MeshCore Room Servers

• What is a Room Server?
• Room Server Setup & Configuration
• Dual Deployment: Repeater + Room Server

What is a Room Server?

What is a MeshCore Room Server?

A Room Server is a store-and-forward bulletin board that runs directly on a LoRa node running MeshCore firmware. It acts as a shared message board for the mesh community - any node that can reach the room server can post and read messages without needing internet access or a central server.

Key Characteristics

• Storage: Messages are held in RAM and cleared on power cycle - there is no persistent storage. The exact message capacity depends on firmware version.
• Access control: Three-tier password system (Admin, Guest, and unauthenticated read-only).
• Repeater hybrid: A room server can also be configured as a repeater with set repeat on, but this is a trade-off - room servers benefit from an indoor location for USB/Bluetooth administration, whereas repeaters perform best with a high external antenna.
• Radio requirements: The room server's radio preset must match the network's companions and repeaters or it will not be discoverable.

Password Tiers

Role	Default Password	Permissions
Admin	password	Full control: manage users, delete messages, change all settings
Guest	hello	Read and write messages
None (no password)	N/A	Read-only access

Warning: Both default passwords must be changed immediately after first login. The default admin password password and guest password hello are publicly known.

Why Room Servers Matter

Room servers enable asynchronous community communication entirely over the mesh. A traveler passing through can read recent area messages, a neighborhood can coordinate during a power outage, or volunteers can leave notes for the next person who checks in - all without any internet connection or cellular infrastructure.

Room Server Setup & Configuration

Step 1 - Flash Room Server Firmware

Use the MeshCore web flasher at flasher.meshcore.io. Select your hardware (e.g., Heltec V3) and choose the Room Server firmware variant.

Step 2 - Connect via Serial or Bluetooth

Connect via USB serial at 115200 baud using a terminal emulator (PuTTY, screen, minicom) or via Bluetooth using the MeshCore companion app.

Step 3 - Immediate Security: Change Default Passwords

Before anything else, change both default passwords. The defaults are publicly documented and must not remain in production:

password yourSecureAdminPassword
set guest.password yourSecureGuestPassword

Step 4 - Set Node Identity and Location

set name MyRoomServer
set lat 46.879682
set lon -96.789803

Accurate coordinates allow the room server to appear correctly on network maps and help users gauge how far they are from it.

Step 5 - Verify Radio Preset

The room server's radio settings must match the network. For most North American MeshCore networks (NoDakMesh, RegionMesh, etc.):

• Frequency: 910.525 MHz
• Bandwidth: 62.5 kHz
• Spreading Factor: SF7
• Coding Rate: CR5

Apply the USA/Canada preset from the firmware menu or companion app to set these automatically.

Step 6 - Optional: Enable Repeat Mode

If there is no separate repeater at this location, you can enable packet relay on the room server:

set repeat on

See Dual Deployment: Repeater + Room Server for why a dedicated repeater device is preferred over this option.

Step 7 - Broadcast Presence

Trigger an immediate advertisement so other nodes discover the room server without waiting for the next scheduled broadcast:

advert

Complete Configuration Reference

set guest.password yourGuestPassword
password yourAdminPassword
set name MyRoomServer
set lat 46.879682
set lon -96.789803
set repeat on # optional: also relay packets
advert # broadcast presence immediately

Dual Deployment: Repeater + Room Server

Dual Deployment: Separate Repeater and Room Server

The recommended best practice for any fixed site is to deploy two separate devices rather than enabling repeat mode on the room server.

Why Two Devices?

A repeater and a room server have conflicting placement requirements:

Device	Ideal Placement	Why
Repeater	Outdoors, elevated, high external antenna	Maximum RF range in all directions
Room Server	Indoors, near power and USB/BT access	Easy administration, configuration, and monitoring

Forcing one device to do both jobs means compromising on placement - either the repeater antenna is too low, or the room server is too hard to access for administration.

Recommended Hardware

• Device 1 (Repeater): Heltec V3 flashed with Repeater firmware + high-gain external antenna (fiberglass omni or directional yagi)
• Device 2 (Room Server): Heltec V3 flashed with Room Server firmware + stock indoor antenna

Cost

Two Heltec V3 units cost approximately $40 - $60 total (as of 2025 pricing). This is a minimal investment for a significant capability improvement at a fixed site.

When Single-Device is Acceptable

If budget or space constraints make dual deployment impossible, enabling set repeat on on the room server is workable - it simply won't perform as well as a dedicated repeater at height. In that case, do your best to place the device near a window or in an elevated location to improve the antenna's line of sight.