MeshCore/Getting Started

Configuring a Repeater

Repeaters cannot be managed over BLE. Once repeater firmware is flashed, BLE is disabled on the node. Configuration must be done either over USB or via MeshCore Remote Administration using a companion node and the mobile app.

Basic setup after flashing

Important: Before configuration, you must update the bootloader on RAK boards. Without this fix, failed OTA updates can leave the repeater in an unusable state that requires physical recovery.

1. Download the OTA bootloader fix from this link.
2. Connect your repeater to your computer.
3. It should appear in your file explorer as a USB Drive.
4. Drag the .uf2 file into the mounted drive.
5. The file copy will appear to fail, and the device will restart and remount as a USB drive — this is expected and indicates a successful update.
6. To confirm, open the INFO.TXT file on the drive and check that it shows version 0.9.2 bootloader firmware.

Once the bootloader is updated, continue with repeater configuration:

1. Using Google Chrome, open the repeater configuration tool: MeshCore Repeater Config.
2. After connecting to the device, navigate to Ottawa Repeater IDs and make sure the first two characters of your public key are not already in use.

  * Currently, MeshCore repeater IDs are based on the first two characters of the public key.  
  * As the mesh has grown, duplicate IDs have caused conflicts. It is important to avoid duplicates.  
  * Developers are working on a long-term fix, but for now, each new repeater must use a unique ID.  
  * If you have a conflict, the only way to generate a new public key is to reflash the firmware. Follow Flashing a Node from the beginning. You can skip the bootloader fix if you have already applied it once.  

1. Give the node a descriptive name (e.g. Callsign_R1 or a location-based name).
2. Set an admin password for the repeater — this is required for remote management over MeshCore.
3. Apply the Ottawa frequency defaults: 910.525 MHz / BW: 62.5 kHz / SF7 / CR5.
4. Click Save and reboot the node.
5. Reconnect to the device using the configuration tool and click Send Advert.

  * If your repeater is running correctly, you should see the advert appear on nearby companion nodes.  

After the repeater has been configured and discovered by your companion node, log into it via MeshCore Remote Administration and set the following advert intervals:

1. Zero-hop adverts (direct): every 1 hour
2. Flood adverts (forwarded across repeaters): every 3 hours
3. Click Save

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 until the time is set.