Migrated from the SA:MUG Wiki.js page. Content has been lightly cleaned for Docusaurus and public readability; advanced operational settings should still be field-tested before being treated as hard defaults.
MeshCore glossary
This glossary explains common MeshCore terms used on the SA:MUG wiki.
For setup paths, start with Start Here.
Advert
A node announcement. Adverts help other nodes discover your name, identity, and routing/contact information.
Airtime
How long a LoRa packet occupies the radio channel. Higher airtime means less channel capacity for everyone else.
Bandwidth / BW
A LoRa modem setting. The SA/WA/QLD MeshCore setting is 62.5 kHz.
BLE companion
Companion firmware that connects to a phone or tablet using Bluetooth Low Energy.
Coding rate / CR
A LoRa modem setting that affects error correction and airtime. The SA/WA/QLD MeshCore setting is 8.
Companion node
A normal user/client MeshCore node. It connects to a phone, tablet, or computer app and is usually the right starting point for new users.
Core repeater / CORE
A high-value wide-area or backbone repeater. Usually a high site with deliberate coverage purpose.
Direct/routed traffic
Traffic that uses known path/contact information to reach a destination more deliberately than general flood traffic.
Distribution repeater / DIST
A repeater used for coverage shaping, valley fill, secondary ridge coverage, or reflector-style paths.
DFU
Device Firmware Update. In this wiki, DFU often refers to bootloader/update behaviour on devices such as nRF52 boards.
Edge repeater / EDGE
A small local infill repeater, such as a house roof, suburb edge, valley floor, or local shadow-pocket fill.
EIRP
Effective Isotropic Radiated Power. It depends on transmitter power, feedline loss, and antenna gain. Check legal limits before deploying repeaters.
Flood advert
An advert that may be forwarded by repeaters and travel beyond direct radio range.
Flood traffic
Traffic that may be forwarded broadly through repeaters. Flooding is useful but must be limited to avoid excess traffic.
Frequency
The LoRa operating frequency. The SA/WA/QLD MeshCore setting is 923.125 MHz.
int.thresh
Interference threshold setting. If non-zero, the radio may treat the channel as active when current RSSI rises above the measured noise floor by this threshold. Use carefully on noisy sites.
Loop detection
Repeater behaviour that helps reduce forwarding loops and repeated packets.
MeshCore
A LoRa-based messaging and routing system. It is separate from Meshtastic and is not over-the-air compatible with Meshtastic.
Meshtastic
A separate LoRa mesh system. MeshCore and Meshtastic may use similar hardware, but they use different firmware and protocols.
nRF52
A family of Nordic microcontrollers used in some LoRa devices. For nRF52 repeaters, SA:MUG recommends flashing the Oltaco DFU Bootloader before formatting/flashing MeshCore repeater firmware.
Noise floor
The background RF noise level seen by the receiver. A high noise floor can make reception worse even when RSSI looks strong.
Oltaco DFU Bootloader
A bootloader fix/replacement recommended for nRF52-based repeaters as OTA-update future-proofing:
https://github.com/oltaco/Adafruit_nRF52_Bootloader_OTAFIX
Recommended order: flash Oltaco first, then format/erase if needed, then flash MeshCore repeater firmware.
OTA
Over The Air update. Updating firmware without physically connecting a USB cable. OTA capability is especially useful for repeaters installed in hard-to-reach places.
Path hash
A compact identifier related to routing/path information. Operators may see path.hash.mode in repeater settings.
Repeater
A MeshCore node that forwards eligible packets to improve coverage. Repeaters should be deployed for real coverage needs and configured for their site role.
Room server
A shared message store/mailbox-style MeshCore role. It is different from a repeater.
RSSI
Received Signal Strength Indicator. It shows received signal power, but does not tell the whole link-quality story by itself.
rxdelay
A repeater timing setting that can delay weak received flood packets so stronger copies can be processed first.
Important: rxdelay 0 disables it, rxdelay 1 is a no-op, values greater than 1 are intended, and values between 0 and 1 invert behaviour.
SF / Spreading factor
A LoRa modem setting affecting range, airtime, and reliability. The SA/WA/QLD MeshCore setting is 8.
SNR
Signal-to-noise ratio. For LoRa, SNR is often more useful than RSSI alone.
stats-core
A command that reports MeshCore/core statistics. Useful for troubleshooting repeaters and behaviour.
stats-radio
A command that reports radio statistics such as noise floor, RSSI, and SNR. Useful for RF troubleshooting.
txdelay
A repeater timing setting that adds random retransmit delay for flood traffic to reduce collisions.
direct.txdelay
A timing setting similar to txdelay, but for direct/routed retransmits.
USB serial companion
Companion firmware that connects to a computer or host over USB serial.
Zero-hop advert
An advert heard only by nodes directly in radio range. Useful for local discovery without flooding across the wider mesh.