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docs/srp/user/messages-and-channels.md 4b42e2c76cbc54f8b7b493b6f69fdc61cce6cabe (4b42e2c7) Text, 9.45 KB
title: Messages & Channels
parent: User Guide
nav_order: 3
last_updated: 2026-05-13
description: Send and receive messages, manage channels, configure encryption, and use quick chat, reactions, and message actions.
aliases:
β’ channels
β’ direct-messages
β’ messaging
β’ conversations
Messages & Channels
Meshtastic supports two communication modes: channel broadcasts and direct messages.
ΠΠ°Π½Π°Π»ΠΈ
Channels are shared communication groups. All nodes configured with the same channel key can read and send messages on that channel.
Default Channel
Every Meshtastic device comes with a default LongFast channel. This is an unencrypted channel used for general mesh communication.
Channel Security
Channels support multiple encryption levels:
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β ΠΠΊΠΎΠ½ΠΈΡΠ° β Security Level β ΠΠΏΠΈΡ β
βββββββββββΌββββββββββββββββββββββΌβββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β π β PSK (256-bit AES) β Fully encrypted with a strong pre-shared key. Only nodes with tβ¦ β
β π β PSK (128-bit AES) β Encrypted with a shorter key. Secure for most uses but 256-bit β¦ β
β π β Default / Open β Uses the well-known default key. Any Meshtastic device on the sβ¦ β
β β οΈ β Insecure + Position β Open channel that also broadcasts your GPS position. Use with cβ¦ β
βββββββββββ΄ββββββββββββββββββββββ΄βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β π Security Tip: Always configure a unique PSK for private communications. The default channel is
β intentionally open so new users can discover the mesh β but you should create a separate
β encrypted channel for anything sensitive.
Adding a Channel
1. Navigate to Settings β Channels.
2. Tap Add Channel or scan a QR code.
3. Configure the channel name and encryption key.
4. Share the channel URL/QR code with others who need access.
Tapping a channel shows its details and sharing options.
ΠΠΈΡΠ΅ΠΊΡΠ½Π΅ ΠΏΠΎΡΡΠΊΠ΅
Direct messages (DMs) are point-to-point encrypted communications between two specific nodes.
Sending a Direct Message
1. Open the Messages tab.
2. Select a node from your contacts list or tap a node in the node list.
3. Type your message and tap Send.
Message States
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β State β ΠΠΊΠΎΠ½ΠΈΡΠ° β Meaning β
βββββββββββββββββΌββββββββββΌββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β Queued β β³ β Message waiting to be sent β
β En route β β β Delivered to the radio, awaiting acknowledgment β
β Delivered β ββ β Acknowledgment received from recipient β
β Received β β β Message received from the mesh (incoming) β
β S&F Routing β π β Store & Forward: message being routed through an S&F node β
β S&F Confirmed β π β Store & Forward: delivery confirmed via S&F node β
β ΠΡΠ΅ΡΠΊΠ° β β β Delivery failed after retries β
βββββββββββββββββ΄ββββββββββ΄ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Delivery Errors
When a message fails to deliver, the error indicator shows what went wrong:
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β ΠΡΠ΅ΡΠΊΠ° β Meaning β What to Do β
ββββββββββββββββββββββββΌβββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββΌβββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β ΠΠ΅ΠΌΠ° ΡΡΡΠ΅ β No path exists to the destination node β The recipient may be offline β¦ β
β Got NAK β The next-hop node refused to relay β The relay node may be congestβ¦ β
β ΠΡΠ΅ΠΌΠ΅Π½ΡΠΊΠΎ ΠΎΠ³ΡΠ°Π½ΠΈΡΠ΅ΡΠ΅ β No acknowledgment within retry window β The recipient may be just outβ¦ β
β ΠΠ΅ΠΌΠ° ΠΈΠ½ΡΠ΅ΡΡΠ΅ΡΡΠ° β No radio interface available to send β Check that your radio is connβ¦ β
β Max Retransmit β All retry attempts exhausted β The mesh path is unreliable. β¦ β
β ΠΠ΅ΠΌΠ° ΠΊΠ°Π½Π°Π»Π° β The destination channel doesn't exist β Verify both nodes share the sβ¦ β
β Too Large β Message exceeds maximum payload size β Shorten your message (max ~23β¦ β
β ΠΠ΅ΠΌΠ° ΠΎΠ΄Π³ΠΎΠ²ΠΎΡΠ° β Node received message but didn't respond β The recipient's radio may be β¦ β
β Duty Cycle Limit β Regional airtime limit reached β Your radio has used its allowβ¦ β
β ΠΠΎΡ Π·Π°Ρ
ΡΠ΅Π² β Malformed or invalid message β This usually indicates a softβ¦ β
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β π‘ Tip: Most delivery errors resolve themselves. If a node is intermittently reachable, the mesh
β will retry. For persistent "No Route" errors, check that intermediate Router nodes are online.
Message Features
Quick Chat
Pre-configured messages for rapid communication:
β’ Access via the Quick Chat button in the message input area
β’ Choose from built-in phrases or custom messages
β’ Customize quick chat messages in Settings β Quick Chat
β’ Useful when typing is impractical (gloves, small screen, urgent)
The channel list shows each channel with its latest message preview.
Message Bubbles
Messages appear as chat bubbles β sent messages on the right, received messages on the left. Each bubble shows the sender, timestamp, and delivery status. Messages with replies include a quoted preview of the original message above the response.
Reactions
React to messages with emoji:
β’ Long-press a message to open the actions menu
β’ Tap Add Reaction to choose an emoji
β’ Reactions appear below the message bubble
β’ Multiple users can react to the same message
β’ React to your own messages or others' messages
β π‘ Tip: Reactions are lightweight β they use minimal mesh bandwidth compared to full text
β messages.
Message Actions
Long-press any message to access:
β’ Copy β copy message text to clipboard
β’ Reply β quote the message in your response
β’ React β add an emoji reaction
β’ Delete β remove a message you sent (local deletion)
Message Priority
Messages are queued and transmitted based on priority:
1. Emergency/alert messages (highest)
2. Direct messages
3. Channel broadcasts (lowest)
Message Limits
β’ Maximum length: 237 bytes (approximately 230 characters for ASCII text)
β’ Rate limiting: The mesh enforces airtime fairness; heavy message volume may be throttled
β’ Delivery: Messages are retried automatically if no acknowledgment is received
Best Practices
β’ Use channels for group coordination
β’ Use direct messages for private person-to-person communication
β’ Keep messages short β mesh bandwidth is limited
β’ Configure encryption for sensitive communications
Related Topics
β’ Nodes β tap a node to start a direct message
β’ Settings β Radio & User β configure channel encryption and presets
β’ MQTT β bridge channel messages to the internet
β’ Channel configuration β detailed channel settings on meshtastic.org
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