Troubleshooting & FAQ

Flashing

The flasher doesn't list my node's serial port. Install the USB-serial driver for your board (commonly CP210x or CH34x), and make sure you're using a USB data cable, not a charge-only one.

Flashing stops at "Connecting…". Hold the BOOT button, tap RESET, release BOOT, then try again. Some boards need this to enter flashing mode.

The flasher won't open / there's no Install button. Flashing needs Chrome or Edge on a computer. Firefox and Safari don't support the browser feature it uses, and phones generally can't flash over USB.

Pairing

The app can't find my node. Check the node is powered and running Mode-X Mesh (it should appear on its own display if it has one). Make sure Bluetooth is on and the app has permission to use it, then scan again.

It paired once but won't reconnect. Open the app's node list and reconnect manually. If it still won't, re-pair from the node's settings - your channels and preferences are kept.

Messaging

I sent ping but got no pong. Your node may not have a path to the wider network yet. Try moving closer to another node, or check that at least one node in range has an internet uplink. On a brand-new, isolated node with no neighbours, there's simply no one to relay to yet - that's normal.

My message didn't seem to arrive. Communal messages reach everyone currently on that channel and in range. If the recipient was offline or out of range with no relay between you, the message may not have a path. Mesh networks deliver when a path exists; they're not a guaranteed store-and-forward unless a Mailbox node is helping.

Location & map

I share my location but I'm not on the public map. Public map listing is a separate switch and is off by default. Turn it on in the node's settings. Both location sharing and public map listing must be on for your node to appear with a position.

I don't want to appear anywhere public. Leave public map listing off (the default) and your node is never placed on the map. Set location to Off as well and it never shares a position at all.

Roles

I set my node to Relay but the app shows it as Companion. The node decided it can't sustain the Relay job right now - usually low battery, movement, congestion, or weak links. It steps back automatically and shows you the reason. It'll return to Relay when conditions are steady. Mains power and a fixed position make the biggest difference.

General

Do I need internet to use Mode-X Mesh? No. The mesh works entirely off-grid. Internet only adds the public map and the ability to reach beyond radio range, at whichever nodes have it.

How many nodes do I need? One node works for setup and testing, but the network's value grows with every node added - each one extends everyone's reach. Two nodes already make a link; a handful make a resilient little network.

Is it really private? Private messages are encrypted end to end and unreadable by relays or servers. Communal channels are public by design. Location and public listing are off unless you turn them on.

Still stuck? The live map and statistics pages are a good way to see whether the wider network is healthy, and the General channel is the place to ask.