Rebroadcast Mode: ALL_SKIP_DECODING
The rebroadcast mode controls how a node handles incoming packets for retransmission. For repeater deployments, ALL_SKIP_DECODING is strongly recommended. Note that ALL_SKIP_DECODING is only available when the device role is REPEATER - on any other role (including ROUTER) the setting behaves as ALL. If your node uses the ROUTER role, use rebroadcast mode ALL instead.
What ALL_SKIP_DECODING does
In this mode, the node rebroadcasts valid LoRa packets without attempting to decode or decrypt them. This mode is only available when device.role is REPEATER. It has several important advantages:
- Lower CPU usage and power draw - the node skips the packet-decoding/duplicate-check processing entirely, and it never decrypts or re-encrypts payloads
- Relays channels whose key it does not have - Meshtastic relays based on the unencrypted packet header, so a repeater forwards packets on any channel that shares its modem settings (preset/frequency), even private channels whose pre-shared key (PSK) - the encryption key that secures a private channel - the repeater does not hold. This lets one public repeater carry traffic for multiple user groups, provided they are all on the same modem preset.
- Preserves end-to-end encryption - messages are never decrypted at the repeater; the original encrypted packet is forwarded unchanged, maintaining the security model
- Faster retransmission - less processing time per packet means faster relay
Setting ALL_SKIP_DECODING via app
- Connect to your device in the Meshtastic app
- Make sure the device role is set to REPEATER first - the
ALL_SKIP_DECODINGoption only applies on the REPEATER role - Go to Settings → Device
- Find Rebroadcast Mode and select ALL_SKIP_DECODING
- Save and allow the device to reboot
Setting ALL_SKIP_DECODING via CLI
meshtastic --set device.rebroadcast_mode ALL_SKIP_DECODINGThis is only valid when device.role is REPEATER. The setting lives under the device. namespace, not lora.
Other rebroadcast modes (for reference)
| Mode | Behavior | Use case |
|---|---|---|
ALL_SKIP_DECODING | Rebroadcasts without decoding or decrypting | Recommended for all repeater deployments; requires REPEATER role |
ALL | Processes/validates packets (including duplicate detection) before rebroadcasting the original encrypted packet; does not decrypt or re-encrypt payloads | Default; used on ROUTER and other roles that should relay |
LOCAL_ONLY | Does not relay to other nodes | Not suitable for repeaters |
NONE | No rebroadcasting (only permitted for SENSOR/TRACKER/TAK_TRACKER roles) | Not suitable for repeaters |