Power Optimization Settings

Repeater and Router role nodes run withkeep the LoRa radio alwayson on,continuously, which isdraws thesignificantly dominant source ofmore power draw.than a client device that sleeps between uses. These settings minimize everything else to extend runtime on battery or solar power.

Disable Bluetooth

Once configured, a dedicated repeater does not need Bluetooth. Disabling it saves power and removes an unnecessary wireless interface.

meshtastic --set bluetooth.enabled false

Disable GPS (REPEATER role handles this automatically)

The REPEATER role does not broadcast position data, so GPS is effectively unused. If your board has a GPS module, you can disable it explicitly:

meshtastic --set position.gps_mode DISABLED

Disable the screen

If your device has a display, set the screen timeout to minimum or disable it entirely. Display backlights draw meaningful power.

meshtastic --set display.screen_on_secs 0

Set appropriate transmit power

Transmit power is the largest variable power draw. Set it to the minimum level needed for your coverage goals. Higher power is not always better — it also increases interference with nearby nodes.

meshtastic --set lora.tx_power 27

(27 dBm = 500 mW; adjust based on your antenna gain and coverage requirements while staying within FCC limits.)

ChooseUse athe balancedright modem preset — but match your local network

MoreModem aggressivepreset long-rangeaffects presetshow (like Very Long Slow) increase the timelong the radio spendsis transmitting each packet, increasingwhich directly impacts power consumption:

Slower, longer-range presets (Long Slow, Long Moderate) keep the radio transmitting longer per packet — higher average power draw.draw LongFastFaster providespresets (Medium Slow, Medium Fast) transmit each packet more quickly — lower average power draw, and better network capacity in dense areas Long Fast (firmware default) sits in the middle

Do not choose a goodpreset balancebased on power alone — you must use the same preset as the rest of rangeyour andlocal powernetwork. efficiencyCheck what preset your local community or regional network uses before deploying. See the Choosing a Modem Preset page for most deployments.guidance.

meshtastic --set lora.modem_preset LONG_FAST

Managed Mode (optional)

For a deployed repeater that should not be reconfigured by whoever is near it, enable managed mode to lock down configuration access. Only CLI/serial access can change settings when this is enabled.

meshtastic --set device.role MANAGED