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Regional Settings — USA / CSRA

To communicate with other nodes on the CSRA network, your device must be configured with matching settings. This page documents the standard settings used by the CSRA MeshCore community.

These are the settings to use

Apply all settings on this page to join the primary CSRA network. Using different settings means your device won't be visible to — or able to hear — other local nodes.

USA Frequency Band

The United States operates MeshCore on the 915 MHz ISM band (902–928 MHz). This band is license-free for low-power devices under FCC Part 15 rules.

Setting Value
Region United States
Frequency band 915 MHz
Regulatory FCC Part 15 (no license required)

Do not use 868 MHz settings

868 MHz is the European band and is not legal for unlicensed use in the USA. Any device transmitting on 868 MHz in the US is operating outside FCC regulations.

CSRA Primary Channel Settings

These are the community-agreed settings for the CSRA region's primary channel:

Setting Value
Channel Name CSRA-1
Modem Preset Long Range / Slow (LONG_SLOW)
Frequency 906.875 MHz (default US slot 20)
Bandwidth 250 kHz
Spread Factor 11
Coding Rate 4/8
TX Power 27 dBm (500 mW) — legal US maximum for this band

Why Long Range / Slow?

The CSRA spans a large geographic area with a mix of urban and rural terrain. LONG_SLOW trades message throughput for maximum range and building penetration — the right tradeoff for a regional community network. High-density areas like downtown Augusta can sustain the lower throughput easily.

Applying Settings in the App

  1. Open MeshCore app → connect to your device
  2. Tap the Device tab → Radio Settings
  3. Set Region to United States
  4. Set Modem Preset to Long Range / Slow
  5. Under Channels, tap + to add a channel
  6. Enter channel name CSRA-1
  7. Tap Save — device will reboot to apply
  1. Open MeshCore app → connect to your device
  2. Tap Settings → Radio
  3. Set Region to United States
  4. Set Preset to Long Range / Slow
  5. Under Channels, add channel named CSRA-1
  6. Tap Apply — device will reboot to apply

Channel Encryption

MeshCore channels use AES-256 encryption by default. The CSRA primary channel (CSRA-1) uses the default public key — this means any MeshCore user with the correct channel name and preset can join.

This is intentional: the public channel is for community coordination, not private conversation. For private messaging, use MeshCore's Direct Message feature, which uses device-to-device encrypted sessions.

Transmit Power

Setting Value Notes
Maximum legal (USA) 30 dBm (1W) FCC Part 15 limit
CSRA recommended 27 dBm (500 mW) Good balance of range and battery
Portable/handheld 20–23 dBm Extends battery life significantly

More power ≠ more range

On a mesh network, adding relay nodes in strategic locations does far more for network coverage than cranking up transmit power. High power can actually cause interference and reduce network efficiency in dense areas.

Hop Limit

Setting Recommended Value
Hop Limit 3

A hop limit of 3 means a message can traverse up to 3 relay nodes. This is the CSRA community standard — it balances network reach with airtime efficiency. Setting this too high causes excessive rebroadcasting and degrades network performance for everyone.

Advanced / Optional Settings

These are optional but recommended for fixed relay nodes:

Setting Recommended Reason
Node Role Router (fixed nodes) or Client (handheld) Routers rebroadcast more aggressively
Bluetooth Enabled on handhelds, optional on routers Required for phone pairing
MQTT Disabled Not used on the CSRA network currently
Position Broadcast Smart / On Movement Share your location only when moving

Settings Summary (Quick Reference)

Region:        United States
Band:          915 MHz
Channel Name:  CSRA-1
Preset:        Long Range / Slow (LONG_SLOW)
TX Power:      27 dBm
Hop Limit:     3
Encryption:    AES-256 (default public key)

Print or save this — it's everything you need to get on the network.