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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 for offline nodes and enables larger-group conversations that persist beyond the RF range of any single transmission. Connecting to one from the MeshCore app is straightforward once you have the server address, port, and room key from your community administrator.

Step-by-step connection

  1. Open the MeshCore app on your phone and ensure your node is connected via Bluetooth.
  2. Tap the Settings icon (gear icon, usually in the top-right or side menu).
  3. Select Room Servers from the settings list.
  4. Tap Add Server (or the + button).
  5. Enter the server address —- this is the hostname or IP address of the server running pyMC_Repeater or another MeshCore room server implementation (e.g., mesh.example.com or 192.168.1.50).
  6. Enter the port number. The default port for MeshCore room servers is 5005. Your administrator may have configured a non-standard port.
  7. Enter the room key. This is a shared secret provided by your community administrator. It must match exactly, including capitalization.
  8. Tap Save or Connect. The app will attempt to establish a connection. A green indicator or Connected status confirms success.

Troubleshooting connection failures

If the connection fails, work through these checks systematically:

Connection refused error

  • The room server process is not running. On a Raspberry Pi or Linux server, check with:
    sudo journalctl -u meshcore-room-server -n 50
    Look for startup errors or crash messages.
  • The port is wrong. Verify with your administrator what port is in use.
  • A firewall is blocking the connection. On the server, confirm the port is open:
    sudo ufw status
    or
    sudo iptables -L -n | grep 5005

Authentication failed or wrong key error

  • The room key you entered does not match the server configured key. Keys are case-sensitive. Try re-entering it manually rather than copy-pasting to rule out invisible characters.
  • The server may have had its key rotated. Ask your administrator for the current key.

App shows Connecting indefinitely

  • Your phone cannot reach the server. Try opening a browser and navigating to http://[server-address]:[port] —- if it times out, the network path is blocked.
  • If you are on a mobile data connection, your carrier may be blocking the port. Try connecting over Wi-Fi first to confirm the server is reachable.
  • The server address may have changed. DNS may have cached an old IP. Try using the IP address directly.

Verifying the server is running (for administrators)

On the server host:

sudo systemctl status meshcore-room-server
sudo journalctl -f -u meshcore-room-server

You should see lines indicating the server is listening on the configured port. Incoming connection attempts will be logged when clients connect.

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