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Community MQTT Gateway & Live Map Setup

Meshtastic Armenia operates an official MQTT broker (mqtt.msh.am) that connects community nodes with the Live Mesh Dashboard and real-time network monitors.

🧭 Overview & Connection Guidelines​

Who Should Enable MQTT?​

  • Stationary Home Stations (CLIENT_BASE): Nodes plugged into mains power with persistent Wi-Fi access.
  • Rooftop & High-Site Nodes: Gateways positioned to capture broad RF coverage across cities or valleys.
  • ❌ Handheld / Portable Nodes (CLIENT): Should NOT enable MQTT in everyday use. It wastes battery, consumes cellular data, and creates unnecessary duplicate packet reports when moving.

⚙️ Broker Connection Parameters​

Configure your device using the Meshtastic mobile app (Android / iOS) or the Web Client:

Setting ParameterRequired ValueNotes
MQTT EnabledON (Enabled)Master switch in Module Config
Server Addressmqtt.msh.amPublic community broker
Server Port1883Default standard MQTT port
UsernamemeshdevCommunity access credential
Passwordlarge4catsStandard Meshtastic community password
Encryption EnabledOFF (Disabled)Do not enable TLS on port 1883
Root Topic/msh/EU_868/AM/Regional topic root (leading slash required)
Channel Uplink EnabledYESMust be turned on under Channel Settings
Downlink Enabled❌ NO (Disabled)CRITICAL: Never enable on community client nodes

📱 Mobile App Setup Instructions​

  1. Open the Meshtastic app and connect to your node over Bluetooth.
  2. Tap Settings (gear icon) -> Module Config -> MQTT.
  3. Toggle MQTT Enabled to ON.
  4. In Server Address, enter mqtt.msh.am.
  5. Enter Username: meshdev and Password: large4cats.
  6. Ensure Encryption is toggled OFF.
  7. Set Root Topic to /msh/EU_868/AM/.
  8. Save settings (the node will restart).
  9. Next, go to Channels -> select your primary channel (MediumFast):
    • Set Uplink Enabled to ON.
    • Keep Downlink Enabled set to OFF.
NEVER enable Downlink on client nodes!
  • Uplink (RF -> MQTT): Your node hears a radio packet from nearby users and forwards it to the internet dashboard. This is safe and helps map network coverage.
  • Downlink (MQTT -> RF): Your node receives internet traffic from the MQTT broker and retransmits it over the local 868 MHz radio frequency.

If casual users enable Downlink, global internet traffic and bot spam will flood the local RF spectrum in Armenia, causing high channel airtime utilization, lost packets, and severe interference for emergency comms. Downlink is reserved exclusively for authorized, rate-limited community gateway bridges managed by network administrators.

🔒 Privacy & Public Uplink Controls​

The Armenian community respects privacy and individual node operator preferences:

1. Relaying to the Global Map (OkToMQTT)​

By default, packets sent to mqtt.msh.am power the local Armenian portal (msh.am).

  • If you also want your node to be forwarded upstream to the global Meshtastic public map (mqtt.meshtastic.org), ensure OkToMQTT (lora.config_ok_to_mqtt = true) is checked in your node's LoRa configuration.

2. Complete Internet Opt-Out (ignore_mqtt)​

If you want to communicate strictly over local LoRa radio and never have your node, location, or telemetry relayed to the internet:

  • In the app, navigate to Settings -> Radio Config -> LoRa.
  • Turn Ignore MQTT (lora.ignore_mqtt = true) to ON.
  • The api.msh.am gateway inspects this packet flag and strictly drops any packet originating from nodes configured with ignore_mqtt = true before it reaches public endpoints or databases.

⚡ Next Steps​