communicate
My Meshtastic node and MeshCore node cannot communicate This is one of the most common points of ...
RF interference is affecting my node — how do I diagnose it
RF Interference Is Affecting My Node - How to Diagnose It LoRa spread-spectrum modulation gives i...
MeshCore-Specific FAQ
What is the difference between a Repeater and Room Client in MeshCore?
What Is the Difference Between a Repeater and Room Client in MeshCore? MeshCore ships several fir...
How do I connect to a MeshCore room server from the app?
How Do I Connect to a MeshCore Room Server From the App? A MeshCore room server stores messages f...
Can I run MeshCore and Meshtastic simultaneously on the same hardware?
Can I Run MeshCore and Meshtastic Simultaneously on the Same Hardware? The short answer is: no. Y...
Community and Social FAQ
How do I find other mesh users in my area?
Finding local mesh users is one of the most common early questions - and one of the most importan...
How do I start a mesh network where there are none?
Starting from zero is actually common - most community networks were started by one person who go...
Can I use Meshtastic or MeshCore for commercial purposes?
The short answer: yes, with some limitations. Both platforms are open source with licenses that p...