Step 1: Choose a Good Location
Repeater nodes should be placed at high elevations with line-of-sight to surrounding areas. Rooftops, tall poles, or upper balconies work well.
Prioritize locations with clear paths to other nodes in your community.
Step 2: Gather Your Hardware
Before setting up your repeater, make sure you have all the necessary hardware components ready. Your exact parts may vary depending on your chosen platform and deployment location.
- A supported MeshCore-compatible board
- Weather-resistant enclosure for outdoor placement
- Stable power source (battery, USB, or solar)
- Omnidirectional or directional antenna
- Mounting hardware (optional for roof/pole setups)
Once assembled, you're ready to flash the repeater firmware.
Step 3: Flash the Repeater Firmware
Use the MeshCore Web Flasher to install firmware onto your repeater device.
After selecting your device model (e.g., Heltec V4, WisBlock), make sure to choose the firmware variant labeled "Repeater" from the dropdown. This version is optimized for headless nodes without displays or buttons, and will enable automatic repeater behavior.
Once flashing is complete, the device will reboot and be ready for configuration.
Step 4: Initial Configuration
Connect your repeater via USB and open the MeshCore Web Config tool to begin setup.
Use the interface to configure:
- Assign a unique name for your repeater (e.g., "YQL-RoofNode1")
- Set latitude and longitude for mapping visibility
- Enable "Repeater" mode under node type
- Set strong admin and guest passwords
If you don’t know your GPS coordinates, you can use your phone’s location or open Google Maps. Right-click on your location and select “What’s here?” to get the latitude and longitude.
Once configuration is complete and the node is online, its position will automatically be uploaded to the MeshCore Map. You can confirm visibility by searching for the node name or coordinates in MeshExplorer.
Step 5: Apply Canadian Radio Settings
In the MeshCore Web Config interface, open the Radio Settings section.
Use the “Choose Preset” dropdown and select the option labeled “USA/Canada (Recommended)”. This preset will automatically fill the appropriate values for:
- Frequency (e.g., 910.525 MHz)
- Bandwidth (62.5 kHz)
- Spreading Factor
- Coding Rate
After selecting the preset, click Save to apply the settings.
Step 6: Backup Your Encryption Key
Each repeater is automatically assigned a unique encryption key during its first-time setup. This key identifies the repeater on the mesh and enables secure communication with other nodes.
To prevent future issues (such as after a factory reset or hardware failure), it's recommended that you back up your encryption key:
- Open the MeshCore Web Config
- Navigate to the Encryption section
- Copy the Private Key value to a secure password manager or backup file
- Optionally note the Public Key and device name for future reference
This backup will allow you to restore your repeater to the mesh network if it ever needs to be reconfigured or replaced.
Step 7: Set Advert Times
To reduce unnecessary radio traffic while still maintaining visibility on the mesh, update the advert intervals for your repeater:
- Set Zero-Hop Advert Time to 60 minutes
- Set Flood Advert Time to 3 hours
You’ll find these options under the Node Settings section in the MeshCore Web Config tool. Apply and save your changes before rebooting.
This configuration helps your repeater remain visible in the network without overwhelming the airwaves with frequent announcements.
Step 8: Final Deployment
Install your repeater in its final outdoor location. Secure it from weather and ensure the antenna is positioned correctly.
Use another node to test message paths and signal strength through the repeater. If available, monitor visibility via MeshExplorer.