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79 lines
4.7 KiB
Plaintext
---
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title: "Personalize Your Meshtastic Device with Emoji Short Names"
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description: "Learn how to make your Meshtastic device stand out with custom emoji short names."
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slug: meshtastic-emoji-short-names
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authors: crichton
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tags: ["meshtastic", "customization", "emoji"]
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date: 2024-12-04T17:00
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hide_table_of_contents: false
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image: "/img/blog/image-8.webp"
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---
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Did you know you can personalize your Meshtastic devices with emojis, making them stand out in a unique and fun way! By default, the `Short Name` for your device is auto-generated using the last four characters of its MAC address. However, you can customize this `Short Name` to make it truly yours. Even better, using **emojis** adds a visually distinctive touch, making it easier to identify your node at a glance!
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{/* truncate */}
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## How It Works 🛠️
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Your Meshtastic device’s `Short Name` is limited to **4 bytes**. Many emojis are a great fit because they use only 1–4 bytes; however, some—such as certain flags or more intricate emojis—exceed the 4-byte limit and won’t work.
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Thankfully, most Meshtastic client apps include validation to ensure you don’t accidentally use an emoji that exceeds the 4-byte limit. However, not all clients enforce this restriction directly. Regardless, the protocol enforces a strict 5-byte limit (1 byte for overhead, leaving 4 bytes for the emoji itself). If you attempt to set a larger emoji, either the client app or the firmware will prevent it from being saved.
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To customize the `Short Name`, refer to the [User Config documentation](/docs/configuration/radio/user/#user-config-client-availability) for instructions on where to make the change for your preferred client.
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Once you’ve saved the changes, your device will appear with your custom emoji `Short Name` in the client applications.
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> 
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## Why Use Emojis as Your Short Name? ✨
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Customizing your `Short Name` with emojis isn’t just a quirky feature—it’s a creative way to express the purpose or personality of your device. For instance:
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- If your node’s Long Name is **“Crichton’s Car”**, you could set the `Short Name` to 🚗.
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- Using a node to monitor weather conditions? 🌤️ could be a great choice.
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- Setting up a device for a hiking trip? Try 🥾 or 🌲.
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This adds both customization and a unique identity, making it easier for others to recognize your device in the network. For example, each emoji can convey the purpose or personality of the node, adding a touch of creativity to your setup.
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> 
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## Get Creative! 🎨
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The possibilities are endless. You can pick emojis based on:
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- **Purpose**: 📡 for a relay node, 🏠 for a home base station, or 🛶 for boating adventures.
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- **Travel**: 🛫 for air travel, ⛴️ for a cruise, or 🚂 for train adventures.
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- **Personality**: 😎 for a cool vibe, 💡 for an innovative setup, or 🧙 for something magical.
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The nodes list becomes much more visually engaging and easier to navigate when each node is represented by a unique emoji. It’s a fun and functional way to distinguish between devices at a glance.
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> <img
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> src="/img/blog/image-10.webp"
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> alt="Nodes List"
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> style={{ maxHeight: "400px", width: "auto" }}
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> />
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## Emoji Short Names and Waypoints on the Map 🗺️
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The fun doesn’t stop at the nodes list! On the **Mesh Map**, nodes with emoji `Short Names` stand out, making it easy to quickly identify them at a glance. For nodes without emojis, the alphanumeric `Short Name` will be displayed instead. Check out the example below to see how emoji `Short Names` add a visual pop to the map:
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> <img
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> src="/img/blog/image-11.webp"
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> alt="Mesh Map with Emoji Short Names"
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> style={{ maxHeight: "400px", width: "auto" }}
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> />
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In addition to `Short Names`, waypoints can also use emojis. Waypoints are a great way to mark specific locations on the map, like trailheads, campsites, or meeting points. By adding an emoji to your waypoint, it becomes both functional and fun to use. For example:
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- 🏕️ for a campsite.
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- 🏞️ for a scenic view.
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- 🍔 for a planned lunch spot.
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Waypoints are another creative way to make the map uniquely yours, enhancing both usability and personality.
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## Share Your Emoji Creations! 💬
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We’d love to see how you’ve personalized your Meshtastic devices! Share your most creative and functional emoji `Short Names` in the comments below. Whether it’s 🐕 for a dog-tracking node, 🎸 for a festival setup, or 🤖 for a robotics project, show off your unique style!
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_Note: While emojis can add a creative touch, not all emojis mentioned in this blog post are guaranteed to be compatible with the 4-byte limitation enforced by Meshtastic firmware._
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