Glossary of Terms
Terms defined here are linked wherever they appear in the documentation, and show
their definition on hover. Entries are maintained in glossary/glossary.json.
A
- ADC (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.
- Android
- Google's mobile operating system. Meshtastic provides an Android client that connects to a node over Bluetooth, serial or TCP.
- Application
- An application that connects to a Meshtastic node, typically for the purpose of sending or receiving data through the mesh network.
- ATAK (Android Team Awareness Kit)
- The Android TAK client. An official Meshtastic plugin forwards its Cursor on Target traffic over the mesh.
B
- Band
- A range of frequencies used for LoRa, dependent on region. Meshtastic further divides these bands into channels. Sometimes identified by the lower and upper bounds of the range (e.g. 902-928MHz), sometimes identified by a center frequency within the range (e.g. 915MHz), and sometimes only by the region they apply to (e.g. US).
- BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy)
- The default wireless connection between a node and a phone client.
- Bluetooth
- A short-range wireless link. Meshtastic clients use it to pair with a nearby node.
- Broadcast
- Sending a message or data from one device to all other devices within range in the Meshtastic network, rather than to a specific recipient.
C
- Channel
- At least two definitions in Meshtastic usage: 1) One of 8 configurable channels in the firmware, each supporting a separate name and encryption, with one set as primary and the rest secondary. 2) A specific frequency within a LoRa band that a device can be configured to use.
- CLI (Command Line Interface)
- A text-based interface used for interacting with software or devices like Meshtastic.
- Client
- A device or application that connects to a Meshtastic node, typically for the purpose of sending or receiving data through the mesh network.
D
- Device
- A physical piece of hardware that utilizes the Meshtastic software and LoRa (Long Range) radio technology to create a decentralized, long-range mesh network.
- DFU (Device Firmware Update)
- A state in which a device is placed into for it to receive a firmware update.
E
- ESP32
- A 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.
F
- Firmware
- The low-level software programmed onto a Meshtastic device, controlling its hardware functions and enabling it to communicate within the mesh network using LoRa technology.
- Flash
- The process of updating or installing firmware on a Meshtastic device. This is typically done using a computer to load new firmware versions or custom software to enhance or modify device functionality.
- Foreign Mesh
- A Foreign Mesh is one in which the receiving node does not share any Channels with the transmitting node. When a node receives a message it is unable to decrypt, then the message is said to come from a Foreign Mesh.
G
- GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System)
- A multi-constellation satellite positioning receiver. Hardware listing GNSS support typically receives GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS and QZSS.
- GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output)
- An uncommitted digital signal pin on a device.
- GPS (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.
I
- I2C
- A two-wire bus used to attach peripherals such as sensors and displays to a device.
- iOS
- Apple's mobile operating system. Meshtastic provides an Apple client for it.
- IP65
- An enclosure rating under IEC 60529. Dust-tight, and protected against low-pressure water jets from any direction.
- IP66
- An enclosure rating under IEC 60529. Dust-tight, and protected against powerful water jets.
- IP67
- An enclosure rating under IEC 60529. Dust-tight, and protected against temporary immersion in water.
- IPEX
- A miniature coaxial antenna connector found on many boards. The docs write it as U.FL/IPEX, using the two names interchangeably.
J
- JST
- A small keyed board connector used for battery and solar leads, such as PHR-2 for a LiPo battery and ZHR-2 for solar input.
L
- LED (Light-Emitting Diode)
- An indicator light on a device. The External Notification module can drive one in response to mesh activity.
- Linux
- An operating system family. meshtasticd runs Meshtastic natively on Linux with an attached LoRa radio.
- LoRa
- A 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.
- LoS (Line of Sight)
- A pathway through only air between two points.
- LR1110
- A Semtech LoRa transceiver, used in devices such as the Elecrow ThinkNode M3 and M4.
M
- macOS
- Apple's desktop operating system. It runs the Apple client, and meshtasticd supports it.
- MCU (Microcontroller Unit)
- The microcontroller that runs the firmware on a device. The hardware tables list the MCU for each supported board.
- Mesh
- In the context of Meshtastic and networking, a mesh refers to a network topology where devices (nodes) are interconnected, allowing them to directly and dynamically communicate with each other. This setup enables data to be relayed across the network, improving coverage and reliability, especially in challenging environments.
- Message
- A piece of data or text sent between Meshtastic devices over the mesh network, which can include text communications, GPS location updates, and other small data payloads.
- MHz (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.
- Module
- At least two definitions in Meshtastic usage: 1) A software plug-in to expand the capabilities of a Meshtastic device. 2) A hardware component or add-on for a Meshtastic device, such as a temperature sensor or GPS.
- MOSFET
- A transistor used as an electronic switch, for example to control power to a peripheral on a board.
- MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport)
- A lightweight messaging protocol designed for small sensors and mobile devices, enabling efficient data transmission in the Meshtastic network for Internet connectivity and integration with IoT platforms. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MQTT. In Meshtastic, MQTT is used to connect a node to the internet, and can be used to connect multiple meshes to each other.
- MUI (Meshtastic UI)
- An on-device interface for interacting with the mesh and changing most basic settings without a phone client.
