Meshtastic-Android/docs/en/user/nodes.md

title, parent, nav_order, last_updated, description, aliases

title	parent	nav_order	last_updated	description	aliases
Nodes	User Guide	4	2026-06-02	Browse, filter, and sort mesh nodes — view details, signal quality, roles, and quick actions.	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 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 for full details on metrics and telemetry.

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

Inline status indicators show key metrics at a glance:

Indicator	Screenshot
Signal quality
Battery level
Hop count
Last heard
Distance

Device Links ("I want one")

When a node's hardware is recognized, the detail view shows a collapsible "I want one" section linking to places to buy or learn more about that device: the vendor's product page, product variants, and regional marketplace listings (such as AliExpress, Amazon, and supported retailers), filtered to your country. Each link opens through the msh.to redirect service. Devices with no matching links don't show the section.

A full, browsable directory of every link is also available under Settings → Device Links.

Related Topics

• Node Metrics — detailed telemetry dashboards for each node
• Messages & Channels — send a direct message to a node
• Map & Waypoints — view node positions geographically
• Discovery — traceroute and neighbor info for topology exploration
• Signal Meter — understand what the signal bars mean

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