Position Configuration

Position data from GPS is provided by either the radio or your paired phone. It is not required to use Meshtastic, but time calculations require at least one device on the mesh to have either a GPS, RTC, or internet connection for NTP.

The position config uses an admin message to send a Config.Position protobuf. The position config options are: GPS Mode, GPS Update Interval, Fixed Position, Smart Broadcast, Smart Broadcast Minimum Distance, Smart Broadcast Minimum Interval, Broadcast Interval, Position Packet Flags, and GPS RX/TX Pins.

Position Config Values

GPS Mode

Configures whether the GPS functionality is enabled, disabled, or not present on the node.

Acceptable values: Disabled, Enabled, and Not_Present.

Generally, depending on the device and its configuration, this value will default to either Enabled or Not Present.

GPS Update Interval

How often we should try to get GPS position (in seconds), or zero for the default of once every 2 minutes, or a very large value (maxint) to update only once at boot.

Fixed Position

Acceptable values: true or false

False by default

If set, this node is at a fixed position. The device will generate GPS updates at the regular GPS update interval, but use whatever the last lat/lon/alt it saved for the node. The lat/lon/alt can be set by an internal GPS or with the help of the mobile device's GPS.

Smart Broadcast

Acceptable values: true or false

True by default

Smart broadcast will send out your position at an increased frequency only if your location has changed enough for a position update to be useful.

Smart broadcast complements broadcast interval (doesn't override that setting) but will apply an algorithm to more frequently update your mesh network if you are in motion and then throttle it down when you are standing still. If you use this feature, it's best to leave broadcast interval at the default.

Smart broadcast will calculate an ideal position update interval based on the data rate of your selected channel configuration.

Smart Broadcast Minimum Distance

Default of 0 is 100 meters

The minimum distance in meters traveled (since the last send) before we can send a position to the mesh if smart broadcast is enabled.

Smart Broadcast Minimum Interval

Default of 0 is 30 seconds

The minimum number of seconds (since the last send) before we can send a position to the mesh if smart broadcast is enabled.

Broadcast Interval

Default of 0 is 15 minutes

If smart broadcast is off we should send our position this often.

The GPS updates will be sent out every broadcast interval, either with the actual GPS location or an empty location if no GPS fix was achieved.

Position Flags

Defines which options are sent in POSITION messages. Values are stored as a bit field of boolean configuration options (bitwise OR of PositionFlags).

Value	Description
UNSET	Required for compilation
ALTITUDE	Include an altitude value (if available)
ALTITUDE_MSL	Altitude value is MSL
GEOIDAL_SEPARATION	Include geoidal separation
DOP	Include the DOP value ; PDOP used by default, see below
HVDOP	If POS_DOP set, send separate HDOP / VDOP values instead of PDOP
SATINVIEW	Include number of "satellites in view"
SEQ_NO	Include a sequence number incremented per packet
TIMESTAMP	Include positional timestamp (from GPS solution)
HEADING	Include positional heading (from GPS solution)
SPEED	Include positional speed (from GPS solution)

GPIO RX/TX for GPS Module

If your device does not have a fixed GPS chip, you can define the GPIO pins for the RX and TX pins of a GPS module.

Position Config Client Availability

Android

Android

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Position Config options are available for Android.

1. Open the Meshtastic App
2. Navigate to: Vertical Ellipsis (3 dots top right) > Radio Configuration > Position

Apple

Apple

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All position config values are available on iOS, iPadOS and macOS at Settings > Device Configuration > Position.

CLI

CLI

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All Position config commands are available in the python CLI. Example commands are below:

Setting	Acceptable Values	Default
position.gps_mode	enabled, disabled, not_present	Enabled or Not Present
position.gps_update_interval	integer (seconds)	Default 0 is 2 Minutes
position.fixed_position	true, false	false
position.position_broadcast_smart_enabled	true, false	true
position.broadcast_smart_minimum_distance	integer (meters)	Default of 0 is 100 Meters
position.broadcast_smart_minimum_interval_secs	integer (seconds)	Default of 0 is 15 Minutes
position.position_broadcast_secs	integer (seconds)	Default of 0 is 15 minutes
position.flags	UNSET, ALTITUDE, ALTITUDE_MSL, GEOIDAL_SEPARATION, DOP, HVDOP, PDOP, SATINVIEW, SEQ_NO, TIMESTAMP, HEADING, SPEED	UNSET
position.rx_gpio	integer (0-39)	UNSET
position.tx_gpio	integer (0-34)	UNSET

tip

Because the device will reboot after each command is sent via CLI, it is recommended when setting multiple values in a config section that commands be chained together as one. This is especially important for position values to ensure they are set at the same time and avoid being overwritten by subsequent commands.

Example:

meshtastic --set position.fixed_position true --setlat 37.8651 --setlon -119.5383

Set GPS update interval (Default of 0 is 2 Minutes)

meshtastic --set position.gps_update_interval 0
meshtastic --set position.gps_update_interval 45

Set Fixed Position - Current Location

meshtastic --set position.fixed_position true

note

The device will continue to acquire GPS coordinates according to the gps_update_interval, but will use the last saved coordinates as its fixed point.

Set and Enable Fixed Position - User Defined

meshtastic --setlat 37.8651 --setlon -119.5383

Remove and Unset Fixed Position

meshtastic --remove-position

Enable / Disable Smart position broadcast (Enabled by default)

meshtastic --set position.position_broadcast_smart_enabled true
meshtastic --set position.position_broadcast_smart_enabled false

Set Position Broadcast Interval (Default of 0 is 15 minutes)

meshtastic --set position.broadcast_secs 0
meshtastic --set position.broadcast_secs 60

note

It may take some time to see that the change has taken effect. The GPS location is updated according to the value specified on gps_update_interval and the mesh will be notified of the new position in relation to the position_broadcast_secs value.

Set / Unset Position Flags

meshtastic --pos-fields ALTITUDE ALTITUDE_MSL
meshtastic --pos-fields UNSET

Web

Web

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All position config options are available in the Web UI.