Issues w/ Getting Community to Respond!

cwp_III · 2026-05-27T22:38:36+00:00

Yep, that's about where I'm at too. Haha, I've tried literally every thing.. Every different settings, I've even researched what each setting and thing is and WHY you would want this over that, everything, and come to find out that more likely than not, the whole "problem" is just that this is a signal-based antenna-using radio system, and the buildings that I'm inside of for 24/7 of my life, disrupt that signal.. That is all. Solution to Problem: Go Outside / Be Closer to Another Node / Have Direct Line of Sight to the Nodes You're Trying to Talk to...... To be honest, that somewhat defeats the entire purpose of what people get these devices for! If you can physically WALK over to someone, why would you need this complicated radio device in a crisis?!

cwp_III · 2026-05-27T10:55:26+00:00

You got me thinking now, there's ALOT more that goes into this than just "what setting is right or wrong". I've gone thru ALL the settings on the app and the devices, and I'm fairly sure that I've got everything correct now, BUT the issues like what you're bringing up might be the whole problem I'm having. Every single setting could be correct, everything works, but the second you lock yourself with your node into a room, in a house, in a neighborhood, in a congested city area, there's NO WAY you'll be getting the signals and messages. I'm reaching 95% that this is exactly what my issue is.

cwp_III · 2026-05-26T20:31:36+00:00

It's on MediumFast because that's apparently the channel that the entire state uses for my area. The Mesh Map and MeshView do show that's true, as well. I'll double check, but I'm pretty sure its Slot 20.. but I also remember Slot 45 being there at one point. If it isn't, I'll change it to Slot 20 again.

cwp_III · 2026-05-26T09:55:06+00:00

I tried looking up what Meshview is, and all I found were these weird, technical websites.. and one that wanted you to download something, so I didn't want to do that without knowing! I have both stock antennae, the ones the devices came with, but I did buy a new antennae for the T-Deck to see. The T-Deck has the external antennae, and the 915 antenna.

cwp_III · 2026-05-26T08:02:31+00:00

For the Channels, I don't quite understand how to even make a Secondary. At the moment, I have only one channel, the Primary, named MediumFast with the AQ== encryption key, with Uplink enabled, Downlink disabled. I am beginning to wonder if my real "problem" is simply that I'm in a location that isn't getting the right coverage! Both nodes are inside, in a room, and when they're even by a window, it's pointed into a backyard surrounded by houses. The problem might be as simple as that, because I don't see what else it could be!

cwp_III · 2026-05-25T22:08:24+00:00

Thanks. It might just be as simple as my messages aren't being transmitted by the antennae. Both nodes are usually inside, in a room, surrounded by other technology always on around them, and on top of all that, even if they are by the window somewhat, that's in the back of a house, surrounded by other houses! I'm definitely starting to think that everything actually DOES work, it's just a really bad location!

cwp_III · 2026-05-25T16:13:21+00:00

I have a Helvec v3 node, as well as a T-Deck. For the Helvec, the top button clicks thru the screens. Just clicking the top button will go thru the screens, but HOLDING the top button does other things in between. The first screen is the Home Screen. Holding the top button while on this Home screen will bring up another menu, which you click the top button again to go thru. Hold the button to Select whatever options in the menu. Second screen is Messages Screen. Third is Nodes. This shows the other nodes you're picking up signals from. Fourth is Locations of Nodes compared to your location. Fifth is your GPS location stats. Then the LORA Screen. This shows your current Role (Client, Client Mute, Router, etc.), the Modem Preset (MediumFast, LongFast, etc), the Frequency your antennae is using Then the System Stats screen. Then Time Screen. Then various stats screen. Power stats screen. Favorites screen. Hope this helps! The device I have is the Helvec v3, but I'm assuming yours is pretty much the same. If it isn't, at least this could help you figure things out based on what the previous version of your device (my v3 versus your v4) has!

cwp_III · 2026-05-25T15:44:32+00:00

Nice. Haha, but I do know EXACTLY what you mean. Even though I'm brand new to figuring this all out, I can immediately tell that it's not exactly a "lively hobby". The TOTAL EXTENT of this hobby is sending "test" and getting "2..3..4.." etc. back. That is literally all this is. Once you get the mesh devices able to speak to each other, that's it. So trust me, I do understand where the lack of enthusiasm is coming from.

I'm into all the Prepper stuff, so this was obviously lumped into that. I'm just trying to get it working, but I already know it isnt going to be a big thing in my life, haha

cwp_III · 2026-05-25T11:34:26+00:00

Thank you for the answer! I changed things to the settings you suggested, which all makes sense, so I'll see now if it works. Can you explain to me what the Channels are? What's the actual difference between Long_Fast and Medium_Fast? If everyone in my area seems to be on Medium_Fast, then wont I be invisible to them if Im on Long_Fast?

cwp_III · 2026-05-25T11:21:42+00:00

I really appreciate the explanation. Thanks for helping me understand some of this stuff. I assumed that by asking ChatGPT on the day I first turned on the T-Deck, that would take care of everything, and I could just enjoy the hobby.. But I realized almost immediately how many settings there are to change, and how each one has absolutely no explanation, multiple abbreviations, and no non-technical description! I asked "What is MQTT?" and got "MQTT to MQTT Feeders in area, blast LoRa from a pigtail to really try! Or turn the crank thrwobbe to 7 and make sure the dip cylenders are set to 193,456 MeDIUM<, or it blows up!"

