FAQ

Common questions on range, antennas, batteries, privacy, and troubleshooting.

How far does Meshtastic reach?

It depends on elevation, line‑of‑sight (LOS), antenna quality, interference, and placement.

  • Urban/ground level: ~1–3 mi is common.
  • Hill‑to‑hill or elevated nodes: much farther.
    Raising the antenna and improving LOS usually beats adding power.

Do I need a license?

Most Meshtastic defaults in the US use US‑915 ISM band and don’t require an amateur radio license. Always follow your local regulations and stick to the correct Region setting.

Which hardware should I buy first?

Great starters: LILYGO T‑Beam, Heltec LoRa32 V3, or a T‑Deck if you want a keyboard/screen. Any node with 915 MHz support works for our area.

What antenna should I use?

Use a 915 MHz‑tuned antenna. Elevate it when possible, avoid long lossy coax runs, and keep the antenna clear of large metal surfaces. During meetups we compare antennas side‑by‑side.

What’s a good telemetry (position) interval?

For mapping during tests: 2–5 minutes is a good baseline. Use shorter (e.g., 60–90s) only if the mesh isn’t congested. For battery‑sensitive nodes, lengthen intervals.

What “role” should my node use?

  • Client: handheld/portable nodes.
  • Router/Repeater: fixed nodes with stable power and good elevation.
  • Tracker: mobile nodes that beacon position more frequently.

How do channels and privacy work?

A channel combines a name, PSK (key), and settings. Keep public demo channels for onboarding/range tests, and use unique PSKs for private groups. Share keys only with trusted members.

Can I use GPS waypoints?

Yes. GPS helps with waypoints and coverage mapping. Disable GPS if you don’t need it and want to save battery.

The app isn’t pairing / I don’t see messages — help!

  • Confirm US‑915 region.
  • Verify you’re on the same channel (ask in Discord if unsure).
  • Reboot the node and your phone; re‑pair Bluetooth.
  • Try a different USB cable/power source if the device behaves oddly.
  • Move to a spot with better LOS and try again.

What batteries and power setups are common?

  • Portable: USB power bank or LiPo (mind charging safety).
  • Fixed: stable USB or solar with a proper charge controller.
    Enable screen timeout and avoid unnecessary peripherals to stretch runtime.

How do I contribute to mapping?

See Map & Data for live tools and tips. At meetups we run controlled tests and share logs so the community can fill coverage gaps.

Where do I get help and local channel settings?

Join our Discord from the header. Look for #help and #meetups channels; event threads include temporary channel details and QR imports.

Still stuck? Check Getting Started and bring the node to a Weekly Net—we’ll get you sorted.