---
id: range-test
title: Range Test Module Configuration
sidebar_label: Range Test
---

import Tabs from '@theme/Tabs';
import TabItem from '@theme/TabItem';


The range test module config options are: Enabled, Save, and Sender.  Range Test Module config uses an admin message sending a `ConfigModule.RangeTest` protobuf.

This module allows you to test the range of your Meshtastic nodes. It requires at least two nodes, a sender and a receiver. The receiving node then saves the messages along with the GPS coordinates at which they were received into a .csv file. This .csv file can then be integrated into [Google Earth](https://earth.google.com), [Google Maps - My Maps](https://mymaps.google.com), or any other program capable of processing .csv files. This can enable you to visualize your mesh.

## Range Test Module Config Values

### Enabled

Enables the range test module.

### Save CSV File

**ESP32 Only Setting**

If enabled, we will save a log of all received messages to a file named rangetest.csv which you can access from the web server Extensions > File Browser > rangetest.csv. The file will be created after receiving messages. The device will abort writing if there is less than 50k of space on the filesystem to prevent filling up the storage.

### Sender Interval

How long to wait between sending test packets. 0 is default which disables sending messages.

## Range Test Module Config Client Availability

<Tabs
groupId="settings"
defaultValue="cli"
values={[
{label: 'Android', value: 'android'},
{label: 'Apple', value: 'apple'},
{label: 'CLI', value: 'cli'},
{label: 'Flasher', value: 'flasher'},
{label: 'Web', value: 'web'},
]}>
<TabItem value="android">

:::info
Range Test features are available for Android.
:::

</TabItem>
<TabItem value="apple">

:::info
All range test module config options are available on iOS, iPadOS and macOS at Settings > Modules > Range Test.
:::

</TabItem>
<TabItem value="cli">

All range test module config options are available in the python CLI. Example commands are below:

|          Setting          |  Acceptable Values  | Default |
| :-----------------------: | :-----------------: | :-----: |
| range_test_module_enabled |   `true`, `false`   | `false` |
|  range_test_module_save   |   `true`, `false`   | `false` |
| range_test_module_sender  | `integer` (Seconds) |   `0`   |

```shell title="Enable / Disable the range test"
meshtastic --set range_test_module_enabled true
meshtastic --set range_test_module_enabled false
```

```shell title="Enable / Disable range test save"
meshtastic --set range_test_module_save true
meshtastic --set range_test_module_save false
```

```shell title="Enable range test sender (send every 60 seconds)"
meshtastic --set range_test_module_sender 60
```

```shell title="Disable range test sender"
meshtastic --set range_test_module_sender 0
```

</TabItem>
<TabItem value="flasher">

:::info
Range test module config is not available in the Flasher.
:::

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="web">

:::info
Range test module config is not available for the Web UI.
:::
    
  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

## Details

While a minimum of two radios is required, more can be used. You can have any number of receivers and senders that your mesh is able to handle. You can test having a single sender with multiple receivers or a single receiver with multiple senders. Let us know on the [forum thread](https://meshtastic.discourse.group/t/new-plugin-rangetestplugin/2591) the results of your configuration.

Be sure to turn off either the module configured as a sender or the device where the module setup as sender when not in use. This will use a lot of time on air and will spam your channel.

Also be mindful of your space usage on the file system. It has protections from filling up the space but it's best to delete old range test results.

:::note
Leaving this module on can slow down your mesh. Currently, the messages are sent using the same `TEXT_MESSAGE_APP` [port that all other messages](/docs/developers/protobufs/api#portnumsproto) are sent on.
:::

### Accessing your CSV

Connect to your device over WiFi, either using the [software access point](/docs/settings/wifi#software-access-point) or [WiFi Client](/docs/settings/wifi#wifi-client). Then navigate to `meshtastic.local` (or your IP address). Your file will be available for download under `Extensions > File Browser > rangetest.csv` once it has been created by receiving messages.

```plaintext title="Example URLs"
http://meshtastic.local
http://198.168.0.15
```

### Recommended Sender Settings

| Radio Setting | `range_test_module_sender` |
| :-----------: | :------------------------: |
|   Long Slow   |             60             |
|   Long Alt    |             30             |
|    Medium     |             15             |
|  Short Fast   |             15             |