Settings — Radio & User
Configure your radio hardware and user identity parameters.
User Settings
User Profile
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Long Name | Your display name (up to 39 characters) |
| Short Name | 4-character abbreviated name |
| Licensed Operator | Enable if you hold an amateur radio license (enables higher power) |
Applying Changes
After modifying settings, tap Save to write the configuration to your radio. The device may reboot to apply changes.
Configuration
Device Config
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Node behavior (Client, Router, etc.) | Client |
| Rebroadcast Mode | How the node retransmits messages | All |
| Node Info Broadcast (s) | Interval for broadcasting node info | 10800 |
| Double-tap Button | Action for double-tap button press | Disabled |
LoRa Config
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Regulatory region for frequency bands | Unset (must configure) |
| Modem Preset | Speed/range tradeoff | LongFast |
| Hop Limit | Maximum retransmit hops | 3 |
| TXTX (Transmit). The transmitting of data over the radio link. Power | Transmission power (dBm); 0 = max allowed for region | 0 (region max) |
| Frequency Offset | Fine-tune frequency (MHzMHz (Megahertz). A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz (cycles per second), used to specify the operating frequency of LoRa devices in the Meshtastic network, affecting range and data rate.) | 0 |
| Channel Bandwidth | Bandwidth setting | Default for preset |
⚠️ Important: You must set your region before transmitting. Operating without the correct region may violate local radio regulations. See the region configuration guide on meshtastic.org for details.
Modem Presets
💡 Tip: The SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. Limit values are negative on purpose. LoRaLoRaA low-power, long-range wireless communication technology used by Meshtastic devices to enable communication over distances of several kilometers without the need for cellular, Wi-Fi, or other traditional network infrastructures. can decode signals below the noise floor, so a more-negative limit means the preset tolerates a weaker, noisier signal (more range). See How the Signal Meter Works for the full explanation.
| Preset | Range | Speed | SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. Limit | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short Turbo | ~1 km | 21.9 kbps | −7.5 dB | Dense urban with line-of-sight; data-heavy applications |
| Short Fast | ~3 km | 10.9 kbps | −7.5 dB | Urban neighborhoods; buildings within a few blocks |
| Short Slow | ~5 km | 5.5 kbps | −10 dB | Suburban short-range; moderate building density |
| Medium Fast | ~5 km | 5.5 kbps | −12.5 dB | Suburban areas; moderate building density |
| Medium Slow | ~8 km | 1.1 kbps | −15 dB | Suburban/rural; moderate range with slower speed |
| Long Turbo | ~10 km | 4.4 kbps | −12.5 dB | Similar range to Long Fast but with 500 kHz bandwidth; faster throughput |
| Long Fast | ~10 km | 1.1 kbps | −17.5 dB | General use (default) — balanced range and speed |
| Long Moderate | ~20 km | 0.34 kbps | −17.5 dB | Rural with some terrain; occasional use |
| Lite Fast | ~5 km | 5.5 kbps | −12.5 dB | EU 866 MHzMHz (Megahertz). A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz (cycles per second), used to specify the operating frequency of LoRa devices in the Meshtastic network, affecting range and data rate. SRD band (125 kHz BW); comparable to Medium Fast |
| Lite Slow | ~10 km | 1.1 kbps | −15 dB | EU 866 MHzMHz (Megahertz). A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz (cycles per second), used to specify the operating frequency of LoRa devices in the Meshtastic network, affecting range and data rate. SRD band (125 kHz BW); comparable to Long Fast |
| Narrow Fast | ~5 km | 2.7 kbps | −10 dB | EU 868 MHzMHz (Megahertz). A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz (cycles per second), used to specify the operating frequency of LoRa devices in the Meshtastic network, affecting range and data rate. band (62.5 kHz BW); avoids interference with other devices |
| Narrow Slow | ~10 km | 1.1 kbps | −12.5 dB | EU 868 MHzMHz (Megahertz). A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz (cycles per second), used to specify the operating frequency of LoRa devices in the Meshtastic network, affecting range and data rate. band (62.5 kHz BW); comparable to Long Fast |
| ~30 km | 0.18 kbps | −20 dB | ⚠️ Deprecated — still selectable but may be removed in a future firmware release | |
| ~40+ km | 0.09 kbps | −20 dB | ⚠️ Deprecated — still selectable but may be removed in a future firmware release |
ℹ️ Note: This table uses the common short names. In the app's preset dropdown they read as Short Range - Fast, Long Range - Fast, Lite - Fast, Narrow - Fast, and so on.
Choosing a Modem Preset
The modem preset controls the fundamental tradeoff between range and data rate:
- Slower presets use more spreading, making signals decodable at weaker signal levels (lower SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. limit). This means longer range but fewer bytes per second.
- Faster presets pack more data per transmission but require a stronger signal to decode.
Practical guidance:
- Urban mesh (many nodes, short distances): Use Long Fast (default) or Short Fast. Higher speed means less airtime congestion when many nodes share the channel.
- Rural/sparse mesh (few nodes, long distances): Use Long Moderate. Range matters more than speed when nodes are far apart.
