To ensure the NWI mesh stays healthy, please use these community-standard settings:
Device Roles
- Client
- Default. Use this for your primary device.
- Client_Mute
- Use this for secondary “home” nodes to listen without adding noise to the airwaves.
- Router/Repeater
- ONLY for nodes placed on high towers, silos, or tall buildings with massive Line-of-Sight.
Recommended Radio Settings
Transmit Enabled
This setting is the “master switch” for your radio.
Recommended Value: Enabled (Checked/True)
What it does: It allows your device to physically send out radio signals. If you turn this off, your node becomes “listen-only” (Mute).
When to change it: Only disable this if you are testing your device without an antenna attached (to prevent damaging the radio chip) or if you want to create a “stealth” node that only receives messages but never contributes or repeats for the mesh. For NWI Mesh Net, keep it enabled so you can help grow the network!
OK to MQTT
This is a “consent” setting for your data’s privacy when your node is connected to the internet.
Recommended Value: Enabled (Checked/True)
What it does: This setting tells the network, “I am okay with my node’s information being shared with the public Meshtastic MQTT servers.”
How it works: * If Enabled, your node name, battery level, and location (if location is enabled) can be sent to public internet brokers and may appear on global maps like MeshMap.
If Disabled, your node remains “local-only.” It will still talk to other radios in Northwest Indiana, but it won’t broadcast its identity to the public internet servers.
| Setting | Recommended Value | Why? |
| LoRa Region | United States (915MHz) | Legal frequency for Indiana. |
| Hop Count | 7 | Ensures your message can travel across the region. |
| Transmit Enabled | Enabled (True) | Required to participate in the mesh and send messages. |
| OK to MQTT | Enabled (True) | Enabled → public node ID/telemetry published to global servers and maps. Disabled → local mesh only, no public exposure. |
| Broadcast Node Info | 10800 seconds (3 hours) | Reduces “chatter” to keep the airwaves clear for others. |
| LoRa Frequency Slot | 0 Default | Standard slot for US LongFast. |
| Max Transmit Power | 30dBm | Maximum legal power for the best range. |
| Waveform | LongFast | The community standard for maximum compatibility. |