Documentation

• 1: Getting Started
• 1.1: Start Here
• 1.2: Get a node
• 1.3: Flash Firmware
• 1.4: Initial Setup
• 1.5: Use the App
• 1.6: Go Further
• 1.7: Local Community
• 2: Contribution Guidelines
• 3: Reference
• 3.1: Node Configuration Reference
• 3.2: Advanced Configuration - MQTT & Telemetry
• 4: Amateur Radio & Meshtastic
• 5: Map

1 - Getting Started

Welcome to Hoosier Mesh. This getting started guide is broken into short steps so you can move at your own pace.

Start here

1. Start here - Safety, cables, and device basics
2. Get a node - Hardware options and buying guidance
3. Flash firmware - Drivers and the web flasher
4. Initial setup - Core configuration for Indiana
5. Use the app - Pairing and basic features
6. Go further - Antennas, tools, and resources
7. Local community - Maps, networks, and help

1.1 - Start Here

Before you begin

Verify your data cable

Before connecting your device to your computer, make sure your USB cable supports both charging and data transfer. Some cables are charge-only and won’t work for flashing firmware.

To verify your cable:

• Try connecting it to your phone or another device
• Attempt to copy a file to or from the device
• If file transfer works, your cable can also transfer data and is ready to use

Identify your board

Before you begin, decide on your first device. Check out the Get a Node guide to help you choose the right hardware for your needs and budget.

Once you have your device, identify its manufacturer and designation (for example ESP32, nRF52, RP2040). You will need this information to select the correct drivers and firmware.

Board name and designation: _______________________

Chipset overview

Meshtastic supports several chipset types, each with different advantages:

• ESP32-based devices: Equipped with WiFi and Bluetooth; ideal for web interface access and WiFi configuration. ESP32-S3 variants offer improved performance. Higher power consumption than nRF52.
• nRF52-based devices: Much more power efficient than ESP32; ideal for battery-powered and solar deployments. Equipped with Bluetooth only (no WiFi). Uses the UF2 bootloader for easy updates.
• RP2040-based devices: Dual-core ARM chip developed by Raspberry Pi. Cost-effective for DIY projects. Use the UF2 bootloader and appear as flash drives.
• Semtech-based devices: Choose newer SX126x or LR11xx series for improved performance over the older SX127x series.

1.2 - Get a node

Ready to join the mesh? This guide will help you find the right Meshtastic device for your needs. Whether you’re looking for a portable tracker, a fixed solar repeater, or something in between, there’s a device for you.

Where to Buy

Official Partner Brands

These manufacturers produce officially supported Meshtastic hardware with excellent documentation and community support:

• Heltec - Popular ESP32-based devices, great for grid power
• RAK Wireless - nRF52-based WisBlock system with modular design
• Lilygo - Wide variety of ESP32 devices with screens and GPS
• Seeed Studios - Premium solar nodes and trackers

Community Supported Brands

• Meshnology - Custom designed Meshtastic devices
• Muzi Works - High-quality nRF52 nodes with GPS
• Atlavox - Solar-powered beacon nodes
• Elecrow - Affordable options with varied feature sets
• B&Q Station G2 - High-power licensed ham operator station
• LowMesh - Compact pocket nodes
• Peak Mesh - Custom builds on Etsy
• Spec5 - Custom builds on Etsy

Retailers

• Rokland - US-based retailer with good selection
• Amazon - Various models available with Prime shipping

Popular Device Models

General Purpose Devices

These devices are great for everyday use - portable, on-body, desktop, or vehicle mounting. They typically include screens, GPS, and good battery life.

Solar Repeaters & Fixed Nodes

These devices are designed for outdoor installation, solar power, and long-term unattended operation. Perfect for extending network coverage.

Need Help Choosing?

• New to mesh? Start with a Heltec V3/V4 or RAK WisMesh Pocket
• Want maximum battery life? Choose any nRF52 device
• Need WiFi? Go with ESP32 devices like Heltec or Lilygo
• Building a repeater? Check out solar nodes from Seeed or Atlavox
• On a budget? Elecrow ThinkNodes offer great value

Still not sure? Ask for recommendations on the Indiana Mesh Discord!

