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Flashing and Configuring a Repeater Node

This guide will help you flash a node and configure it as a MeshCore repeater.

nRF52 Bootloader Update

(Skip this section if you are not using an nRF52-based board)

Important:
Before configuring a repeater, you must update the bootloader on nRF52 based boards (e.g, RAK 4631, Xiao NRF52840, Heltec T114, etc).
Without this fix, a failed OTA update can brick the repeater and require physical recovery.

Steps

  1. Download the UF2 file (they have the 'update-' prefix) of the OTA bootloader fix for your device in the OTAFIX GitHub Repo

Examples:

  RAK 4631 -> update-wiscore_rak4631_board_bootloader-0.9.2-OTAFIX2.2-BP1.3_nosd.uf2

  Heltec T114 -> update-heltec_t114_bootloader-0.9.2-OTAFIX2.2-BP1.3_nosd.uf2

  Xiao NRF52840 (Used in Ikoka Stick) -> update-xiao_nrf52840_ble_sense_bootloader-0.9.2-OTAFIX2.1-BP1.2_nosd.uf2
  1. Connect your repeater to your computer via USB.
  2. Double-click the button beside the USB port on the RAK board or the reset button on other boards.
  3. The green LED should turn on, indicating DFU mode (On the RAK specically this will occour).
  4. A new USB drive should appear on your computer.
  5. Drag the .uf2 file into the drive.
  6. The copy will appear to fail, and the board will reboot — this is expected.
  7. Open INFO.TXT on the drive and confirm it reports bootloader version 0.9.2.
  1. Plug the device into your computer via USB.
  2. Open the MeshCore Web Flasher: https://meshcore.io/flasher
  3. Select your device hardware.
  4. Select Repeater as the firmware type.
  5. Click Enter DFU Mode.
  6. Click Erase Flash.
  7. Click Flash to install the firmware.

Note:
If flashing fails after erasing, refresh the page, click Enter DFU Mode again, then click Flash.

Configuring a MeshCore Repeater

Note: We are beginning to transition from 1-byte to 3-byte path sizes, and eventually will not need to worry about overlapping repeater id's. In the meantime, follow the steps in this section.

  1. Using a Chromium-based browser that supports the required serial connection (e.g., Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge), open the MeshCore Web Flasher: https://meshcore.io/flasher

  2. Click the Repeater Setup button in the top right.

  3. Connect to your repeater and note the Repeater ID shown in the tool.

  4. The Repeater ID is derived from the keypair (it corresponds to the first byte / first two hex characters of the repeater’s key).

  5. Because there are only 256 possible IDs, overlaps become more likely as the network grows, especially when keys are generated automatically during flashing.

  6. Check the Ottawa Repeater ID List to confirm your repeater ID is not already in use.

  7. If it’s unique, continue with the next step.

  8. If it’s already in use, follow the Generating a Repeater ID instructions to assign a new one, then return here to continue.

  9. Check the Show Advanced Settings checkbox so all fields below are visible.

  10. Set a descriptive repeater name (e.g., Callsign_R1, Downtown_R1).

  11. Set an admin password (required for MeshCore Remote Administration).

  12. Apply the Ottawa defaults: 910.525 MHz / BW 62.5 kHz / SF7 / CR5

  13. Set the advert intervals:

  14. Advert Interval: 60
  15. Flood Advert Interval: 24

  16. Flood Max: 64

  17. Set Path Hash Mode to 3-byte (2).

  18. (Optional) Set your own info (e.g., owner name or contact).

  19. Click Save Settings, then reboot the repeater.

  20. Reconnect with the configuration tool and click Send Advert.

If everything is working, nearby companion nodes should receive the advert.

Tip:
After every reboot, you must resync the repeater’s clock.
The repeater will still route messages without a clock, but its adverts will be ignored by companions that have already heard an advert from it until the time is set.

Changing Repeater Private Key After Initial Setup (not always needed)

You may need to change your repeater's private key after you have set it up to avoid ID conflicts. If this happens, you can do it again via USB as per the Configuring a MeshCore Repeater section of this page, following the Generating a Repeater ID instructions to pick a new ID and key.

Optional: If your repeater is on MeshCore Firmware v1.12.0 and up, you can set the private key remotely by logging in to the repeater console with a companion node that has admin access to your repeater. The steps are the same for USB and remote connections. If configuring remotely, make sure you have good signal to your repeater.