• In the Box

    ✅ M1 Radio - Fully assembled with latest firmware installed and configured

    ✅ Antenna - Connect antenna before powering on

    ✅ USB Cable - Use this for charging and firmware updates

    ✅ WisBlock Screws - Hardware for mounting custom sensors

    ✅ Allen Wrench - For removing M1 cover

    ✅ Strap - Mounting the radio to a backpack or Molle webbing

  • Install Antenna

    Before you power on the device, make sure you install the antenna. If the radio attempts to transmit without an antenna attached, it can burn out the radio core.

    📋NOTE: If you purchased a case and are looking for instructions on how to assemble your own M1, click here for step-by-step assembly instructions.

    ⚡NOTE: To charge the M1, the power switch must be in the ON position.

  • Download Meshtastic App

    The free Meshtastic app enables you to connect your cell phone to your radio over Bluetooth to send and receive texts through your M1 radio.

    🔗ANDROID: Play Store

    🔗iOS: Apple Store

Connect

  1. Pair: Open the Meshtastic app on your phone. On the Bluetooth screen, you should see your radio appear. Tap on it. It'll ask for the Bluetooth Code "123456". (You can change your Bluetooth code later.)
  2. LoRa Region: Once you connect to your radio, you'll need to set the LoRa Region. (For Example; USA)

*If you're already connected to another radio, you might need to go into the Bluetooth settings on your phone and "forget" the device you are currently connected to, before you can connect to your new radio. You can only connect to one radio at a time.

Connect

  1. Open the Meshtastic app on your phone.
  2. Go to the Settings tab and tap the round Add button at the bottom right of the screen.
  3. Make sure your M1 radio is turned on, and tap on the radio name on your phone.
  4. When prompted for a PIN, use 123456. (You can change this PIN later.)
  5. Select the LoRa Region to enable radio transmission. (For example, USA)

Communicate

You can communicate with other Meshtastic users privately with direct messages, or in preconfigured group chats on different channels. There is one publicly visible default channel, but you can create private encrypted channels for your own group as well. 

A unique feature of Meshtastic is it operates on a mesh network principle. That means you don't need to be in direct range of the node you communicate with. As long as there are intermediary nodes in range between you and the other node, messages can hop between nodes to get to their destination. Even with private messages, the mesh can hop messages for you even though they can't decrypt the message themselves. 

Let's learn the basics on how to communicate on the public channel, private messaging, and on your own custom encrypted channel.

Public Channel

The public channel is a default channel configured on all Meshtastic devices. Anyone within range of your mesh can potentially communicate with you. Depending on how popular Meshtastic is in your area, you may be able to find existing users with whom to communicate. Say hello or send a test message.

Complete radios purchased from Atlavox may arrive preconfigured with the public channel moved into the next channel slot, with a private channel configured in the first slot.

Communicate on Public Channel

  1. In the Meshtastic app, tap on Messages > Channels. By default, the public channel is in slot 0. NOTE: If you purchased a preconfigured radio from Atlavox, you may notice a channel named "ALPHA" in slot 0, and the public channel is configured in slot 1. To communicate publicly, use the channel in slot 1.
  2. Type in a message and tap send, and your message will be transmitted to any local Meshtastic radios within range. 
  3. As long as your phone is connected to your radio, you will see messages from others sent to the public channel if they're in range.

Communicate on Public Channel

  1. In the Meshtastic app, tap on Messages > LongFast.
  2. Type a message and send it to your local public mesh.
  3. As long as your phone is connected to your radio, you will see messages from others sent to the public channel if they're in range.

Private Messaging

When you turn your radio on, it will slowly start to recognize nodes in range of your local mesh. This doesn't happen instantaneously, as it depends on the broadcast interval of the individual node.

One way to quickly discover nodes is to send a message on the public channel as shown above, as this will request an automatic acknowledgment from nodes in-range, which will help populate your node list.

Once a node is detected, you can establish direct, encrypted communications.