1.3 - Flash Firmware

Browser requirements

1. Visit the Meshtastic website and navigate to the Getting Started section
2. Follow the instructions for your device type to download and install any required drivers

Driver notes

• Only download serial drivers if your device requires them
• After installing drivers (if needed), restart your computer

Flash the firmware

1. Return to the Meshtastic.org Getting Started section
2. Use the web flasher or follow the provided instructions to flash the Meshtastic firmware onto your device

1.4 - Initial Setup

Access the settings menu by pressing the settings cog icon. The recommended configuration for nodes in the Indiana mesh network is documented in detail on the Node Configuration Reference page.

Key settings to review:

• LoRa settings: Set region to US 915, preset to “Long Range - Fast”
• Channels: Configure the default “Long Fast” channel
• User configuration: Set your node name and long/short identifiers
• Device role: Set to CLIENT (or CLIENT_BASE for roof nodes)
• Position: Enable position broadcasting at 6-hour intervals

For the complete list of recommended settings for each category, see the Node Configuration Reference.

Advanced configuration

For information on advanced configuration options including MQTT, Serial, Telemetry, and External Notifications, see the Advanced Configuration Guide.

1.5 - Use the App

Most people use the official Meshtastic mobile app to pair, configure, and message from their node. Start with the official app and work through the basic setup and pairing steps.

• Meshtastic Official Documentation
• Meshtastic Android Client
• Meshtastic iOS App

1.6 - Go Further

Configuration guides

• Meshtastic Official Documentation - Comprehensive official docs
• CommsChannel on YouTube - Video walkthroughs of radio setup and configuration

Upgrade your antenna

Once you’re up and running, consider upgrading your antenna for better range and performance. Check what other community members are using and discover options in the Meshtastic Antenna Reports repository.

Helpful tools

Official tools

• Meshtastic Flasher - Web-based firmware flasher
• Meshtastic GitHub - Source code and development
• Meshtastic Site Survey - Plan your mesh coverage
• Nightly Builds - Advanced users only

Maps and monitoring

• MeshMap - Meshtastic MQTT node map with root topic information
• Liamcottle’s Meshtastic Map - Alternative mesh visualization
• MeshSense Map - Additional mesh visualization
• RF Line of Sight Tool - Plan RF coverage

Mobile apps

• iOS/macOS: MeshScope, Mesh World
• Android: Meshtastic Android Client, Obtanium (advanced users)
• OTA updates: nRF Connect for iOS, nRF Connect for Android

Other tools

• MQTT Explorer - Monitor MQTT traffic without a node
• MeshSense App - Advanced Meshtastic client
• Site Survey Tool - Plan your mesh coverage and antenna placement

For more tools and resources, see the Resources page.

1.7 - Local Community

Find nodes near you

Use these mesh maps to discover nodes in your area:

• MeshMap.net - View the global mesh network with detailed node information
• Liamcottle’s Meshtastic Map - Alternative map visualization

If you have a Discord account, you can also ask about other mesh users and nodes in specific areas on the Meshtastic Community Discord.

Regional community networks

Join other Indiana meshers on these regional networks:

• Central Indiana Mesh Network
• Southern Indiana Mesh Network
• Bloomington Mesh Network
• Indiana Mesh Discord - Chat with other Hoosier meshers

Need help?

Have questions or found errors? Reach out on the Indiana Mesh Discord or contact the community members there.

2 - Contribution Guidelines

We use Hugo to format and generate our website, the Docsy theme for styling and site structure, and Netlify to manage the deployment of the site. Hugo is an open-source static site generator that provides us with templates, content organisation in a standard directory structure, and a website generation engine. You write the pages in Markdown (or HTML if you want), and Hugo wraps them up into a website.

All submissions, including submissions by project members, require review. We use GitHub pull requests for this purpose. Consult GitHub Help for more information on using pull requests.

We welcome and encourage contributions from the Meshtastic community! Whether you’re fixing a typo, adding documentation, or sharing your mesh networking experiences, your input helps make this resource better for everyone.

Easy ways to contribute

Edit directly on the website

The easiest way to contribute is using the Edit this page button found in the sidebar of every page on hoosiermesh.org. This button takes you directly to GitHub where you can propose changes through a simple pull request. No local development setup required.

What you can contribute

• Fix typos, improve clarity, or update outdated information.
• Add tutorials, guides, or configuration examples.
• Share information about local mesh networks or coverage areas.
• Contribute photos of node deployments or community events.
• Suggest new content or report issues.

