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// Common Questions

FAQ

Answers to the most common questions about Meshtastic and the Central Valley Mesh network.

// Getting Started
Meshtastic is open-source software that turns inexpensive LoRa radio hardware into a self-healing encrypted mesh network. Devices relay messages for each other — the more nodes in an area, the further messages travel. No internet, cell towers, or monthly fees required.
A basic node (LILYGO T-Beam or Heltec V3) costs $20–45 on Amazon or AliExpress. You don't need a license to operate on the 915 MHz ISM band in the US — no FCC license required. The software is free and open source.
No. Meshtastic operates on the 915 MHz ISM band — the same unlicensed band used by garage door openers, baby monitors, and many consumer devices. No FCC license is needed. Just pick up a device and you're legal to operate.
Set your region to US and modem preset to LongFast (or MediumFast if that's what your local nodes use — check in Discord) — that's it. Your node will automatically hear and connect to any nearby CVM nodes. See the Getting Started guide for the full setup walkthrough.
// Configuration
CLIENT — handheld or portable use. Limited rebroadcast.

CLIENT — standard home node. Can send messages and relay packets. Good for most fixed home setups.

ROUTER — high-elevation infrastructure only. Maximum rebroadcast. Do not use unless you are intentionally running a hilltop or tower node.

REPEATER — silent repeater only. No originating messages. For solar/remote nodes.

CLIENT_MUTE — receives packets but does not rebroadcast or originate messages. For sensors.

When in doubt use CLIENT. Ask in Discord if you're not sure what's right for your situation.
Enable OK to MQTT in Radio Config → LoRa. This allows gateway nodes to forward your packets to the CVM MeshInfo server. You also need either GPS position data or a fixed position set. Your node should appear on the map within a few minutes of being heard by a gateway.
"OK to MQTT" is a flag on your node that tells gateway nodes whether they're allowed to forward your packets to an internet-connected MQTT broker. If it's off, your node will still participate in the radio mesh but won't appear on internet-connected dashboards like MeshInfo. Enable it if you want to show up on the live map and stats.
Most CVM nodes run LongFast, and MediumFast is also used in some areas. If you change to a completely different preset (LongSlow, ShortFast, etc.), your node will not hear nodes on those presets. Stick to LongFast unless you know the nodes in your area use MediumFast — check in Discord.
Install the Python CLI: pip install meshtastic. Then connect via USB: meshtastic --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --info. Or over WiFi/Bluetooth: meshtastic --host 192.168.x.x --info. Use the Config Wizard to generate the exact commands for your setup.
Go to Device Config → Position and enable Fixed Position. Enter your latitude, longitude, and altitude. This is ideal for nodes that don't move — home stations, hilltop repeaters — since they won't consume GPS power and will still appear on the map with a correct location.
The default of 3 hops is what CVM uses and it's correct for most deployments. Higher hop limits cause more radio traffic and network congestion without proportional benefit. Don't increase it unless you have a specific reason — most of the valley is reachable in 3 hops or fewer.
Meshtastic uses frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) which is a Part 15 unlicensed operation — you cannot use a ham license to increase transmit power on the 915 MHz ISM band. The maximum ISM TX power is around 30 dBm (1W). A better antenna is the legal and effective way to extend range.
The modem preset (LongFast, LongSlow, etc.) controls the physical radio parameters — bandwidth, spreading factor, coding rate. The channel is a named logical group with an encryption key. CVM primarily uses LongFast, with MediumFast in some areas. The primary channel is the default on both presets. You can add secondary channels for private group messaging without changing the modem preset.
// Troubleshooting
Check these in order: (1) Confirm modem preset is LongFast or MediumFast and region is US. (2) Make sure an antenna is physically connected — transmitting without one can damage the radio. (3) Move near a window or go outside — 915 MHz doesn't penetrate buildings well. (4) Check the live map to see if any CVM nodes are near you.
Two likely causes: (1) OK to MQTT is disabled — enable it in Radio Config → LoRa. (2) Your node has no position set — either GPS hasn't locked yet, or you need to set a fixed position manually. The map only shows nodes that have reported a location to the MQTT broker.
Most common cause: charge-only USB cable. Try a different cable known to carry data. Use Chrome or Edge — Firefox doesn't support Web Serial. On Linux you may need: sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER then log out and back in.
T-Beam brownouts are usually power-related. The 18650 cell may be too low or the USB supply can't source enough current during TX spikes. Try: a higher-amperage supply (2A+), a fresh 18650, or reducing TX power in Radio Config. Disabling WiFi also helps if you're not using MQTT over WiFi.