GETTING STARTED

Configuration Guides

Step-by-step instructions for setting up your Meshtastic node on the UAE mesh. All guides use the EU Long Range preset — the community standard.

💡 Need help? Reach out to fellow UAE operators in the Meshtastic community Discord for device-specific advice and friendly peer review.
Essential

⚙️ LoRa / Radio Config

Region, modem preset, hop limit, and frequency settings — the most important step for joining the UAE mesh.

Essential

👤 User Config

Set your long name, short name, and hardware model visibility for the network.

Essential

📻 Channel Config

Default channel, encryption key (PSK), and position sharing controls.

Recommended

🔧 Device Config

Device roles, node info broadcast intervals, and behaviour settings.

Recommended

📍 Position Config

GPS broadcast intervals, smart position updates, and fixed coordinates for static nodes.

Optional

🌐 MQTT Config

Connect your node to the internet — broker address, credentials, and uplink mode for map reporting.

⚙️ LoRa / Radio Configuration

This is the most critical setting. All UAE community nodes must use the same region and modem preset to communicate.

Setting Value
Region EU_868
Modem Preset Long Fast (LONG_FAST)
Frequency Slot Default (0 — auto)
Hop Limit 3
TX Power 0 (use device max — 0 means "firmware default", not zero power)
TX Enabled True
Override Duty Cycle False
⚠️ Important: The region must be set to EU_868 — this is the standard for the UAE community. Using a different region means your node will operate on different frequencies and won't hear other community nodes.

What does Long Fast mean?

  • Uses Spreading Factor 11 (SF11) for excellent range
  • Bandwidth: 250 kHz — good throughput with solid range
  • Coding Rate: 4/5 — efficient error correction
  • The default Meshtastic preset — best balance of range and speed
  • Well suited for the UAE's flat desert terrain and urban environments

👤 User Configuration

Configure how your node identifies itself on the mesh.

Setting Recommendation
Long Name Your preferred name (e.g. "Ahmed-DXB")
Short Name Up to 4 characters (e.g. "ADXB")
Licensed Operator Set if you hold an amateur radio licence
💡 Tip: Including your emirate abbreviation in your name (DXB, AUH, SHJ, AJM, RAK, FUJ, UAQ) helps operators quickly identify node locations.

📻 Channel Configuration

The default channel settings ensure all community nodes can communicate.

Setting Value
Channel Name LongFast (default)
PSK (Pre-Shared Key) AQ== (default — public)
Uplink Enabled False (unless running MQTT)
Downlink Enabled False (unless running MQTT)
Position Enabled True
💡 Tip: Keep the default LongFast channel for community communication. You can add secondary private channels for friends or groups alongside it.

🔧 Device Configuration

Choose the role that matches how you'll use the node.

Setting Recommendation
Role CLIENT (default for mobile), ROUTER for relay nodes
Node Info Broadcast (secs) 10800 (3 hours)
Double Tap as Button Your preference
Rebroadcast Mode ALL (default)

Role Guide

  • CLIENT — personal use, paired with phone, screen enabled
  • CLIENT_MUTE — same as client but does not rebroadcast others' messages
  • ROUTER — dedicated relay, no screen, optimised for forwarding
  • ROUTER_CLIENT — hybrid relay that also acts as a client
  • REPEATER — minimal processing, pure packet forwarding

📍 Position Configuration

Control how and when your node shares its location.

Setting Value
GPS Enabled True (if hardware supports)
Position Broadcast (secs) 900 (15 min) or 3600 (1 hr) for static
Smart Position True
Fixed Position Enable for permanently mounted nodes
💡 Tip: For rooftop or fixed installations, set a fixed position manually and increase the broadcast interval to save airtime and battery.

🌐 MQTT Configuration

MQTT bridges your node to the internet, allowing it to appear on public mesh maps and relay messages via the cloud.

Setting Value
MQTT Enabled True
Broker Address mqtt.meshtastic.org
Username meshdev
Password large4cats
Encryption Enabled True
JSON Enabled False
Map Reporting True
Map Position Precision 13–15 (neighbourhood level)
⚠️ Note: MQTT requires your node to have Wi-Fi internet access. Only enable uplink on the channel you want bridged. Avoid enabling downlink unless you understand the traffic implications — it can flood your local mesh with internet messages.