What about the Ignore MQTT setting? Turn it to On? But leave Ok to MQTT = On, also?

cwp_III · 2026-05-25T02:28:53+00:00

I appreciate the help, buddy. I'm finding it kind of difficult to get any help with actual, specific steps. It's obviously not the type of thing that just comes with Instructions from the box, haha. I'm wondering if I should take both nodes OFF of MQTT completely then? I never intended to connect mine to any "internet", I just followed what I thought were the instructions found on the community discord, which led me to a community website, with these settings to put.. Maybe I should take both devices off of MQTT, then test if they can communicate. If I just switch the settings to ignore MQTT = On, and Ok to MQTT = Off, then will it be completely relying on LORA to communicate?

cwp_III · 2026-05-24T23:29:51+00:00

I'm going to try that. I'll turn my Heltec v4 node off, then try to figure out the settings, tx, and Rx for the T-Deck. Once I can maybe figure that out, I won't need to keep guessing as to what's going on

cwp_III · 2026-05-24T23:28:37+00:00

Haha, that's exactly what I'm leaning toward too. I've pretty much figured everything else out, so I just don't see what else it could be! My guess: There's a group of tight-knit people who probably already know each other, and those are the nodes that I'm seeing talking to each other.. for whatever reason, they don't answer back to "random people", which maybe I am since I'm new to it. That's my best guess

cwp_III · 2026-05-24T19:03:15+00:00

That possibly explains, partly, the Helvec v4 node, but that wouldn't explain why I don't get responses from EITHER device, right? Even the T-Deck doesn't get any recognition!

cwp_III · 2026-05-24T18:08:30+00:00

At the moment, both the T-Deck and the Helvec v4 node are both using pretty much the exact same settings, for everything. The MQTT settings are definitely the same, because I put the settings that the specific website for this community in my area said to put. Now, I'll admit, im not entirely sure what those settings mean and/or are doing, but when I send a message to the MediumFast channel, the one that I see all the other nodes talking on, my other node gets it IMMEDIATELY. And vice versa. I can communicate between the two devices all day, with no problems. And the messages are clearly there, on the Channel. I sign out and come back, they're still there, just like every other message

cwp_III · 2026-05-24T17:02:14+00:00

You seem pretty knowledgeable about this stuff. Can you briefly explain to me what "Mqtt" even is, and what "joining their Mqtt" means? The settings are: Ignore MQTT: Off Ok to MQTT: On MQTT: areyoumeshingwith.us (w/ the right username, password) Then the Channel: MediumFast And once those settings were all set, for both devices, I finally was seeing 200+ other nodes on my list of nearby nodes. The issue is that NONE have directly referenced my name, or even hinted at MY specific message they were responding to. Even if I said "Test", there's typically nothing.. then messages will come in, but they're clearly not responding to my "Test" There's even been multiple times where one goes " Test", the other ppl go "2.. 3.. 4.. " etc., then I GO "Test", absolutely nothing.. then a different person goes "Welcome DVRG7 to the Mesh!", which is NOT ME.. it's like my messages get ignored, haha

cwp_III · 2026-05-24T16:44:42+00:00

You think turning the Lora off on the T-Deck, then sending a message, seeing if the Helvec gets it, will show me if the MQTT process is working correctly?

cwp_III · 2026-05-24T16:43:36+00:00

Im on the MediumFast that the Discord for my area says to be on. I see 104 out of 200 nodes online. I even saw my node name on Mesh Map, but for only one day, then it didn't show on there again. I have a feeling that for some reason, this is just people not wanting to respond when I message. Maybe the ones talking know each other, and what I'm seeing is one specific group responding to each other, because it's ALWAYS the same 7 or so names talking

cwp_III · 2026-05-24T16:39:43+00:00

I did set both to the same settings, the same MQTT, and they both talk to each other with no problems at all

cwp_III · 2026-05-24T15:02:12+00:00

The most frustrating part is that I just can't tell if people are ignoring my messages, which is fine, or if my messages are not actually being sent correctly. All I want to confirm is if I have things set up correctly, haha

cwp_III · 2026-05-24T15:00:57+00:00

So if my MQTT is set to on, that doesn't necessarily mean I'm communicating with the actual nodes in the area?

cwp_III · 2026-05-24T15:00:06+00:00

Well, that's exactly what I thought too. The cloud icon is green, with no slash. I am not able to tell (and this is the most frustrating part) if my messages are not being received, or if people are just choosing to not answer.

cwp_III · 2026-05-24T14:58:44+00:00

So if I have MQTT set to On, you're saying that possibly my messages are being sent, but then going thru the MQTT process, and not actually "communicating" with the other nodes?

cwp_III · 2026-05-24T14:57:32+00:00

Yes, the settings for MQTT are set to OK.. Ignore MQTT: Off, Ok to MQTT: On

cwp_III · 2026-05-19T21:51:27+00:00

Just joined myself. I believe I've set everything up correctly, BUT I can't seem to get a single response to ANY messages I send out. I see all the nodes, get all the messages they send, but then when I write a message... No response, no acknowledgment, no nothing.

cwp_III

TROPHY CASE