Sending a Private Message

  1. To view a detailed list of nodes in-range, tap the Nodes button.
  2. To send a private message to a node, long-tap on a node > Message. (This brings you to Messages > Direct Messages > Node, which you can also access directly.)
  3. Type a message, tap send, and your message will hop to the destination node. As of firmware v2.5, private messages are encrypted by default. Only the destination node you are communicating with will be able to decrypt the message. Other node will still rebroadcast your communications so they reach their destination, but they won't be able to read the message without the encryption key. 

Sending a Private Message

  1. Tap on the Nodes tab.
  2. In the list of nodes, tap on the short name of the node you'd like to message. (It's in a round, colored bubble)
  3. Tap Direct Message.

Private Channels

You can configure up to 8 channels on your Meshtastic node. Channel configurations can be shared with other Meshtastic devices and allow you to communicate over a "group chat". Each channel is encrypted using a password called a PSK (Pre-shared Key). Sharing the channel name and PSK with other nodes allow you to communicate on that channel privately as a group.

NOTE: It's easier if one person creates the private channel, then sends it to others using the built-in QR code generator. If you purchased multiple radios from Atlavox, they may come preconfigured with a shared private channel in the primary channel slot.

Create a Private Channel

  1. In the Meshtastic app, go to Settings > Radio Configuration > Channels > Add Channel.
  2. Type in a unique name for your channel.
  3. Leave the default settings unless you want to change them. 
  4. Tap Save.

Create a Private Channel

  1. In the Channels tab, tap Edit > Add.
  2. Type in a unique name for your channel.
  3. Leave the default settings unless you want to change them.
  4. Tap Save.

Share Private Channel

Share a QR code with others you'd like to communicate with on your private channel. The QR code will enable automatic configuration of the channel.

  1. Go to Settings > Radio Configuration > Share QR Code.
  2. In the list of channels, uncheck all except for the new channel you'd like to share. 
  3. Make sure the button under the channel list says Add Channels, not Replace Channels.
  4. Tap Share QR Code & Link to share it with whomever you'd like to communicate with on the channel. 

Share Private Channel

Share a QR code with others you'd like to communicate with on your private channel. The QR code will enable the channel to be automatically configured.

  1. On the Channels tab, uncheck the channels you don't want to share/overwrite when sharing your QR code.
  2. Show the QR code to a friend, screenshot it, or send the provided link, and it will automatically configure the new channel for whoever it is shared with.

Location

In addition to being able to send texts over the mesh, you can send data like the radio's GPS position too. In order to send GPS data over the mesh, you either need to have a GPS module installed in your radio, or you can simply give your phone permission to share its GPS data with the Meshtastic radio.

Primary Channel

The Primary channel is special in that it is the only channel that allows automatic interval broadcasting of telemetry. Secondary channels can only be used to send telemetry manually.

Since the Primary channel is used for the "public channel" by default, that means your location will be shared publicly if you enable Positions on the Primary Channel.

Many people prefer to broadcast their location to a private channel. You can learn how to configure that here on the official Meshtastic website.

Enable GPS Sharing

  1. Outside the Meshtastic app, open iPhone Settings.
  2. Scroll far down until you see the Meshtastic app, and tap on it.
  3. Tap Location > Always.

Enable GPS Sharing

  1. Long-press on the Meshtastic app icon > App Info.
  2. Under App settings, tap Permissions.
  3. Enable Location sharing.
  4. Open the Meshtastic app, tap the Gear icon > enable Provide phone location to mesh.

Dedicated GPS

Alternatively, you can install a dedicated GPS in the M1 radio that can share location data with the mesh even when it isn't connected to a phone that is sharing its GPS.

The M1 is designed to be plug and play compatible with the RAK12500 module and is fully compatible with Meshtastic. Available below from Atlavox.

One benefit to an on-board GPS is you can now use the device as an asset/vehicle tracker even if it isn't connected to a client/phone. But it will drain more of your battery.

Auto Channel Config

If you'd like to quickly configure your US frequency radio to have a private Primary Channel with broadcast telemetry, and configure the public channel to a Secondary channel, scan the QR code for automatic configuration.

NOTE: Make sure you change the PSK for your private channel after scanning this code, otherwise anyone with this code will be able to decrypt .

For other frequencies/locations, click here.

With location sharing enabled, you can choose to broadcast your location on the primary channel, and you can send on-demand location requests to individual users and channels.