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Store and Forward Settings

info

Currently only available for ESP32 based devices with external PSRAM. Requires the device to be set as a router.

Don't enable Store and Forward Module on multiple routers.

Overview​

caution

This is a work in progress and is partially available. Stability is not guaranteed.

important
The name of ths option changed between Meshtastic 1.2 and 1.3. This documentaton already reflects the 1.3 syntax. Please substitute 'store_forward_module' prefix with 'store_forward_plugin' to get the 1.2 compatible command name.

The Store Forward Module is an implementation of a Store and Forward system to enable resilient messaging in the event that a client device is disconnected from the main network.

Because of the increased network traffic for this overhead, it's not advised to use this if you are duty cycle limited for your airtime usage nor is it advised to use this for SF12 (Long Range / Slow).

tip

Once module settings are changed, a reset is required for them to take effect.

Settings​

SettingAcceptable ValuesDefault
store_forward_module_enabledtrue, falsefalse
store_forward_module_heartbeattrue, falsefalse
store_forward_module_history_return_maxinteger0
store_forward_module_history_return_windowinteger0
store_forward_module_recordsinteger0

store_forward_module_enabled​

Enables the module.

Enable the module
meshtastic --set store_forward_module_enabled true
Disable the module
meshtastic --set store_forward_module_enabled false

store_forward_module_heartbeat​

The Store & Forward Router sends a periodic message onto the network. This allows connected devices to know that a router is in range and listening to received messages. A client like Android, iOS, or Web can (if supported) indicate to the user whether a store and forward router is available.

Set store_forward_module_heartbeat to default
meshtastic --set store_forward_module_heartbeat 0

store_forward_module_history_return_max​

Sets the maximum number of messages to return to a client device.

Set store_forward_module_history_return_max to default
meshtastic --set store_forward_module_history_return_max 0
Set store_forward_module_history_return_max to 100 messages
meshtastic --set store_forward_module_history_return_max 100

store_forward_module_history_return_window​

Limits the time period (in minutes) a client device can request.

Set store_forward_module_history_return_window to default
meshtastic --set store_forward_module_history_return_window 0
Set store_forward_module_history_return_window to 1 day (1440 minutes)
meshtastic --set store_forward_module_history_return_window 1440

store_forward_module_records​

Set this to the maximum number of records to save. Best to leave this at the default (0) where the module will use 2/3 of your device's available PSRAM. This is about 11,000 records.

Set store_forward_module_records to default (≈11,000 records)
meshtastic --set store_forward_module_records 0
Set store_forward_module_records to 100 records
meshtastic --set store_forward_module_records 100

Details​

How it works​

Store & Forward - Overview

Requirements​

Initial Requirements:

  • Must be installed on a router node.
    • This is an artificial limitation, but is in place to enforce best practices.
    • Router nodes are intended to be always online. If this module misses any messages, the reliability of the stored messages will be reduced.
  • Esp32 Processor based device with external PSRAM. (tbeam v1.0 and tbeamv1.1, and maybe others)

Usage Overview​

  • To use / test this you will want at least 3 devices
    • One device will (currently) need be a tbeam v1.0 and tbeamv1.1 configured as a Meshtastic router. Other devices with built in PSRAM will be supported at some point.
    • Two others will be regular clients. Nothing special required.

Meshtastic channel configuration​

Don't use this on the "Long Range / Slow" or "Long Range / Fast" channel settings. You're welcome to try and report back, but those channels have a very low bitrate.

Either use a custom channel configuration with at an at least 1kbit data rate or use "Medium Range / Fast".

Recommended channel setting is for 1.343kbps:

Recommended channel setting for S&F module
meshtastic --setchan spread_factor 11 --setchan coding_rate 5 --setchan bandwidth 500

With an aftermarket coaxial antenna or moxon antenna, that will give you roughly the same range as "Long Range / Slow" and 5x the bitrate.

Router setup​

warning

Don't enable the Store and Forward module on multiple routers!

  • Configure your device as a meshtastic router.
  • Name your router node something that makes it easily identifiable, aka "Router".
  • Configure the Store and Forward module
    Required - Enable the module
    meshtastic --set store_forward_module_enabled true
    Optional - Set maximum number of records to save to device
    meshtastic --set store_forward_module_records 100
    tip

    Best to leave store_forward_module_records at the default (0) where the module will use 2/3 of your device's available PSRAM. This is about 11,000 records.

Client Usage​

Currently, no special configuration is required. To request your history sent to you, send the command into the message field "SF". That's it. This will eventually change to make it easier. At the moment, that message will be sent to everyone on the mesh but we'll (eventually) make it easier to use where there'll be a button (or maybe it'll be transparent) and the command isn't sent as a text message to the mesh.

Available Commands:

CommandDefinition
SFSend the last few messages I may have missed
SFmSend a 240 byte payload (Used for testing)

The Store and Forward module will only service one client at a time. If a second client requests messages while the S&F is busy, the S&F will send a private message to the second client that they will need to wait.