MeshCore/FlashRepeater

From Ottawa Mesh
Jump to navigation Jump to search

← Home

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

Flashing & Configuring a Repeater Node

RAK Bootloader update (Skip if not using a RAK based board)

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. Double click the button on the RAK board beside the USB port, the green light should turn on indicating DFU mode is enabled.

4. It should appear in your file explorer as a USB Drive.

5. Drag the .uf2 file into the mounted drive.

6. 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.

7. To confirm, open the INFO.TXT file on the drive and check that it shows version 0.9.2 bootloader firmware.

Flashing MeshCore Repeater Firmware

1. Plug your device into your computer via USB.

2. Open the MeshCore Web Flasher.

3. Select your device hardware.

4. Select the firmware choice Repeater.

5. Click Enter DFU Mode.

6. Click Erase Flash.

7. Click Flash to install the MeshCore firmware.

Note: Sometimes after erasing, the flash step may fail. If this happens, refresh the page, click Enter DFU Mode again, and then click Flash to retry.

Configuring a MeshCore Repeater

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.  

3. Give the node a descriptive name (e.g. Callsign_R1 or a location-based name).

4. Set an admin password for the repeater — this is required for remote management over MeshCore.

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

6. Click Save and reboot the node.

7. 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:

8. Set Zero-hop adverts (direct) to every 1 hour.

9. Set Flood adverts (forwarded across repeaters) to every 12 hours.

10. 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.