Prepare Your Hardware

⚠️ WARNING: Antenna Required Before Powering On Always attach your LoRa antenna to the board before plugging in USB or turning on power. Transmitting without an antenna attached can permanently fry the LoRa radio chip.

• Use a USB data cable (not a charge-only cable) to connect your board (e.g., Heltec V3) to your computer.

• Verification: Your computer detects a new serial connection or COM port when plugged in.

Flash the Firmware

Browser-based setup

• Open Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge on your PC and navigate to the official MeshCore Web Flasher.

• Select your exact board model and choose the Companion role firmware.

• Put your device in bootloader mode if prompted (e.g., hold the BOOT button while plugging in USB, or hold BOOT and press RESET).

• Click Flash and grant the browser permission to access the serial port.

• Verification: The web flasher completes with a success message, and the board reboots showing the MeshCore startup screen.

Pair to Your Phone

App setup

• Download the MeshCore app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

• Enable Bluetooth (and Location access on Android) on your phone.

• Open the app, tap Add Device, and select your node (labeled like MeshCore-XXXX).

• Enter the PIN shown on your node's display (or 123456 if it has no screen).

• Verification: The app displays a green "Connected" status indicator showing your node's battery percentage and signal status.

Send Off-Grid Messages

Daily usage

• Broadcast Publicly: Select the general public room channel to send text updates visible to anyone in range.

• Private Messaging: Tap on a nearby user's node in your contact list to initiate an encrypted 1-on-1 chat.

• Extend Range: Position yourself within line-of-sight of a known repeater or high vantage point to let your message hop long distances over the mesh.

• Verification: Sent messages show a double checkmark once acknowledged by the destination node or relay.