mirror of
https://github.com/meshtastic/meshtastic.git
synced 2024-11-16 02:24:15 -08:00
135 lines
5 KiB
Markdown
135 lines
5 KiB
Markdown
---
|
||
id: python-uses
|
||
title: Uses of the meshtastic command line interface tool
|
||
sidebar_label: Uses
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
This section covers using the "meshtastic" command line executable, which displays packets sent over the network as JSON and lets you see serial debugging information from the Meshtastic devices.
|
||
|
||
:::note
|
||
The `meshtastic` command is not run within python but is a script run from your operating system shell prompt. When you type "meshtastic" and the prompt is unable to find the command in Windows, check that the python "scripts" directory [is in your path](https://datatofish.com/add-python-to-windows-path).
|
||
:::
|
||
|
||
## Getting a list of User Preferences
|
||
|
||
You can get a list of user preferences by running '--get' with an invalid attribute such as 'all'.
|
||
|
||
```bash
|
||
meshtastic --get all
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
## Changing settings
|
||
|
||
You can also use this tool to set any of the device parameters which are stored in persistent storage. For instance, here's how to set the device
|
||
to keep the Bluetooth link alive for eight hours (any usage of the Bluetooth protocol from your phone will reset this timer)
|
||
|
||
```bash title="Expected Output"
|
||
# You should see a result similar to this:
|
||
mydir$ meshtastic --set wait_bluetooth_secs 28800
|
||
Connected to radio...
|
||
Setting preference wait_bluetooth_secs to 28800
|
||
Writing modified preferences to device...
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
Or to set a node at a fixed position and never power up the GPS.
|
||
|
||
```bash
|
||
meshtastic --setlat 25.2 --setlon -16.8 --setalt 120
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
Or to configure an ESP32 based board to join a Wifi network as a station:
|
||
|
||
```bash
|
||
meshtastic --set wifi_ap_mode false --set wifi_ssid mywifissid --set wifi_password mywifipsw
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
Or to configure an ESP32 to run as a Wifi access point:
|
||
|
||
```bash
|
||
meshtastic --set wifi_ap_mode true --set wifi_ssid mywifissid --set wifi_password mywifipsw
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
:::note
|
||
For a full list of preferences which can be set (and their documentation) can be found in the [protobufs](/docs/developers/protobufs/api#radioconfiguserpreferences).
|
||
:::
|
||
|
||
### Changing channel settings
|
||
|
||
The channel settings can also be changed, either by using a standard (shareable) meshtastic URL or you can set particular channel parameter (for advanced users).
|
||
|
||
:::warning
|
||
Meshtastic encodes the radio channel and PSK in the channel's URL. All nodes must connect to the channel again by using the URL provided after a change in this section by performing the `--info` switch. Please refer to [Multiple Channel Support](/docs/software/device/device-channels).
|
||
:::
|
||
|
||
```bash
|
||
meshtastic --ch-set name mychan --ch-index 1 --ch-set channel_num 4 --info
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
You can even set the channel preshared key to a particular AES128 or AES256 sequence.
|
||
|
||
```bash
|
||
meshtastic --ch-index 1 --ch-set psk 0x1a1a1a1a2b2b2b2b1a1a1a1a2b2b2b2b1a1a1a1a2b2b2b2b1a1a1a1a2b2b2b2b --info
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
Use `--ch-set psk none --ch-index 0` to turn off encryption.
|
||
|
||
Use `--ch-set psk random --ch-index 0` will assign a new (high quality) random AES256 key to the primary channel (similar to what the Android app does when making new channels).
|
||
|
||
Use `--ch-set psk default --ch-index 0` to restore the standard 'default' (minimally secure, because it is in the source code for anyone to read) AES128 key.
|
||
|
||
All `ch-set` commands need to have the `ch-index` parameter specified:
|
||
|
||
```bash
|
||
meshtastic --ch-index 1 --ch-set name mychan --ch-set channel_num 4 --info
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
### Ham radio support
|
||
|
||
Meshtastic is designed to be used without a radio operator license. If you do have a license you can set your operator ID and turn off encryption with:
|
||
|
||
```bash title="Expected Output"
|
||
# You should see a result similar to this:
|
||
mydir$ meshtastic --port /dev/ttyUSB1 --set-ham KI1345
|
||
Connected to radio
|
||
Setting Ham ID to KI1345 and turning off encryption
|
||
Writing modified channels to device
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
## Changing the preshared key:
|
||
|
||
You can set the channel preshared key to a particular AES128 or AES256 sequence.
|
||
|
||
```
|
||
meshtastic --ch-set psk 0x1a1a1a1a2b2b2b2b1a1a1a1a2b2b2b2b1a1a1a1a2b2b2b2b1a1a1a1a2b2b2b2b --info
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
Use "--ch-set psk none" to turn off encryption.
|
||
|
||
Use "--ch-set psk random" will assign a new (high quality) random AES256 key to the primary channel (similar to what the Android app does when making new channels).
|
||
|
||
Use "--ch-set psk default" to restore the standard 'default' (minimally secure, because it is in the source code for anyone to read) AES128 key.
|
||
|
||
All "ch-set" commands will default to the primary channel at index 0, but can be applied to other channels with the "ch-index" parameter.
|
||
|
||
## FAQ/common problems
|
||
|
||
This is a collection of common questions and answers from our friendly forum.
|
||
|
||
### Permission denied: ‘/dev/ttyUSB0’
|
||
|
||
As previously discussed on the [forum](https://meshtastic.discourse.group/t/question-on-permission-denied-dev-ttyusb0/590/3?u=geeksville)
|
||
|
||
This indicates an OS permission problem for access by your user to the USB serial port. Typically this is fixed by the following.
|
||
|
||
```bash
|
||
sudo usermod -a -G dialout <username>
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
### Mac OS Big Sur
|
||
|
||
There is a problem with Big Sur and pyserial. The workaround is to install a newer version of pyserial:
|
||
|
||
```bash
|
||
pip3 install -U --pre pyserial
|
||
```
|