Radio Settings and Presets
Correct radio settings are essential for your repeater to interoperate with other nodes. The simplest and most reliable approach is to use the built-in preset.
Use the USA/Canada preset
In the MeshCore app, navigate to Choose Preset and select USA/Canada (Recommended). This preset automatically applies the correct frequency plan, bandwidth, spreading factor, and coding rate for the North American MeshCore network.
Do not manually set individual radio parameters unless you understand their effects and have a specific reason to deviate. Incorrect settings will make your repeater invisible to the rest of the network.
What the preset sets
For reference, the USA/Canada preset resolves to settings within the 902–928 MHz band (commonly referred to as "915 MHz hardware"). You may see specific values like 910.525 MHz / SF7 / BW62.5 / CR5 displayed in the app. These values may vary by firmware version; what matters is using the same preset as the network you want to join.
Individual parameter reference
| Parameter | Recommended | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Set by preset | 902–928 MHz (US ISM band). Do not use EU 868 MHz hardware on the US network. |
| Bandwidth (BW) | Preset default | Narrower BW = longer range, slower speed. Leave at preset default for network compatibility. |
| Spreading Factor (SF) | Preset default | Higher SF = better range, lower throughput. Keep at preset default. |
| Coding Rate (CR) | Preset default | Higher CR = better error correction, more overhead. Keep at preset default. |
| Hop Limit | Up to 64 | Maximum hops before a message is dropped. In practice 3–5 hops spans substantial distances. Default is sufficient for most deployments. |
Public vs. private channel
Configure your repeater on the Public channel so all network participants benefit from your infrastructure. A repeater on a private or custom channel only relays messages for nodes that share that same channel configuration.
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