Updating a single page

If you’ve just spotted something you’d like to change while using the docs, Docsy has a shortcut for you:

1. Click Edit this page in the top right hand corner of the page.
2. If you don’t already have an up to date fork of the project repo, you are prompted to get one - click Fork this repository and propose changes or Update your Fork to get an up to date version of the project to edit. The appropriate page in your fork is displayed in edit mode.
3. Follow the rest of the Quick start with Netlify process to make, preview, and propose your changes.

Creating an issue

If you’ve found a problem in the docs, but you’re not sure how to fix it yourself, please create an issue in the Hoosier Mesh repo. You can also create an issue about a specific page by clicking the Create Issue button in the top right hand corner of the page.

Quick start with Netlify

Here’s a quick guide to updating the docs. It assumes you’re familiar with the GitHub workflow and you’re happy to use the automated preview of your doc updates:

1. Fork the Hoosier Mesh repo on GitHub.
2. Make your changes and send a pull request (PR).
3. If you’re not yet ready for a review, add “WIP” to the PR name to indicate it’s a work in progress. (Don’t add the Hugo property “draft = true” to the page front matter, because that prevents the auto-deployment of the content preview described in the next point.)
4. Wait for the automated PR workflow to do some checks. When it’s ready, you should see a comment like this: deploy/netlify — Deploy preview ready!
5. Click Details to the right of “Deploy preview ready” to see a preview of your updates.
6. Continue updating your doc and pushing your changes until you’re happy with the content.
7. When you’re ready for a review, add a comment to the PR, and remove any “WIP” markers.

Previewing your changes locally

If you want to run your own local Hugo server to preview your changes as you work:

1. Follow the instructions in Getting started to install Hugo and any other tools you need. You’ll need at least Hugo version 0.146.0 (we recommend using the most recent available version), and it must be the extended version, which supports SCSS.

2. Fork the Hoosier Mesh repo repo into your own project, then create a local copy using git clone.

   git clone --branch v0.12.0 --depth 1 https://github.com/google/docsy-example.git
   

3. Run hugo server in the site root directory. By default your site will be available at http://localhost:1313/. Now that you’re serving your site locally, Hugo will watch for changes to the content and automatically refresh your site.

4. Continue with the usual GitHub workflow to edit files, commit them, push the changes up to your fork, and create a pull request.

Creating an issue

If you’ve found a problem in the docs, but you’re not sure how to fix it yourself, please create an issue in the Hoosier Mesh repo. You can also create an issue about a specific page by clicking the Create Issue button in the top right hand corner of the page.

Useful resources

• Docsy user guide: All about Docsy, including how it manages navigation, look and feel, and multi-language support.
• Hugo documentation: Comprehensive reference for Hugo.
• Github Hello World!: A basic introduction to GitHub concepts and workflow.

3 - Reference

These pages provide detailed reference information for Meshtastic node configuration and advanced features.

Configuration Reference Guides

• Node Configuration Reference - Complete list of all node configuration options with recommended settings for the Indiana mesh network
• Advanced Configuration - MQTT & Telemetry - MQTT setup, Serial configuration, Telemetry, and External Notifications

3.1 - Node Configuration Reference

This page provides a comprehensive reference of all node configuration options recommended for the Indiana Hoosier Mesh network.

LoRa Settings

Channel Settings

Security Settings

*Note: Unique to each node

User Configuration

Important: Meshtastic allows encrypted transmissions. However, US Amateur Radio licensing prohibits encryption. See FCC guidelines and our Amateur Radio & Meshtastic guide for complete details.

Device Settings

Device Role Notes

• CLIENT (default): Standard mesh participant
• CLIENT_BASE: Use for roof/attic-based nodes. Don’t forget to favorite your local owned nodes
• ROUTER / ROUTER_LATE: Avoid unless on a very tall tower. Check with experienced RF operators on the Indiana Mesh Discord before using these roles

Position Settings

Serial Settings (Optional)

3.2 - Advanced Configuration - MQTT & Telemetry

This page covers advanced configuration options for MQTT (internet connectivity), Serial interfaces, and Telemetry collection.

MQTT (Optional but Recommended)

MQTT allows you to access and control your Meshtastic nodes over the internet, integrating them with other services and creating mesh monitors.

