How To Join The Group

How can I join the network?

  1. Get a Meshtastic Radio. You can build one yourself for about $35. The official Meshtastic page keeps a current list of Supported Hardware. You can buy a pre-built battery-powered radio for between $50-$100 on Amazon, Etsy, and eBay - these usually have 3D-printed cases. If you can afford it and have a place to mount it outside, we recommend you buy a pre-built solar-powered node and mount it as high off the ground as you can.
  2. Download the Meshtastic App on your iPhone or Android.
  3. Please review the Documentation or look up YouTube videos for your device and how to access the Radio Configuration.
  4. Pair your radio to your phone with Bluetooth.
  5. We are currently using the default LongFast channel, number 0, with no encryption as our main channel. This means inputting "AQ==" in the PSK box for no encryption.
  6. For MQTT use these settings:
    • Server: mqtt.meshtastic.org
    • User: meshdev
    • Pass: large4cats
    • Topic: msh/US/CO
  7. Open the Meshtastic app and say hi! Please be patient for up to an hour for your device to receive transmissions from other nodes, because the default broadcast interval is 3 hours.

Best practice configuration for joining the Network

  • LORA
    • Region: US
    • Preset: LongFast
    • OK to MQTT: Disabled to start with
    • Hop: 3
      • If you can hear other nodes, and your test messages are acknowledged, but you do not get a reply back after waiting
        • Change this to 5 and retest.
        • If 5 doesn't work, increase to 6 and retest, then 7 and retest.
        • If 7 fails, you probably do not have a path. Reset this to 3 and ask for help in Mattermost.
    • RX Boosted Gain: Enabled
  • Channels
    • Default
      • Positions: Enabled
      • MQTT Uplink and Downlink: Disabled to start with
  • User
    • Long Name: Descriptive name with "https://denvermesh.org" at the end
    • Short Name: Your choice, but consider using an emoji character for fun
  • Device
    • Role: Client
      • DO NOT use Router or Router Late to start with
    • Rebroadcast: All
    • Interval: Three hours
  • Position
    • Interval: Thirty Minutes
    • Smart: Enabled
    • Minimum Distance: 100
    • GPS Update Interval
      • Fixed devices: one hour or longer
      • Position Flags: Enable all
      • Advanced Positions Flags: Enable all EXCEPT "If DOP is set"
  • MQTT
    • Disabled for now
    • If you enable it later, the best settings are
      • all toggles enabled
      • Root Topic: msh/US/CO
  • Telemetry
    • Device Metrics: Thirty Minutes
    • Environment Metrics: Thirty Minutes
    • Power: Enabled
    • Power Interval: Thirty Minutes

This is a community driven project, following these guidelines will ensure the best experience for everyone as we continue to grow. However, we do use MQTT for those members that are in areas of bad reception, Please see the Weekly Net page for more info.

We aim to help coordinate Repeater locations to create a better mesh for the Denver Metro Area and all of colorado. We are also in the process of possibly switching to using a different mode than LongFast, because of the congestion in the Denver Area. This is an ongoing discussion, please join our Mattermost Instance for more info and to join in!

How I can join the group?

It's completely free and always will be. Please join our Mattermost Instance. It is secure, and we respect your privacy. We have over 400 active members! We would like to help connect the entire state of Colorado eventually. Other smaller groups from greater Colorado maintain channels on our Mattermost and also host their webpages with us. If you'd like to start a channel for your area, feel free to ask!