🛟 Troubleshooting and Setup Help

The best away to get help is to ask in the Discord #advice channel.

🔰 GETTING STARTED WITH MESHTASTIC (WICHITA EDITION) Here’s how to get started: ⸻

📱 1. INSTALL THE MESHTASTIC APP You’ll use this app to connect your phone to your device and manage settings.

For iPhone: App Store Link 🔗

For Android: Google Play Link 🔗

⸻

📡 2. CHOOSE YOUR DEVICE

You’ll need a LoRa device (aka a “node”) to send messages on the mesh.

🔰 Easiest Option (No setup needed) SenseCAP T1000-E

• Amazon
• Seeed Studio

✅ Pocket-sized, GPS built-in, USB-C charging

❌ No screen

⸻

🛠️ DIY Options (More powerful, needs flashing)

T-Beam (LilyGo)

• Amazon
• lillygo

✅ Long range, built-in GPS

❌ Requires flashing

T-Echo (LilyGo)

• Lillygo
• Amazon

✅ GPS, screen, microphone

❌ Higher power draw, also needs flashing

HELTEC V3

• Heltec (be sure to choose the 902-928MHz band)
• Amazon

✅ Budget option, screen

❌ No GPS (or DIY GPS), limited range, needs flashing

✅ DEVICE QUICK COMPARISON

Device	GPS	Screen	Flashing	Use Case
SenseCAP T1000-E	✅	❌	❌ No	Beginners, plug-n-play
T-Beam (LilyGo)	✅	❌	✅ Yes	Range + GPS node
T-Echo (LilyGo)	✅	✅	✅ Yes	Voice & visual testing
HELTEC V3	❌	✅	✅ Yes	Cheap test or relay
RAK wireless WisBlock Meshtastic Starter Kit	❌	❌	✅ Yes	Super low power for solar installs

⸻

💻 3. FLASH YOUR DEVICE (if needed)

Use the web flasher: https://flasher.meshtastic.org Use Chrome or Edge only (not Firefox)

• Plug in via USB
• Choose the correct board
• Hit “Flash” Need help? Ask in Discord or wait for a flash party!

⸻

⚙️ 4. RECOMMENDED SETTINGS

Use these so your node can communicate with others in the Wichita network!

📻 Radio Config: Device

• Role: Client (or Client Mute)

LoRa

• Region: US
• User Preset: On
• Modem: LongFast

Position

• GPS: ✅ Enabled (if supported by device)

Channels Primary

• Name: LongFast (just like that, no space)
• Pre-Shared Key: AQ==
  • then select “8 bit” or “Default”

🧩 Config -> Module Config -> MQTT:

• Enabled: ✅ Yes (helps meshmap.net, don’t change the defaults)
• Encryption Enabled: ❌ No
• Root topic: msh/US/KS/Wichita
• Map Reporting Enabled: ✅ yes

Identity Settings (top left, pencil icon):

• Long Name: This is your choice! Make it something unique and memorable.
• Short Name: This is up to you, too! ⸻

🙋 NEED HELP?

• Ask questions in Discord
• Hop on Sundays at 8pm to join the Mesh Net
• Let us know you want to have flash night or range test meetup!

Let us know what brought you here or what you’re excited to build—we’re building together!