MQTT Module Configuration

If your device is connected to Internet via wifi or ethernet, you can enable it to forward packets along to an MQTT server. This allows users on the local mesh to communicate with users on the internet. One or more channels must also be enabled as uplink and/or downlink for packets to be transmitted from and/or to your mesh (See channels). Without these settings enabled, the node will still connect to the MQTT server but only send status messages.

The MQTT module config options are: Enabled, Server Address, Username, Password, Encryption Enabled, JSON Enabled, TLS Enabled, Root Topic, Client Proxy Enabled, Map Reporting Enabled (with Position Precision and Publish Interval). MQTT Module config uses an admin message sending a ConfigModule.MQTT protobuf.

Settings

MQTT Module Config Values

Enabled

Enables the MQTT module.

Server Address

The server to use for MQTT. If not set, the default public server will be used.

Username

MQTT Server username to use (most useful for a custom MQTT server). If using a custom server, this will be honored even if empty. If using the default public server, this will only be honored if set, otherwise the device will use the default username.

Password

MQTT password to use (most useful for a custom MQTT server). If using a custom server, this will be honored even if empty. If using the default server, this will only be honored if set, otherwise the device will use the default password.

Encryption Enabled

Whether to send encrypted or unencrypted packets to MQTT. This parameter is only honored if you also set server (the default official mqtt.meshtastic.org server can handle encrypted packets). Unencrypted packets may be useful for external systems that want to consume meshtastic packets.

Note: All messages are sent to the MQTT broker unencrypted if this option is not enabled, even when your uplink channels have encryption keys set.

JSON Enabled

note

JSON is not supported on the nRF52 platform.

Enable the sending / consumption of JSON packets on MQTT. These packets are not encrypted, but offer an easy way to integrate with systems that can read JSON.

TLS Enabled

If true, we attempt to establish a secure connection using TLS.

Root Topic

The root topic to use for MQTT messages. This is useful if you want to use a single MQTT server for multiple meshtastic networks and separate them via ACLs.

Client Proxy Enabled

If true, let the device use the client's (e.g. your phone's) network connection to connect to the MQTT server. If false, it uses the device's network connection which you have to enable via the network settings.

Map Reporting Enabled

Available from firmware version 2.3.2 on. If true, your node will periodically send an unencrypted map report to the MQTT server to be displayed by online maps that support this packet. This report includes the following information:

• The node's long and short name and ID;
• The node's position (with configurable precision) and altitude;
• The node's hardware model and role;
• The node's firmware version;
• The node's LoRa region, modem preset and primary channel name;
• Whether the node can be reached on the default channel with known key;
• Number of local online nodes (heard in the last 2 hours, excluding those heard via MQTT).

Map Report Position Precision

The precision to use for the position in the map report. Defaults to a maximum deviation of around 1459m.

Map Report Publish Interval

How often we should publish the map report to the MQTT server in seconds. Defaults to 900 seconds (15 minutes).

MQTT Module Config Client Availability

Android

Android

info

MQTT Config options are available for Android.

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

Apple

Apple

info

All MQTT config options are available on iOS, iPadOS and macOS at Settings > Module Configuration > MQTT.

CLI

CLI

info

The following configuration options are available in the Python CLI:

Setting	Acceptable Values	Default
mqtt.enabled	true, false	false
mqtt.address	string	mqtt.meshtastic.org
mqtt.username	string	meshdev
mqtt.password	string	large4cats
mqtt.encryption_enabled	true, false	false
mqtt.json_enabled	true, false	false
mqtt.tls_enabled	true, false	false
mqtt.root	string
mqtt.proxy_to_client_enabled	true, false	false
mqtt.map_reporting_enabled	true, false	false

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.

Example:

meshtastic --set mqtt.enabled true --set mqtt.json_enabled true

Enable/Disable MQTT Module

meshtastic --set mqtt.enabled true
meshtastic --set mqtt.enabled false

Enable/Disable MQTT JSON

meshtastic --set mqtt.json_enabled true
meshtastic --set mqtt.json_enabled false

Web

Web

info

All MQTT module config options are available for the Web UI.

Connect to the Default Public Server

important

The default channel (LongFast) on the public server usually has a lot of traffic. Your device may get overloaded and may no longer function properly anymore. It is recommended to use a different channel or to use your own MQTT server if you experience issues.

Android

Android

1. Enable the MQTT Module

Navigate to: Vertical Ellipsis (3 dots top right) > Radio configuration > MQTT: Turn on the slider for MQTT enabled and tap Send.

Optional: To use your phone's internet connection to send and receive packets over the web, also enable the slider for MQTT Client Proxy and skip the Configure Network Settings step below.

2. Enable Channel Uplink & Downlink

Navigate to: Vertical Ellipsis (3 dots top right) > Radio configuration > Channels > LongFast: Turn on the sliders for Uplink enabled and Downlink enabled, then tap Save and tap Send.

3. Configure Network Settings

Navigate to: Vertical Ellipsis (3 dots top right) > Radio configuration > Network: Turn on the slider for WiFi enabled, Enter the SSID and PSK for your network, then tap Send.

Apple

Apple

1. Enable the MQTT Module

Navigate to Settings > MQTT: Turn on the slider for MQTT enabled and tap Save

Optional: To use your phone's internet connection to send and receive packets over the web, also enable the slider for MQTT Client Proxy and skip the Configure Network Settings step below.

2. Enable Channel Uplink & Downlink

Navigate to Settings > Channels > Primary Channel: Turn on the sliders for Uplink enabled and Downlink enabled - Tap Save

3. Configure Network Settings

Navigate to Settings > Network: Turn on the slider for WiFi enabled - Enter your SSID and PSK for your network - Tap Save

CLI

CLI

1. Enable the MQTT Module

meshtastic --set mqtt.enabled true

2. Enable Channel Uplink & Downlink

meshtastic --ch-set uplink_enabled true --ch-index 0
meshtastic --ch-set downlink_enabled true --ch-index 0

or chained together:

meshtastic --ch-set uplink_enabled true --ch-index 0 --ch-set downlink_enabled true --ch-index 0

3. Configure Network Settings

meshtastic --set network.wifi_enabled true
meshtastic --set network.wifi_ssid "your network"
meshtastic --set network.wifi_psk yourpassword

or chained together:

meshtastic --set network.wifi_enabled true --set network.wifi_ssid "your network" --set network.wifi_psk yourpassword

Web

Web

1. Enable the MQTT Module

Navigate to Config > Module Config > MQTT - Turn on the slider for MQTT enabled - Click the Save icon.

Optional: To use your client's internet connection to send and receive packets over the web, also enable the slider for Proxy to Client Enabled and skip the Configure Network Settings step below.

caution

Though this option may be visible in your UI, Client Proxy is not yet functional with the Web Client.

2. Enable Channel Uplink & Downlink

Navigate to Channels > Primary: Turn on the sliders for Uplink Enabled and Downlink Enabled - Click the Save icon.

3. Configure Network Settings

Navigate to Radio Config > Device > Network: Turn on the slider for Enabled - Enter your SSID and PSK for your network - Click the Save icon.