N
- NFC (Near Field Communication)
- A very short-range wireless protocol. Some clients expose NFC-related settings.
- Node
- A unit within the Meshtastic network that can send, receive, and relay messages, helping to form and extend the mesh network's coverage.
- NOx (Nitrogen Oxides)
- A group of gases measured by some air quality sensors, which report them as an index rather than a concentration.
- nRF52
- A microcontroller chipset made by Nordic, used by several devices such as the RAK Meshtastic Starter Kit and the Lilygo T-Echo. Lower power usage than ESP32.
- nRF52840
- A Nordic microcontroller from the nRF52 family, used in devices such as the RAK WisBlock core modules. Provides Bluetooth LE 5.0 and very low power consumption.
O
- OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode)
- A display type used on many Meshtastic devices. The OLED Type setting selects which panel driver the firmware uses.
- OTA (Over the Air)
- Typically used to refer to an OTA update, one that happens over a wireless network.
P
- Packet
- A formatted unit of data sent over the network. In Meshtastic, packets carry messages, GPS locations, and other information through the LoRa mesh network.
- PKC (Public Key Cryptography)
- A cryptographic method introduced in Meshtastic v2.5 for Direct Messages and Admin Messages, where each device uses a unique public and private key pair. The public key, shared with other devices, enables secure message encryption, while the private key allows only the intended recipient to decrypt and authenticate the message. This approach enhances privacy and integrity for both direct device-to-device communication and sensitive admin functions.
- Protobuf (Protocol Buffers)
- A method developed by Google for serializing structured data, used in Meshtastic for efficient communication protocol between devices.
- PSK (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.
Q
- QR
- A scannable square code. In Meshtastic it encodes the Channel URL, which carries the channel and LoRa settings needed to join a mesh.
R
- Raspberry Pi
- A single-board computer. With an attached LoRa radio it can run meshtasticd as a node.
- Repeater
- Infrastructure node for extending network coverage by relaying messages with minimal overhead. Not visible in Nodes list.
- RF (Radio Frequency)
- The radio signal a node transmits and receives over LoRa.
- Router
- Infrastructure node for extending network coverage by relaying messages. Visible in Nodes list.
- rp2040
- A microcontroller chip developed by Raspberry Pi, featuring dual ARM Cortex-M0+ processors.
- rp2350
- A microcontroller chip developed by Raspberry Pi, featuring dual ARM Cortex-M33 or Hazard3 RISC-V processors.
- RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator)
- The raw power level of a received signal, where a value closer to zero is stronger. Clients rate signal quality from SNR rather than RSSI.
- RX (Receive)
- The receiving of data over the radio link.
S
- Sensor
- A device component that detects and responds to some type of input from the physical environment. In Meshtastic, sensors can be used to gather environmental data (e.g., temperature, humidity, GPS location) which can then be transmitted over the mesh network for monitoring or other applications.
- Serial
- A communication protocol used for the transmission of data between the Meshtastic device and a computer or other devices. Typically over USB or UART.
- SMA
- A threaded coaxial connector for attaching an external antenna. RP-SMA is the reverse-polarity variant, which is not interchangeable with it.
- SNR (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.
- SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface)
- A bus used between the microcontroller and peripherals such as the LoRa radio and the display.
- SWD (Serial Wire Debug)
- A two-pin debug and programming interface, used on STM32 devices to enter bootloader mode and flash firmware.
- SWR (Standing Wave Ratio)
- A measure of the efficiency of the radio frequency (RF) power transmission from a transmitter through a transmission line to an antenna in Meshtastic devices. It indicates the ratio of the amplitude of a standing wave at maximum to the amplitude at minimum, with an ideal SWR close to 1:1, signifying that most of the power is transmitted to the antenna with minimal reflections.
- SX1262
- A Semtech sub-GHz LoRa transceiver, used in most current Meshtastic hardware and recommended over the older SX127x series.
- SX1276
- A first-generation Semtech LoRa transceiver from the SX127x series, no longer recommended for new purchases.
T
- TAK (Team Awareness Kit)
- A situational awareness ecosystem. Meshtastic bridges to it by converting mesh messages to and from Cursor on Target format.
- TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
- One of the three ways a client reaches a node, alongside serial and Bluetooth. Clients connect over TCP on port 4403.
- Telemetry
- The sending of sensor data or system metrics over the mesh network.
- Transceiver
- A device capable of both transmitting and receiving communications.
- Transmit
- The act of sending data, such as messages or GPS locations, from one Meshtastic device to another over the LoRa network.
- TX (Transmit)
- The transmitting of data over the radio link.
U
- UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter)
- A serial interface used to communicate with a device over its pins or through a USB-to-serial bridge.
- USB (Universal Serial Bus)
- The wired connection used to power a device, flash firmware onto it, and communicate with it over serial.
V
- VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)
- A group of gases measured by some air quality sensors, which report them as an index rather than a concentration.
W
- Wi-Fi
- A wireless network connection. Devices that support it can join a network to reach MQTT or expose a network API.
- Windows
- Microsoft's desktop operating system, supported for flashing firmware and for running Meshtastic clients.
81 terms.