About

Meshtastic is an open, low-power LoRa protocol that lets small radios relay text and location between each other, hopping device to device without cell service, wifi, or internet.

Long Island Mesh is a group of hobbyists and enthusiasts working together to build a wide-area mesh network on Long Island, primarily on Meshtastic, with a MeshCore network also up and running. All help is welcomed!

Getting Started

New to mesh radio? Here’s how to get on our primary network, Meshtastic, help extend it, and help map it.

Get on the mesh - ~$50

1. Pick up a Meshtastic-compatible radio and flash it with the latest firmware from the official flasher. Two popular starter devices are the T114 and the Heltec V4.
2. Pair it with the official Meshtastic app (iOS/Android/web) over Bluetooth and set your region and preset per the settings below.
3. Start chatting on the default public channel, then say hello in our Discord so we know you’re on the mesh.

Expand the mesh - $150

1. Once you’re hooked, consider adding another fixed node. These are typically mounted on rooftops or higher elevations and help relay messages for everyone.
2. The SenseCAP P1 Pro is a popular choice and is easy to setup, deploy and configure.

Meshtastic Settings

Most of Long Island is using the default settings (LongFast). As you move west increased network congestion has caused users to Medium Slow.

Check out your location on the map and use whichever settings are correct for your area.

Client roles

Client roles can be a bit confusing. For your first node stick with one of the client options, most likely Client Mute.

• Client (default) - the standard role for most nodes. Sends and receives messages, and relays other nodes’ packets when it doesn’t hear a better-placed node do it first.
• Client Mute - same as Client, but never relays other nodes’ traffic. Good for battery-powered or mobile nodes in a busy area.
• Client Base - for a well-placed node, like a rooftop or attic install. Gives priority to traffic to and from your other favorited nodes.
• Router - for a fixed, always-on node in a genuinely strategic spot.
• Router Late - behaves like Router, but only rebroadcasts after every other node has had a chance. Useful as supplemental coverage without competing for airtime.
• Repeater - turns off telemetry and all other broadcasts, and simply relays packets at the radio level. Best reserved for genuinely remote, high-value locations.

MeshCore

MeshCore is another open, low-power LoRa protocol, similar in spirit to Meshtastic. Long Island Mesh also runs a MeshCore network - if you already have compatible hardware, you’re welcome to join it alongside Meshtastic.

Get on the mesh - ~$50

1. Pick up a MeshCore compatible client radio. Two popular starter devices are the T114 and the Heltec V4.
2. Ensure your companion is on the latest firmware
3. Add hashtag channels on the MeshCore app by clicking the 3 dots at the top right of the main screen, Add Channel, then join a hashtag channel. If you click Advanced Settings under that, you have the option to add a region.
4. (recommended) Set your Path Hash Size to 2-byte
5. (experimental) Set region scope in channels, 3 dots in the top right while in the channel and click Set Region Scope. If there are no regions in there, click the 3 dots in the top right and click Discover Regions, and click the check mark to the regions for them to show up in the Set Region Scope menu. You can also click the 3 dots in the top right of the Set Region Scope and click clear scope to go back to default flooding. Other MeshCore client apps have a way to do this as well.
6. Once connected send a message in #public, #test or #testing (region dependent). Several bots listen in #test and #testing and may respond to messages like test, ping or path

Expand the mesh - $150

1. Pick up a new device for your repeater. You can only connect to your router via another Meshcore device so you will need at least two.
   The SenseCAP P1 Pro is a popular choice for a repeater.

2. Familiarize yourself with the technology using the official documentation

3. Ensure your repeater is on the latest firmware

4. Set zero-hop auto advert interval to 240 minutes or more

5. Set flood auto advert interval to 47 hours or more

6. Set 2-byte prefixes for adverts: set path.hash.mode 1 then clock sync

7. (recommended) Set advert hop limits to 8 (already the default as of 1.16): set flood.max.advert 8

8. (experimental) Set regioning as specified below by entering them one by one into your repeaters CLI (if you can reach over the sound, then check CT Mesh and combine as appropriate):

   region put east

   region put northeast

   region put nyc

   region put li

   region allowf east

   region allowf northeast

   region allowf nyc

   region allowf li

   region save

Map the mesh - free with an existing MeshCore radio

1. Install MeshMapper and connect it to your node over Bluetooth.
2. Turn on hybrid mode, then drive, bike, or walk around your neighborhood with your node powered on and the app running.
3. MeshMapper logs GPS-tagged pings to every repeater it hears along the way and uploads them automatically to the shared community map. Check out the current map.

MeshCore settings

Links

• Meshtastic
• MeshCore
• Contact
• Discord (NYME.sh) (#longisland)
• Discord

Neighboring meshes

• NYC
• CT Mesh
• Upstate Mesh
• Central NJ Mesh
• Lehigh Valley Mesh