meshtastic/website/docs/getting_started/getting_started.md

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overview Overview Overview /getting_started

Purchase a Radio

The easiest way is to buy a device with the software already installed In the Americas get the 915mhz version, In Europe the 868Mhz or Asia 923Mhz see here.

Setup the Radio

When it arrives, install your antenna and make sure you install the battery correctly. Reversing the battery can damage your device. Make sure the antenna is on when you power up the board.

:::caution Make sure not to power the radio on without first attaching the antenna! You could damage the radio chip! :::

Download Firmware

Prebuilt binaries for the supported radios are available in our releases. Your initial installation has to happen over USB from your Mac, Windows or Linux PC. Once our software is installed, all future software updates happen over bluetooth from your phone.

:::caution Be very careful to install the correct load for your board. In particular the popular 'T-BEAM' radio from TTGO is not called 'TTGO-Lora' (that is a different board). So don't install the 'TTGO-Lora' build on a TBEAM, it won't work correctly. :::

Current Firmware List of Firmware Versions

Flashing Firmware

If your device already has Meshtastic flashed to it, You can update over the air (OTA). Otherwise you'll need a computer and a data USB cable.

Connect to your Device

There are many ways to connect to your new radio! Using the command line interface

  • Command line interface (CLI)
  • Graphic user interface (GUI)
  • Serial connection
  • Bluetooth
  • Web (in development)

Troubleshooting

For any issues during setup, search our forum to find a solution. If you can't find one, please post your problem, providing as much detail as possible.