---
title: Nodes
parent: User Guide
nav_order: 4
last_updated: 2026-05-20
description: Browse, filter, and sort mesh nodes — view details, signal quality, roles, and quick actions.
aliases:
  - node-list
  - mesh-nodes
  - peers
---

# Nodes

The Nodes screen displays all devices visible on your mesh network.

## Node List

The node list shows every node your radio has heard, including:
- **Node name** — user-configured long name
- **Short name** — 4-character identifier
- **Signal quality** — last heard signal strength
- **Last heard** — time since last communication
- **Distance** — estimated distance (if positions are shared)
- **Battery** — remote node battery level (if telemetry is enabled)

### Node Status Indicators

| Badge | Meaning |
|-------|---------|
| 🟢 Online | Node heard within the last 15 minutes |
| 🟡 Away | Node heard within the last 2 hours |
| 🔴 Offline | Node not heard for over 2 hours |
| ⭐ Favorite | Node marked as favorite by the user |

### Node Roles

Nodes can be configured with different roles that affect their mesh behavior:

| Role | Description |
|------|-------------|
| Client | Standard end-user device |
| Client Base | Treats favorited-node traffic as Router Late priority; all other traffic as Client |
| Client Mute | Receives but doesn't retransmit |
| Client Hidden | Like Client Mute, plus hides from node list |
| Router | Prioritizes message forwarding; stays awake to relay |
| Router Late | Infrastructure node that rebroadcasts once, but only after all other modes (provides supplemental coverage) |
| ~~Router Client~~ | ⚠️ **Deprecated** (removed in firmware 2.3.15) — no longer selectable; use Router or Client instead |
| ~~Repeater~~ | ⚠️ **Deprecated** (removed in firmware 2.7.11) — no longer selectable; use Router instead |
| Tracker | Optimized for position reporting at regular intervals |
| Sensor | Optimized for telemetry reporting |
| TAK | Interoperates with TAK systems (sends/receives CoT) |
| TAK Tracker | TAK position reporting only |
| Lost & Found | Continuous position beacon for recovery |

### Choosing a Role

Most users should keep the default **Client** role. Consider a different role when:

- **Router** — You have a node in a fixed, elevated location with reliable power (rooftop, hilltop). Routers stay awake continuously to relay messages for others and are essential for extending mesh coverage. Don't use Router on battery-powered handheld devices.
- **Router Late** — An infrastructure node that always rebroadcasts packets once but only after all other routing modes have had their turn. Provides supplemental coverage for local clusters without competing with primary routers.
- **Client Base** — Treats traffic from/to your favorited nodes with Router Late priority (ensuring those messages get extra relay coverage) while handling everything else as a normal Client.
- **Client Mute** — You want to receive mesh traffic but not contribute to relaying. Useful for monitoring-only devices or to reduce congestion in dense areas.
- **Tracker** — An unattended device whose sole purpose is broadcasting its GPS position (e.g., a vehicle, pet, or asset). Sleeps between broadcasts to conserve battery.
- **Sensor** — An unattended device reporting environmental telemetry (temperature, humidity, air quality). Similar power profile to Tracker.
- **TAK / TAK Tracker** — Only needed if interoperating with ATAK/WinTAK systems. See [TAK Integration](tak) for details.

> 💡 **Tip:** The mesh works best when most nodes are **Client** or **Router**. Too many Mute nodes reduces mesh resilience; too many Routers in a dense area can cause congestion. A good rule of thumb: one Router per 5–10 Clients in your area.

### Encryption Indicators

Nodes display encryption status icons next to their name:

| Icon | Meaning |
|------|---------|
| 🔒 Locked | Communication uses PKI (public key infrastructure) — end-to-end encrypted with verified identity |
| 🔓 Unlocked | Communication uses shared channel PSK — encrypted but identity not individually verified |
| ⚠️ Mismatch | Public key mismatch — the node's key has changed since last seen (investigate before trusting) |

> 💡 **Tip:** PKI encryption (firmware 2.5+) provides stronger security than channel PSK because each node has a unique key pair. If you see a key mismatch warning, the node may have been reset or compromised.

## Quick Actions

From the node list, you can:
- **Tap** a node to view its detail page
- **Long-press** for quick actions:
  - Mark/remove favorite
  - Mute/unmute notifications
  - Send a direct message
  - Trace route
  - Ignore/unignore
  - Remove node

## Filtering & Sorting

### Text Search

Type in the search field to filter nodes by name or short name. The filter updates in real time as you type.

### Filter Toggles

| Filter | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| **Only online** | Show only nodes heard within the last 15 minutes |
| **Only direct** | Show only nodes with direct (non-relayed) connections |
| **Include unknown** | Show nodes that haven't sent user info yet |
| **Exclude infrastructure** | Hide infrastructure-role nodes (Router, Repeater, Router Late, Client Base) |
| **Exclude MQTT** | Hide nodes heard only via MQTT internet bridge |
| **Show ignored** | Show nodes you've previously dismissed or muted |

### Sort Options

| Sort | Description |
|------|-------------|
| **Last heard** (default) | Most recently heard nodes first |
| **Alphabetical** | Sorted by node long name |
| **Distance** | Nearest nodes first (requires position sharing) |
| **Hops away** | Fewest relay hops first |
| **Channel** | Grouped by channel index |
| **Via MQTT** | Grouped by MQTT vs. radio-heard |
| **Favorites** | Favorited nodes first |

## Node Detail

Tapping a node opens the detail view with comprehensive information. See [Node Metrics](node-metrics) for full details on metrics and telemetry.

![Node detail view](../../assets/screenshots/nodes_node_list.png)

The detail screen includes device info, position, and action buttons:

![Node detail section](../../assets/screenshots/nodes_detail_section.png)

Inline status indicators show key metrics at a glance:

| Indicator | Screenshot |
|-----------|------------|
| Signal quality | ![Signal](../../assets/screenshots/nodes_signal_info.png) |
| Battery level | ![Battery](../../assets/screenshots/nodes_battery_info.png) |
| Hop count | ![Hops](../../assets/screenshots/nodes_hops_info.png) |
| Last heard | ![Last heard](../../assets/screenshots/nodes_last_heard.png) |
| Distance | ![Distance](../../assets/screenshots/nodes_distance_info.png) |

## Related Topics

- [Node Metrics](node-metrics) — detailed telemetry dashboards for each node
- [Messages & Channels](messages-and-channels) — send a direct message to a node
- [Map & Waypoints](map-and-waypoints) — view node positions geographically
- [Discovery](discovery) — traceroute and neighbor info for topology exploration
- [Signal Meter](signal-meter) — understand what the signal bars mean

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