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https://github.com/meshtastic/Meshtastic-Android.git
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118 lines
4.9 KiB
HTML
118 lines
4.9 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html>
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<html lang="en" dir="ltr">
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<head>
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<meta charset="UTF-8">
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<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
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<title>Connections</title>
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<link rel="stylesheet" href="../styles/docs.css">
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</head>
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<body data-page="connections" data-locale="en">
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<pre class="markdown-content"># Connections
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Meshtastic supports multiple transport methods to communicate between your phone/desktop and a radio node.
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## Bluetooth (BLE)
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Bluetooth Low Energy is the default and most common connection method on Android.
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### Pairing a Device
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1. Ensure your Meshtastic radio is powered on and in pairing mode.
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2. Open the app and navigate to the **Connect** tab.
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3. Tap **Scan for Bluetooth devices** — nearby Meshtastic radios will appear.
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4. Select your device from the list.
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5. Accept the Bluetooth pairing prompt if shown.
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Use the transport selector — a segmented button row below the connection card — to switch between the Bluetooth, Network, and USB transports (one is active at a time):
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> 💡 **Tip:** If your device doesn't appear, check that Bluetooth and Location permissions are granted, and that the radio is not already connected to another device.
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### Connection Status
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Icon | State | Description |
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------|-------|-------------|
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🟢 | Connected | Active radio link established |
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🟡 | Connecting | Handshake in progress |
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🔴 | Disconnected | No active connection |
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⚪ | Not configured | No device selected |
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When connecting, a status indicator shows the current connection state:
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If no devices are found, the app shows an empty state with instructions:
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### Troubleshooting Bluetooth
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- **Device not found:** Toggle Bluetooth off/on, ensure location is enabled.
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- **Connection drops:** Move closer to the radio; check for interference.
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- **Pairing rejected:** Forget the device in Android Bluetooth settings and retry.
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## USB Serial
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USB connections provide a wired alternative, useful for desktop or when Bluetooth is unavailable.
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### Setup
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1. Connect your radio via USB cable to your device.
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2. The app will prompt for USB permission — tap **Allow**.
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3. The connection is established automatically.
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> ⚠️ **Note:** USB connections require OTG support on Android devices.
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## TCP/IP (Network)
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Some Meshtastic radios support WiFi/Ethernet connectivity, allowing TCP-based connections over your local network. Get the radio onto your network first — using the radio's own WiFi settings (via the firmware web interface or another connection) — then connect to it from the app.
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### Connecting over the Network
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1. Make sure the radio is on the same local network as your phone/desktop.
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2. On the Connect screen, select **Network** in the transport selector.
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3. Choose the radio one of two ways:
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- **Scan for network devices** — toggle this on to auto-discover radios that advertise themselves on the local network (mDNS / `_meshtastic._tcp`). Discovered devices appear in the list; tap one to connect.
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- **Add device manually…** — enter the radio's IP address (or hostname) and port (default: `4403`).
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4. Previously-used network addresses are remembered under **Recent Network Devices** for quick reconnection (long-press to remove one).
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> 💡 **Tip:** Network discovery uses mDNS, which only works when both devices are on the same subnet. On Android 17+ the app needs the local-network permission for scanning; if discovery finds nothing, add the device manually by IP.
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### When to Use TCP
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- Radio is on the same local network
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- Testing with a simulated radio
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- Environments where Bluetooth has interference issues
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## Reconnection Behavior
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The app reconnects to the **last selected device** on startup. You can switch transports from the Connect screen at any time.
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To disconnect, tap the disconnect button on the Connect screen:
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## Desktop Connections
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On Desktop (Linux/macOS/Windows), the app supports:
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- **Bluetooth (BLE)** — via the Kable library; works on macOS, Linux, and Windows
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- **USB Serial** — primary wired connection method
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- **TCP/IP** — for network-connected radios
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See [Desktop App](desktop) for platform-specific details and keyboard shortcuts.
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## Related Topics
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- [Getting Started](onboarding) — first-launch setup and permissions
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- [Settings — Radio & User](settings-radio-user) — Bluetooth and network configuration
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- [Desktop App](desktop) — desktop-specific connection details
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- [Supported devices](https://meshtastic.org/docs/hardware/devices) — full list of compatible radios on meshtastic.org
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---
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</pre>
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</body>
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</html> |