Setup and Configuration Questions

My device won't show up in the app. What do I check?

1. Is Bluetooth enabled? The app connects via BLE. Ensure Bluetooth is on in your phone settings and the app has Bluetooth permission.
2. Is the device powered and running? Check for activity LED or screen (if present). Some devices show no activity when running normally — this doesn't mean they're off.
3. Driver installed? For Heltec V4: the CH340 USB driver must be installed on Windows and may need manual installation on some Macs. For nRF52840 devices (RAK4631, T-Echo): standard USB CDC driver, usually auto-installs.
4. Reboot the device: Hold the reset button or power-cycle. Some devices get stuck during initialization.
5. Is the device in setup mode? Some devices require a specific button sequence to enter BLE pairing mode. Check your device's documentation.

What preset should I use?

For MeshCore in the US and Canada: Use the USA/Canada preset. This is the community standard across all major North American MeshCore networks. In the MeshCore app: Settings → Radio → Choose Preset → USA/Canada (Recommended).

For Meshtastic: Check what your local community uses. Long Fast is the Meshtastic firmware default and is widely used in sparse networks. Medium Slow is increasingly common in dense urban networks. Nodes on different presets cannot hear each other even on the same channel name. Always confirm with your local community first.

My messages are sending but nobody replies. Is it working?

Possible explanations:

• Nobody else is on the network in your area right now. Mesh communities are most active in areas with established infrastructure.
• You're on a different preset from others in the area. Verify your preset matches the community standard.
• You're on a private or custom channel that others aren't monitoring. Switch to the default public channel.
• You're sending but no nodes are in range to receive. Try moving to higher elevation and try again.

To test whether your node is working at all: pair two devices you control, confirm they hear each other, then check signal quality (RSSI/SNR).

What role should I set my node to?

• Client (Meshtastic) / Client (MeshCore): Your default for a phone-paired portable node. Participates in the mesh, sends and receives messages. Sleeps periodically to save battery.
• Router (Meshtastic): Like Client but stays awake and actively forwards messages. For nodes in good locations left running semi-permanently.
• Repeater (MeshCore) / Repeater (Meshtastic): Full-time infrastructure node. Forwards all packets. Does not broadcast its own position by default (MeshCore). Use for permanently deployed nodes.

When in doubt: use Client. Putting a poorly-placed node in Router or Repeater mode can actually degrade network performance by increasing traffic without improving coverage.

How do I know my repeater is actually working?

After deploying a new repeater:

1. Check that it appears in the network map (meshmap.net for Meshtastic; your regional MeshCore map)
2. Verify another node within range shows the repeater in its contact list (MeshCore) or node list (Meshtastic)
3. Send a message from 2+ miles away and confirm it routes through the repeater (check the hop count)
4. For MeshCore: enable flood advertisements so the repeater is visible across the network, then check that remote nodes can see it

How do I update firmware on my device?

The easiest method for most devices:

1. Connect device to computer via USB
2. For MeshCore: open meshcore.io/flasher in Chrome or Edge
3. For Meshtastic: open flasher.meshtastic.org in Chrome or Edge
4. Select your device type, select the latest firmware version, click Flash
5. Wait for completion — device will reboot automatically

After flashing, your radio settings are preserved but verify them before putting the node back in service. A firmware update can occasionally reset settings to defaults on some devices.