MQTT Configuration

Important MQTT Considerations

Best Practices:

• Use MeshMap.net to check specific root topics of users in your area before enabling MQTT
• Consider the impact on your device’s performance and battery life
• Start with MQTT disabled and enable only when needed
• Monitor your device’s resource usage after enabling MQTT

Finding Your Root Topic

Check MeshMap.net to see what root topics other users in your region are publishing to. This will help you understand the network topology and choose an appropriate topic for your node.

Telemetry (Optional)

Telemetry allows your node to collect and broadcast device metrics like temperature, humidity, battery status, and GPS location.

When to Enable Telemetry

• Enabled by default on devices with environmental sensors
• Useful for nodes you want to monitor remotely via MQTT
• Increases power consumption on battery-powered devices
• Consider your use case before enabling

Serial/USB Configuration (Optional)

The Serial interface allows you to communicate with your Meshtastic device via USB or serial connection for advanced debugging and integration with external systems.

Use Cases

• Debug and monitor device behavior via serial port
• Integrate with external applications or sensors
• Advanced troubleshooting of device issues
• Integration with automations or home assistant systems

External Notifications (Optional)

Configure how your device alerts you to incoming messages.

These settings allow you to customize notification behavior based on message type and your preferences.

4 - Amateur Radio & Meshtastic

Information for licensed amateur radio (ham) operators using Meshtastic devices. Understanding the legal and technical considerations is essential for compliant operation.

Important: Encryption & Licensing

Educational Presentation

For a comprehensive overview of Meshtastic for amateur radio operators, including legal considerations, technical details, and best practices:

📊 Meshtastic for Amateur Radio Operators - Google Slides Presentation

This presentation covers:

• FCC Part 97 regulations and compliance
• Encryption restrictions for ham operators
• Power output considerations
• Frequency allocations
• Proper station identification
• Technical configurations for licensed operation

Configuration for Licensed Operation

When operating under an amateur radio license, configure your Meshtastic device as follows:

User Configuration

In your node’s User Configuration settings:

Channel Configuration

• PSK (Pre-Shared Key): Must be set to a default/empty value for no encryption
• Consider creating a separate channel for ham-only communications

Power & Frequency Considerations

Transmit Power

• Unlicensed: Limited to 1 watt EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power) on ISM bands
• Licensed: May use higher power levels within amateur radio band limits (check local regulations)
• Configure appropriately in LoRa settings based on your license class

Frequency Bands

• ISM Band (915 MHz): Available for both licensed and unlicensed use
• Amateur Allocations: Consult your local amateur radio band plan
• Ensure your device is configured for legal frequencies in your region

Station Identification

Per FCC Part 97.119:

• Station identification is required at the end of each communication and at least every 10 minutes during communication
• Include your callsign in your node’s Long Name for automatic identification
• Consider periodic position beacons to meet ID requirements

Power Output & EIRP

Understanding EIRP

Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) = Transmitter Power + Antenna Gain - Cable Loss

Power Limits

• Part 15 (Unlicensed): 1 watt EIRP maximum
• Part 97 (Amateur): Varies by band and license class
  • Technician: Check specific band limits
  • General/Extra: Higher power privileges on most bands

Example Calculation

Transmitter: 30 dBm (1 watt)
Antenna Gain: +3 dBi
Cable Loss: -0.5 dB
EIRP = 30 + 3 - 0.5 = 32.5 dBm (≈1.78 watts)

For unlicensed operation, this would exceed the 1-watt EIRP limit.

Best Practices for Ham Operators

1. Clearly mark licensed operation - Use callsign in node name
2. Document your configuration - Note power levels, antenna specs, and EIRP calculations
3. Separate licensed/unlicensed operation - Consider different devices or channels
4. Join the community - Connect with other ham operators on Indiana Mesh Discord
5. Stay current - FCC rules and interpretations can evolve

High-Power Station Options

For licensed operators seeking high-power operation:

• B&Q Station G2 - High-power licensed station designed for amateur radio use
• Custom Builds - Many operators build custom high-power stations with external amplifiers

Additional Resources

• FCC Part 97 Rules - Official amateur radio regulations
• ARRL - American Radio Relay League
• Meshtastic Amateur Radio Discussion - Global Meshtastic Discord
• Indiana Mesh Discord - Local community with ham operators

Questions?

Have questions about operating Meshtastic under your amateur radio license? Ask on the Indiana Mesh Discord where experienced ham operators can help guide you.

5 - Map

Our state wide map, powered by Mesh Monitor and built by the legendary community member Tranziq.

meshmap.tranziq.net