MeshCore glossary¶

Use your browser's Find command to jump to a term. Definitions are short; the linked guides explain how to use each setting or device.

A-D¶

Advert: A MeshCore announcement packet that helps nearby nodes learn about a device and its path.
Bandwidth: A LoRa radio setting that affects how much radio spectrum a transmission uses. Use the value from your local settings or the configurator.
Broker: A service that receives and distributes messages for Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT).
Coding rate (CR): A LoRa error-correction setting. Use the value from your local settings or the configurator.
Companion: A personal MeshCore device used to send and receive messages. It often connects to an app and does not relay mesh traffic.
CoreScope: MeshCore Canada's public tools for viewing observers, packets, nodes, and map data.

Firmware: Software installed on a device. MeshCore firmware is built for a specific board and role.
Industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band: Radio spectrum used by many low-power devices. Legal use still depends on location, equipment, and operating conditions.
JSON Web Token (JWT): A time-limited credential used by supported MeshCore Canada data services. Treat it as sensitive.
Location code: A short code that groups observer data by area. Some observer guides call this an IATA code because they use three-letter airport codes.
LoRa: The long-range, low-power radio modulation used by MeshCore devices.
Mesh network: A network in which supported devices can relay traffic instead of relying on one central radio.
Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT): A publish-and-subscribe protocol used by observers to send network data to public tools.

Node: Any MeshCore device on the network.
Observer: A radio or host service that listens for MeshCore traffic and sends network data to public tools. It does not relay mesh traffic.
Path hash mode: The MeshCore setting that controls the size of identifiers in advert paths. Use the value from the current local or Canadian configuration.
Preset: A named group of radio settings.
Repeater: A normally fixed MeshCore device that relays packets to extend network coverage.
Room server: A MeshCore device that keeps a shared room available to companions. Its main job is hosting the room, not extending coverage.

Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): A measurement comparing a received signal with background noise.
Spreading factor (SF): A LoRa setting that affects airtime, data rate, and reception. Use the value from your local settings or the configurator.
WebSocket: A long-lived web connection. Some MQTT clients use WebSockets to reach a broker through normal web network paths.