Recommended High Desert Meshtastic Configuration

It's Time to Fire Up Your Meshtastic Node!

Meshtastic nodes in the High Desert Mesh are running the LongMod preset for additional range in the sparse desert. The recommended settings below are designed to ensure a reliable mesh.

Home Nodes

A home node is a fixed station either indoors or on your rooftop. We recommend building or purchasing a solar roof or pole mounted node for your home. If your home node is not in a good spot to repeat packets, please change the device role to CLIENT_MUTE.

  • LoRa Module
    • Presets = LONG_MODERATE
    • Ignore MQTT = false
    • OK to MQTT = true
    • Number of Hops: 7
  • Device Module
    • Device Role = CLIENT
    • Node Info Broadcast Interval = 3 hours
  • Position Module
    • Broadcast Interval = 6 hours
    • Smart Position = Off
    • Fixed Position = On (set from current phone location)
  • Telemetry Module = Turn off

Mobile/Portable Nodes

A mobile/portable node is one that you take with you on the go, or that is attached to your vehicle. If your mobile/portable node is not in a good spot to repeat packets, please change the device role to CLIENT_MUTE.

  • LoRa Module
    • Presets = LONG_MODERATE
    • Ignore MQTT = false
    • OK to MQTT = true
    • Number of Hops: 7
  • Device Module
    • Device Role = CLIENT
    • Node Info Broadcast Interval = 3 hours
  • Position Module
    • Broadcast Interval = 1 hours
    • Smart Position = On
      • Smart Interval = 5 minutes
      • Smart Distance = 30 meters
    • Fixed Position = Off
  • Telemetry Module = Turn off

Router Nodes

Router nodes are high-elevation or mountaintop repeaters, typically pre-planned by the HD Mesh in our Discord server. Please don’t set your node to the ROUTER role unless you really know what you’re doing and have planned things out carefully.

  • LoRa Module
    • Presets = LONG_MODERATE
    • Ignore MQTT = false
    • OK to MQTT = true
    • Number of Hops: 7
  • Device Module
    • Device Role = ROTUER
    • Node Info Broadcast Interval = 1 hours
  • Position Module
    • Broadcast Interval = 6 hours
    • Smart Position = Off
    • Fixed Position = On (set to actual location)
  • Telemetry Module = Turn on
    • Device metrics update interval = 1 hour

MQTT Gateway Nodes

MQTT nodes relay traffic between mesh islands and help report packets to our centralized database and dashboard. If you have a dedicated node with Internet access you’d like to volunteer as an MQTT gateway, please join our Discord!

  • LoRa Module
    • Presets = LONG_MODERATE
    • Ignore MQTT = false
    • OK to MQTT = true
    • Number of Hops: 7
  • Channels Module
    • Enable Uplink and Downlink on the default LongMod channel.
  • For the other modules, see the previous guidance on the various node types.