- EU 866/868 MHzMHz (Megahertz). A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz (cycles per second), used to specify the operating frequency of LoRa devices in the Meshtastic network, affecting range and data rate. regulatory compliance: Use Lite Fast, Lite Slow, Narrow Fast, or Narrow Slow — these are optimized for the EU SRD/868 MHzMHz (Megahertz). A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz (cycles per second), used to specify the operating frequency of LoRa devices in the Meshtastic network, affecting range and data rate. bands with narrower bandwidths.
- Fixed infrastructure links: Use Short Turbo or Long Turbo for dedicated point-to-point links with good antennas and line-of-sight.
- Mixed environments: Stick with Long Fast — it's the community default and ensures compatibility with others in your area.
⚠️ Important: All nodes on the same channel must use the same modem preset. Nodes with mismatched presets cannot communicate even if they share the same frequency and encryption key.
💡 Tip: The range estimates above assume flat terrain and modest antennas. Elevation advantage (hilltop, rooftop) dramatically increases effective range. A well-placed Router with Long Fast can often outperform a ground-level node with Long Slow.
Display Config
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Screen Timeout | Time before display sleeps |
| Display Units | Metric or Imperial |
| OLEDOLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode). A display type used on many Meshtastic devices. The OLED Type setting selects which panel driver the firmware uses. Type | Auto, SSD1306, SH1106, SH1107 |
| Compass Orientation | Rotation offset for compass display (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) |
| ⚠️ Deprecated — replaced by Compass Orientation; still visible in older firmware |
Position Config
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| GPSGPS (Global Positioning System). A satellite positioning system. A node with a GPS module determines its own location and can report that position to the mesh. Enabled | Enable/disable GPSGPS (Global Positioning System). A satellite positioning system. A node with a GPS module determines its own location and can report that position to the mesh. |
| GPSGPS (Global Positioning System). A satellite positioning system. A node with a GPS module determines its own location and can report that position to the mesh. Update Interval | How often to acquire GPSGPS (Global Positioning System). A satellite positioning system. A node with a GPS module determines its own location and can report that position to the mesh. fix |
| Position Broadcast (s) | How often to share position |
| Smart Position | Enable movement-based broadcasting |
| Fixed Position | Use a manually set position |
Power Config
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Power Saving | Enable low-power sleep mode |
| Shutdown After (s) | Auto-shutdown idle timer |
| ADCADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter). A circuit that turns a varying voltage into a digital value. Devices use one to read sensors and to measure battery voltage. Multiplier | Battery voltage calibration factor |
| Wait Bluetooth (s) | Time to wait for BLEBLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). The default wireless connection between a node and a phone client. connection at boot |
| Mesh SDS Timeout (s) | Super-deep-sleep timeout |
Network Config
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| WiFi Enabled | Enable WiFi radio (ESP32ESP32A chipset of microcontroller made/designed by Espressif, used by a number of devices. Higher power usage than nRF52, but often cheaper and supports Wi-Fi if desired. devices) |
| WiFi SSID | Network name to connect to |
| WiFi PSKPSK (Pre-Shared Key). A secret code or passphrase used in Meshtastic channels for encryption, ensuring that only devices with the matching PSK can communicate within that specific channel. | Network password |
| NTP Server | Time synchronization server |
| Syslog Server | Remote logging server |
Bluetooth Config
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Enabled | Enable/disable BLEBLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). The default wireless connection between a node and a phone client. radio |
| Pairing Mode | Fixed PIN, Random PIN, or No PIN |
| Fixed PIN | PIN code for pairing (default: 123456) |
Security Config
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Public Key | Your node's public key (read-only) |
| Admin Key | Key for remote administration |
| Private Key | Your node's private key (handle securely) |
| ⚠️ Removed — now configured automatically when an admin key is set | |
| Debug Log | Output live debug logging over serial/bluetooth |
| Serial Enabled | Enable serial console access (moved from Device Config) |
| Managed Mode | Restrict non-admin channel changes |
| Backup Keys | Save an encrypted backup of the node's keys on this device (Android only) |
| Restore Keys | Write the backed-up keys back to the node (available once a backup exists) |
| Delete Key Backup | Remove the stored key backup from this device |
| Protection Level | Packet authenticity — how unsigned or relayed packets are treated: Strict, Balanced, or Compatible (requires supporting firmware; Strict asks for confirmation) |
Settings use standard preference controls — dropdowns, toggles, and sliders:
| Control | Screenshot |
|---|---|
| Dropdown |  |
| Toggle |  |
| Slider |  |
Related Topics
- Settings — Modules & Admin — optional feature modules and device administration
- Signal Meter — how modem presets affect signal quality thresholds
- LoRa configuration — detailed LoRaLoRaA low-power, long-range wireless communication technology used by Meshtastic devices to enable communication over distances of several kilometers without the need for cellular, Wi-Fi, or other traditional network infrastructures. settings reference on meshtastic.org
- Initial configuration — region setup guide on meshtastic.org