Skip to main content

Contributing to the MeshCore Coverage Map

The MeshCore Coverage Map is a crowd-sourced visualization of repeater coverage in the MeshCore mesh network.

It’s built from real-world “can I reach the mesh from here?” pings, submitted by community members while moving around (walking, driving, biking, etc.).

Map legend​

  • Green dot: the mesh was reachable at that location (visible for 1 day)
  • Red dot: the mesh was not reachable at that location (visible for 1 day)
  • Green box: the mesh was reachable in that region
  • Red box: the mesh was not reachable in that region
  • Dashed line: links a green dot/box to its 1st hop repeater(s)
  • Blue dot: repeater with an advert in the past 1 day
  • Light gray dot: repeater with an advert in the past 5 days
  • Dark gray dot: repeater without an advert in the past 5 days

How it works​

Coverage points are created when your location gets sent to #wardrive in the format:

lat.xxxx lon.yyyy

If a repeater in your mesh network hears it, the bot can add a point to the map indicating whether you could reach the mesh from that spot.

To also log “misses” (places you can’t reach the mesh), use the Wardrive web app, which automates pings and reports both hits and misses.

MQTT observers (Greater Boston)​

Greater Boston currently uses LetsMesh MQTT Observers:

  • https://letsme.sh/ - 01
  • https://letsme.sh/ - 02

For your coverage points to appear, your #wardrive messages must be observed (seen) by the network.

The easiest way to contribute: the Wardrive web app​

Use the MeshCore Wardrive app on your phone. It connects to your companion radio over BLE and can:

  • Send single pings on demand.
  • Run Auto Ping that sends a ping when needed (preferred).
  • Report both reachability and non-reachability so the map fills in faster and more accurately.

Use Fill Missing Tiles mode. It checks periodically whether your current coverage tile needs an update and only pings when needed. This reduces duplicates and helps the map improve faster.

Using the Wardrive app​

Quick start​

  1. Open https://coveragemap.bostonme.sh/wardrive
  2. Allow Bluetooth + Location permissions when prompted
  3. Click Connect via BLE and select your companion radio
  4. Use one of:
    • Send 1 Ping (manual)
    • Start Auto Ping (best for wardriving)

Important notes​

  • Your companion radio must have the #wardrive channel (the app can help with that).
  • Safari is not supported.
  • BLE only allows one connection at a time, so you must disconnect from the MeshCore app before connecting in the Wardrive app.
  • If you use Auto Ping, keep the page in the foreground with the screen on and unlocked.

Don’t spam the mesh The mesh is a shared resource. Please be judicious with pings and avoid creating unnecessary duplicates.

If you’re using a mobile repeater (car-peater)​

If your wardriving setup includes a mobile repeater, use the app’s Ignore Repeater ID feature to exclude it from the path. Otherwise, the coverage paths can become misleading.

Privacy​

The service stores only:

  • The location you send to #wardrive
  • The ID of the 1st hop repeater

The Wardrive web app sends your location to #wardrive and to the service. Logging in the web app is stored locally on your device.

Public channel reminder Your companion radio’s name is sent along with your location to #wardrive, which is a public channel.