NOLA Mesh Project

Getting Started

Setting Up your Meshtastic LoRa Device for the First Time:

Quick Tips:

  • This article is for a “quickstart” style setup. These recommendations are to get new users access to the mesh as simply and easily as possible.
  • CONNECT YOUR ANTENNA TO YOUR RADIO BEFORE YOU DO ANY OTHER WORK! A running radio without an attached antenna may burn out. Power off your node or remove its battery before removing or exchanging antennas.
  • You must use Google Chrome for the web flasher to function.
  • Any settings not mentioned below can and should be left at their defaults.

How to flash your LoRa radio

  1. Gather these necessary supplies:
    • Your node radio, with antenna attached
    • A USB-C cable that can transfer data
    • A computer to flash the Meshtastic firmware to your radio
    • A smartphone to configure and interact with your radio
  2. Connect your radio to your computer via USB-C. The antenna must be attached before you do this.
  3. Visit https://flasher.meshtastic.org/
  4. Select your device, the “Latest Stable” version of firmware, and then click the flash button
  5. Choose “Full Erase and Install”, then click the green “Erase and Install” button.
  6. When prompted, select your device from the connection list.
  7. Do not unplug your device until the flasher tells you it has finished running.

Radio Config:

  1. Download the Meshtastic App on your smartphone.
  2. Pair your radio to your phone. You will be prompted to input a code that will be displayed on the screen of your radio.
  3. Connect to the node in your Meshtastic App.
  4. Press the three button menu at the top of the screen, and then Radio Configuration; this is where we will set the radio up.
  5. Follow the steps for both “LoRa” and “Device”.

Radio Configuration>LoRa:

  1. Under “Region (Frequency Plan)”, use the dropdown menu and select “United States”.
  2. Under “Hop Limit” change 3 to 7.
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and press send. Your radio will restart when you do this.

Radio Configuration>Device:

  1. Under “Role” select “CLIENT_MUTE”. This setting will allow you to send and receive messages.
  2. Under “POSIX Timezone” input your timezone code. the Timezone code for New Orleans is “CST6CDT,M3.2.0/2:00:00,M11.1.0/2:00:00”.
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and press send.

Start Meshing!!!

Need more help? Interested in the why behind all of these settings? Wondering what the other options allow you to do? Come chat with the community at one of our weekly meetings!