# 📖 Start Here — MeshCore Guide

MeshCore is a path-routing LoRa mesh platform optimized for community networks. MeshCore floods to discover a route, then switches to direct routing for unicast (one-to-one) traffic, reducing overhead for repeat messages; group and channel traffic still floods. It also supports room servers for persistent messaging.

## 🚀 New to MeshCore? Start Here

1. [MeshCore Protocol Overview](/books/meshcore/page/meshcore-protocol-overview) - What makes MeshCore different
2. [MeshCore Firmware Types](/books/meshcore/page/meshcore-firmware-types) - Companion, Repeater, Room Server, Sensor - which do you need?
3. [MeshCore Setup Guide](/books/meshcore/page/meshcore-setup-guide) - Step-by-step first setup
4. [Getting Started with the MeshCore App](/books/meshcore/page/getting-started-with-the-meshcore-app)

## 📚 What's In This Book

### Understanding MeshCore

- [Path Discovery and Route Learning](/books/meshcore/page/path-discovery-and-route-learning) - How MeshCore floods the first message then routes directly afterward (flood-first, direct-route-after)
- [Why MeshCore Scales Better Than Flooding](/books/meshcore/page/why-meshcore-scales-better-than-flooding)
- [MeshCore Routing Architecture](/books/meshcore/page/meshcore-routing-architecture)
- [MeshCore Encryption Overview](/books/meshcore/page/meshcore-encryption-overview) - AES-128 in ECB mode with a 2-byte (truncated) cipher MAC for integrity; key agreement via Ed25519 keys transposed to X25519 (ECDH). SHA-256 is used for channel-key hashing.

### Hardware for MeshCore

- [Supported Hardware for MeshCore](/books/meshcore/page/supported-hardware-for-meshcore)
- [Choosing Hardware for MeshCore vs Meshtastic](/books/meshcore/page/choosing-hardware-for-meshcore-vs-meshtastic)
- [RAK WisBlock System for MeshCore](/books/meshcore/page/rak-wisblock-system-for-meshcore) - The preferred hardware platform

### Firmware

- [MeshCore Firmware Variants Explained](/books/meshcore/page/meshcore-firmware-variants-explained)
- [Flashing MeshCore Firmware](/books/meshcore/page/flashing-meshcore-firmware)
- [Keeping MeshCore Firmware Updated](/books/meshcore/page/keeping-meshcore-firmware-updated)
- [Firmware Governance and Canonical Sources](/books/meshcore/page/firmware-governance-and-canonical-sources-april-2026)

### Using the App

- [MeshCore App: Messaging and Contacts](/books/meshcore/page/meshcore-app-messaging-and-contacts)
- [MeshCore App: Radio Settings and Position](/books/meshcore/page/meshcore-app-radio-settings-and-position)

### CLI and Advanced Configuration

- [Connecting to Your Device (CLI)](/books/meshcore/page/connecting-to-your-device)
- [Full CLI Command Reference](/books/meshcore/page/full-command-reference)
- [Key Repeater Settings](/books/meshcore/page/key-repeater-settings)

### Security and Encryption

- [Understanding ECDH Key Exchange in MeshCore](/books/meshcore/page/understanding-ecdh-key-exchange-in-meshcore)
- [Channel Security and Private Networks](/books/meshcore/page/channel-security-and-private-networks)

### Developer and Protocol Reference

- [MeshCore Python API](/books/meshcore/page/meshcore-python-api)
- [MeshCore Packet Format Reference](/books/meshcore/page/meshcore-packet-format-reference)
- [MeshCore Companion Protocol (BLE API)](/books/meshcore/page/meshcore-companion-protocol-ble-api)
- [MeshCore Path Discovery Deep Dive](/books/meshcore/page/meshcore-path-discovery-deep-dive)

### Troubleshooting

- [Common Issues and Fixes](/books/meshcore/page/common-issues-and-fixes)
- [MeshCore Network Troubleshooting Reference](/books/meshcore/page/meshcore-network-troubleshooting-reference)

## ➡️ Related Books

- [MeshCore Repeaters](/books/meshcore-repeaters) - Setting up MeshCore infrastructure nodes
- [Room Servers & Gateways](/books/room-servers-gateways) - MeshCore room server setup and administration
- [Hardware Guide](/books/hardware-guide) - Choosing and buying the right hardware