Guides
Step-by-step tutorials, setup guides, and how-to articles for Meshtastic and MeshCore.
MeshCore App Guide: Setup, Contacts, Channels and Repeaters
How to use the official MeshCore app: pairing, radio presets, adverts, contacts, channels, direct messages, repeater login, backups and common fixes.
MeshCore Repeater Not Showing Up or Not Repeating? Fixes
Why a MeshCore repeater doesn't show up in the app or on the map, stops relaying, or won't log in, and the CLI commands that fix each one in 1.18.
Meshtastic 2.8: Why Your Node Disappeared From the Map
Meshtastic 2.8 turns off position and telemetry sharing on public channels, even on upgrade. Why your node left the map and how to share again.
Meshtastic Ham Mode: New 2 m, 1.25 m and 70 cm Regions
Meshtastic 2.8 adds licensed Ham Mode and amateur regions on 2 m, 1.25 m and 70 cm. What it changes, the default frequencies, and the hardware you need.
Meshtastic Lock Icons and Public Key Mismatch Explained
What the green, yellow and red locks mean in the Meshtastic app, why a node shows Public key mismatch and how to fix it, and the new 2.8 signed badges.
Meshtastic LongTurbo vs LongFast: Why New Nodes Hear Nothing
Meshtastic 2.8 starts new US nodes on LongTurbo, which can't hear LongFast meshes. Why it happens, how to check, and how to switch back.
Meshtastic Not Seeing Other Nodes? How to Fix It
An empty Meshtastic node list or messages that never deliver, fixed in order of likelihood: region, preset, channel, transmit, timing, filters and hops.
Meshtastic Packet Signing Explained: What 2.8 Protects
Meshtastic 2.8 signs broadcasts with XEdDSA. What a signature proves, what it doesn't, the three receive policies, and why 2.8.0 was pulled.
Meshtastic 2.8 Traffic Management and Automatic Hop Limits
Meshtastic 2.8 trims busy meshes with position dedup and automatic hop limits. What runs by default, what's opt-in, and what it means for your node.
MeshCore Companion CLI Guide: Commands and Remote CLI
How to use the MeshCore companion CLI added in firmware 1.18: every command, WiFi setup over Bluetooth, and how to grant Remote CLI safely.
FCC Part 15.247: The 500 kHz Minimum and LoRa Mesh
Part 15.247 sets a 500 kHz minimum 6 dB bandwidth for digital modulation at 900 MHz. What the rule says, and where Meshtastic and MeshCore presets land.
Seeed MeshCore Starter Kit: Solar Repeater + Client Bundle
Seeed's MeshCore Starter Kit bundles a solar repeater and Wio Tracker L1 Pro into one off-grid mesh. Antenna picks, setup tips, and who it's for.
MeshCore Path Hash Modes Explained: 1, 2, and 3 Byte
How MeshCore's 1, 2, and 3 byte path hashes work, why 1-byte collides at scale, and when to switch. Guide to path.hash.mode for growing meshes.
Meshtastic Range Test: Map Your Mesh Coverage
Measure and map Meshtastic coverage with the range test module, trace route, signal metrics, and MeshMapper. Field tips for flat-plains deployments.
Meshtastic MQTT Setup: Bridge Your Mesh to the Internet
Set up MQTT on Meshtastic to bridge your LoRa mesh to the internet. Uplink/downlink, public vs self-hosted broker, Home Assistant, Grafana.
MeshCore for Emergency Preparedness: A Field Guide
Build a MeshCore emergency comms network. Repeater placement, hardware kits, real-world North Dakota scenarios, and ARES/RACES/VFD integration.
Solar MeshCore Repeater Build Guide: Parts to Deployment
Full build guide for a solar MeshCore repeater. Parts list, wiring, firmware flashing, weatherproofing, and ND-winter solar sizing.
MeshCore Off-Grid Repeat: Companion as Temporary Repeater
Off-Grid Repeat lets your MeshCore companion forward packets for other nodes. How to enable it, when to use it, and the tradeoffs.
MeshCore Open: Free Companion App for Android, iOS, Desktop
MeshCore Open is a free, open-source companion app for MeshCore LoRa mesh devices across Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, macOS, and web.
How MeshCore Works: Companions, Repeaters and Room Servers
A plain-English guide to MeshCore: what companions, repeaters and room servers do, how messages find a path, which frequency to use, and common fixes.
MeshMapper Guide: Wardriving MeshCore Coverage
Map real MeshCore RF coverage with MeshMapper. The five modes, how to read the colors, MQTT observer setup, and how to get your region online.
RAK WisMesh 1W vs RAK4631: Which WisBlock to Buy
Hardware comparison of the RAK WisMesh 1W Booster (RAK10724) and the RAK4631 WisBlock. TX power, receiver, power draw, firmware support, price.
NanoVNA Antenna Testing for 915 MHz LoRa Mesh Nodes
Measure SWR, impedance, and resonant frequency on 915 MHz LoRa antennas with a NanoVNA. Calibration, reading the display, and what good looks like.
EasySkyMesh: Power-Efficient MeshCore Firmware
EasySkyMesh publishes MeshCore firmware tuned for low idle current: 8-10 mA on Heltec V3 and RAK4631 repeaters. Why that matters for solar nodes.
Best Portable Mesh Nodes for 2025: Field-Tested Picks
Top 5 LoRa mesh nodes for Meshtastic and MeshCore in 2025. T-Echo, SenseCAP T1000-E, RAK WisMesh Tag, T-Deck Plus, T-Beam Supreme.
MeshCore Not Showing Other Nodes? How Discovery Works
Empty MeshCore contact list? Unlike Meshtastic, MeshCore stays quiet until a node sends an advert. Here's how to advertise and find other nodes.
What Is a LoRa Mesh Network? The Beginner's Guide
LoRa mesh networks send text and GPS data miles over long-range radio without cell service or internet. Here's how they work and why they matter.
Harbor Breeze Solar Meshtastic Node: $10 Build Guide
Turn a Harbor Breeze solar garden light into a weatherproof solar-powered LoRa mesh node with RAK WisBlock. Full BOM, wiring, and setup.
Meshtastic Device Roles Explained: All 12 Types
Every Meshtastic device role covered. What each does, when to use it, and how wrong role choices quietly kill a mesh. Field-tested guidance.