# MeshCore Repeater Name and Identity

Every MeshCore repeater broadcasts an identity advertisement that makes it visible to the network. Setting a meaningful name and position makes your repeater useful to the wider community.

## Setting a Repeater Name

The repeater name appears in client apps when users are selecting which repeaters to contact or route through. Use a consistent naming convention for community repeaters:

- **Geographic convention** - Name by location: `W5ABC-Mt-Wilson`, `K6XYZ-Oakland-Hills`, `WA7QRS-Snoqualmie`
- **Grid square convention** - Used by some communities: `DM04-Repeater-1`
- **Descriptive** - Simple but clear: `Downtown-SF-Roof`, `I-5-Corridor-N`

Configure via the MeshCore app or serial console:

```
set name MyRepeaterName
```

Keep names under 20 characters for best display compatibility across client apps.

## Setting Geographic Position

Position data is included in flood advertisements, making your repeater visible on network maps and helping operators understand coverage. Configure with decimal degrees:

```
set lat 37.7749
set lon -122.4194
set alt 52
```

Altitude is in meters above sea level. Accurate position data helps network planners understand repeater height and expected coverage radius. Use your deployment coordinates, not your home address - the position is broadcast to the entire network.

## Advertisement Configuration

Control how and how often your repeater announces itself:

```
set advert_interval 720
```

Value is in minutes. Default 720 (12 hours) is appropriate for stable, permanent deployments. Reduce to 60 minutes during initial deployment to confirm the repeater is appearing in client apps; return to 720 minutes for steady-state operation to minimize network load.

### Flood vs Local Advertisement

```
set advert_hops 3
```

`advert_hops 0` - advertisement is only visible to nodes in direct radio range (local-only repeater). `advert_hops 3` - advertisement propagates 3 hops through the mesh, making the repeater discoverable to distant nodes. Use flood advertisements for public community repeaters; use local-only for private or testing nodes.