MeshCore Defaults
MeshCore is the primary mesh stack in YEG. Project home: meshcore.io · Docs: docs.meshcore.io · Source: github.com/meshcore-dev/meshcore · Discord: meshcore.gg · Map: map.meshcore.io
YEG MeshCore radio settings
The following settings should match the built-in "Canada" preset. Before adjusting any settings that might differ, try the provided preset in the MeshCore client. As of writing, the defaults are:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 910.525 MHz |
| Bandwidth | 62.5 kHz |
| Spreading factor | SF7 |
| Coding rate | 5 |
| Default Path Hash Size | 3-byte |
Region & legality
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Region | North America (902–928 MHz ISM band) |
| Maximum EIRP | 30 dBm (1 W) per Industry Canada RSS-210 |
EIRP = transmitter power + antenna gain − feedline loss. 22 dBm at the radio + a 5 dBi antenna ≈ 27 dBm EIRP, comfortably under 30. See /p/regulatory for details.
Node modes
| Mode | Description | Power |
|---|---|---|
| Companion | Portable, paired with a client app over BLE/USB/Wi-Fi | Primarily battery / USB |
| Repeater | Fixed position. Receives & rebroadcasts traffic over long distances | Battery / mains / solar |
| Room Server | Hosts a (sometimes password-protected) chat room, with saved message history | Mains / solar / fixed |
| Sensor | Reports telemetry only | Battery / mains / solar |
You want a companion node if you just want to access the network!
Public channel
MeshCore ships with a public channel for discovery. We kindly ask that you treat the public chat appropriately, and move to private channels for more personal discussion, or regular chats with your friends.
Local rooms
There are select few rooms/channels currently available on the mesh.
- Public: the universal public channel that comes with every node.
- #test: for sending test pings, bot commands, so on and so forth. Exists to avoid spamming the Public chat when you're troubleshooting or looking for reception.
- #yegwx: the "weather channel." This channel receives automatic weather updates, advisories, and severe weather alerts/warnings as they happen, courtesy of the Mesh Bot.
More will be added over time as they appear!
Pairing the Companion app
Companion nodes pair with the official MeshCore mobile app over BLE, USB, or Wi-Fi. Select the option that matches the companion firmware you flashed, wait for your node to appear in the list, and attempt to pair. After successfully pairing:
- Set your display name.
- Confirm radio settings match the YEG defaults above.
- Join
Publicand any local rooms you've been invited to. - Send a test message, and watch for replies or other traffic. - It may take some time and movement to start seeing traffic, try sending from different places around your house, or being your node with you on an outing!
There is also meshcore.liamcottle.net, a web-based MeshCore client that can pair with your node via any supported browser (Chromium based browsers like Chrome or Edge, or up-to-date Firefox).
Hardware
MeshCore runs on most LoRa boards that are commonly used with Meshtastic. Popular choices include the Heltec V3, LILYGO T-Beam, RAK Wisblock 4631, Seeed SenseCAP T1000-E, or RAK's tag-format trackers. See hardware tiers for a curated list, and confirm board support against the current YEG-recommended firmware before purchasing.
Differences from Meshtastic
| MeshCore | Meshtastic | |
|---|---|---|
| Routing | Source-routed with discovery | Flood, hop-limited |
| Channels | Rooms (server-hosted) + private channels | 8 PSK slots |
| Default airtime | Designed to be lower | Higher |
| Maturity | Smaller but actively growing | Larger ecosystem |
| YEG community | Primary | Secondary |
The two stacks share the band but not the same protocol. A MeshCore node and a Meshtastic node will not hear each other's messages.