--- id: canned-message-module title: Canned messages sidebar_label: Canned messages sidebar_position: 3 --- import PluginModule from '@site/docs/_blocks/_plugin_module.mdx'; ## About The Canned Message Module will allow you to send messages to the mesh network from the device without using the phone app. You can predefine text messages to choose from. ## Hardware To navigate through messages and select one, you will require some hardware attached to your device. Currently, the module is tested with a generic rotary encoder, but this is not a limitation further input methods can be added in the future. ### Rotary encoder Meshtastic supports hardwired rotary encoders as input devices. (Technically the Canned Message Module is independent of rotary encoders. It is described here, because no other module utilizes rotary encoders just yet.) You will need a generic rotary encoder. The types listed below has five legs where two is dedicated to a "press" action, but any other types will likely do the job. You can also use a three-legged version, where the "press" action should be wired from an independent switch. - [Amazon link](https://www.amazon.com/Rotary-Encoder-Washers-Digital-Potentiometer/dp/B07Y619CZR/ref=sr_1_21?keywords=rotary+encoder&qid=1642317807&sprefix=rotary+enco%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-21) - [Amazon.DE link](https://www.amazon.de/-/en/sourcing-Degree-Rotary-Encoder-Digital/dp/B07RLZPX5K/ref=sr_1_12?keywords=rotary+encoder&qid=1642320025&sprefix=rotary%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-12) - [Aliexpress link1](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32992227812.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.1afe21a50SLvi2&algo_pvid=a19c4182-08aa-406d-bfdf-132582ef5ebb&algo_exp_id=a19c4182-08aa-406d-bfdf-132582ef5ebb-23&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2266940265509%22%7D&pdp_pi=-1%3B1.66%3B-1%3B-1%40salePrice%3BUSD%3Bsearch-mainSearch) - [Aliexpress link2](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32946444853.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.1afe21a50SLvi2&algo_pvid=a19c4182-08aa-406d-bfdf-132582ef5ebb&aem_p4p_detail=2022011523263276283624312400022072680&algo_exp_id=a19c4182-08aa-406d-bfdf-132582ef5ebb-6&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2266223434642%22%7D&pdp_pi=-1%3B1.91%3B-1%3B-1%40salePrice%3BUSD%3Bsearch-mainSearch) - [Aliexpress link3](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10000056483250.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.1afe21a50SLvi2&algo_pvid=a19c4182-08aa-406d-bfdf-132582ef5ebb&algo_exp_id=a19c4182-08aa-406d-bfdf-132582ef5ebb-9&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2220000000116682147%22%7D&pdp_pi=-1%3B2.51%3B-1%3B-1%40salePrice%3BUSD%3Bsearch-mainSearch) Connect your rotary encoder as follows. The rotary encoder has two rows of legs. One of the rows contains two legs, the other contains three legs. Bottom side view: ``` B o --- o PRESS GND o | | A o --- o GND ``` The two legs is to sense the press action (or push). Connect one of the two to GROUND and the other to a GPIO pin. (No matter which one goes where.) Let's call this connected ports 'PRESS'. The three legs is to sense the rotation action. Connect the middle leg to GROUND and the ones on the side to GPIO pins. Let's call these ports 'A' and 'B', according to the scheme below. ``` A --|| GND --||]======== B --|| ``` Recommended GPIO pins for connecting a rotary encoder. - TTGO LoRa V1: - A - GPIO-22 - B - GPIO-23 - PRESS - GPIO-21 There is a reference case 3D-design utilizing the rotary encoder for TTGO LoRa V1: [Case for TTGO-ESP32-LORA-OLED-v1.0 with rotary encoder](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5178495) ### Configuration of the rotary encoder #1 rotary1_enabled Enable the rotary encoder #1 rotary1_pin_a GPIO pin for rotary encoder A port. rotary1_pin_b GPIO pin for rotary encoder B port. rotary1_pin_press GPIO pin for rotary encoder Press port. rotary1_event_cw Generate input event on CW of this kind. For using with CannedMessageModule you must choose value "UP" here! rotary1_event_ccw Generate input event on CCW of this kind. For using with CannedMessageModule you must choose value "DOWN" here! rotary1_event_press Generate input event on Press of this kind. For using with CannedMessageModule you must choose value "SELECT" here! The rotary encoder #1 will send input events under name "rotEnc1". ## Configuration of the module Following configuration can be set for the module. canned_message_module_enabled Enable/disable CannedMessageModule. canned_message_module_allow_input_source Input event origin accepted by the Canned Message Module. Can be e.g. "rotEnc1" or keyword "_any" canned_message_module_messages Predefined messages for CannedMessageModule separated by '|' characters. canned_message_module_send_bell CannedMessagemodule also sends a bell character with the messages. ExternalNotificationModule can benefit from this feature. ## Usage Notes For setting up the rotary encoder #1 using the Python CLI you will need to execute a sequence like this: meshtastic --set rotary1_pin_a 22 meshtastic --set rotary1_pin_b 23 meshtastic --set rotary1_pin_press 21 meshtastic --set rotary1_event_cw KEY_UP meshtastic --set rotary1_event_ccw KEY_DOWN meshtastic --set rotary1_event_press KEY_SELECT meshtastic --set rotary1_enabled True For setting up the module you will need to execute a sequence like this: meshtastic --set canned_message_module_allow_input_source "_any" meshtastic --set canned_message_module_messages "I'm fine|I'm out|I'm back|Need helping hand|Help me with saw|I need an alpinist|I need ambulance|Keep Calm|On my way|I will be late|I'm already waiting|We have company|Beer is cold|Roger" meshtastic --set canned_message_module_enabled True meshtastic --set-canned-message "What am I doing?|I'm fine|Don't follow me|I'm out|I'm back|Need helping hand|Help me with saw|I need an alpinist|I need ambulance|Keep Calm|On my way|Need 5 mins|I will be late|I'm already waiting|I couldn't join|We have company|Beer is cold|Roger" :::note You can define up to 50 messages with a total length 800 bytes. Use short texts as end of line will be truncated on the screen. ::: :::note The device must be restarted after the settings have been changed for the module to take effect. ::: ## Known Problems - Rotary encoder input uses a technology called "interrupts". Using the rotary encoder might cause unexpected software problems. This needs to be tested.