MeshTNC

MeshTNC is a tool for piping LoRa data to and from consumer grade radios.

• Code - github.com/datapartyjs/MeshTNC
• Releases - github.com/datapartyjs/MeshTNC/releases
• Support - ko-fi/dataparty

Features

• Simple serial cli built into the firmware
• Transmit raw bytes (hex) over LoRA using serial CLI
• LoRA packet logging to serial (hex)
• KISS-TNC mode

Compiling

• Install PlatformIO in Visual Studio Code.
• Clone and open the MeshTNC repository in Visual Studio Code.
• See the example applications you can modify and run:
  • Simple Repeater

Flashing

Download precompiled firmware releases - github.com/datapartyjs/MeshTNC/releases

We haven't built a flashing tool yet. You can flash builds using the meshcore flasher, the OEM provided flashing tools or using the developer instructions to flash using VS Code.

• Flash using your platform's OEM flashing tool
• Use the meshcore flasher - http://flasher.meshcore.co.uk/

Hardware Compatibility

MeshTNC is designed for devices supported by MeshCore so check their support list in the MeshCore Flasher. We support most of the same hardware see variants.

Serial CLI

The MeshTNC firmware initially starts up in a serial mode which is human readable. You can connect to the serial console using a serial terminal application like below.

minicom -D /dev/ttyACM0

Once connected the MeshTNC device has a simple CLI. The CLI is largely similar to meshcore with a few notable additions.

CLI additions

• txraw <hex...> - Transmist a packet
• get syncword <word> - Read the syncword setting
• set kiss port <port> - Set the KISS device port
• set radio <freq>,<bw>,<sf>,<coding-rate>,<syncword> - Configure the radio
• serial mode kiss - Switch to KISS mode
• rxlog on
  • Output format: [timestamp],[type=RXLOG],[rssi],[snr],[hex...]\n

Existing Commands

• reboot
• clock sync
• start ota
• clock
• time
• tempradio
• clear stats
• get af
• get agc.reset.interval
• get name
• get lat
• get lon
• get radio
• get rxdelay
• get txdelay
• get tx
• get freq
• set af
• set int.thresh
• set agc.reset.interval
• set name
• set radio
• set lat
• set lon
• set rxdelay
• set txdelay
• set tx
• set freq
• erase
• ver
• log start
• log stop
• rxlog on
• rxlog off

KISS Mode

• Open a serial console and connect to the MeshTNC device
• serial mode kiss

APRS over LoRa

You can use your favorite APRS tools with MeshTNC. Simply select a frequency, place the radio into kiss mode and connect to your APRS tools as a KISS TNC device.

• minicom -D /dev/ttyACM0
  • set radio 918.25,500.0,7,5,0x16
  • serial mode kiss

APRS Software

MeshTNC should work with lots of APRS clients, we've tested on the following:

• xastir
• APRSisce32

Ethernet over LoRa

Run the following on two or more computers, each with a MeshTNC device attached, to create an ethernet over LoRa network.

• Install tncattach
  • git clone https://github.com/markqvist/tncattach.git
  • cd tncattach
  • make
  • sudo make install
• minicom -D /dev/ttyACM0
  • set radio 916.75,500.0,5,5,0x16
  • serial mode kiss

On the first machine

• sudo tncattach --mtu=230 -e -noipv6 --ipv4=10.10.10.10/24 /dev/ttyACM0 115200

On the second machine

• sudo tncattach --mtu=230 -e -noipv6 --ipv4=10.10.10.11/24 /dev/ttyACM0 115200