Meshpoint
Open-source LoRa packet intelligence for Meshtastic/Meshcore mesh networks. Raspberry Pi + SX1302/SX1303 concentrator — passive multi-channel capture, local dashboard, optional cloud sync.
Install / Use
/learn @KMX415/MeshpointREADME
What Is This?
A Raspberry Pi-based LoRa listener that captures traffic from Meshtastic and MeshCore mesh networks simultaneously. The SX1302/SX1303 concentrator listens on 8 LoRa channels across all spreading factors at once, while an optional MeshCore USB companion monitors MeshCore traffic on its own frequency.
Packets are captured, decrypted, stored locally, and shown on a real-time dashboard. Optionally, everything syncs upstream to Meshradar for aggregated city-wide mesh intelligence.
Standard Node vs Meshpoint
| | Standard Node | Meshpoint | |---|---|---| | Channels | 1 | 8 | | Demodulators | 1 | 16 (multi-SF) | | Role | Participant | Passive observer | | Packet visibility | Own traffic | Everything in range | | Storage | None | SQLite with retention | | Dashboard | None | Real-time web UI |
Features
Dual-protocol capture. Meshtastic and MeshCore traffic captured simultaneously. The SX1302 handles Meshtastic on 8 channels (SF7-SF12), while a USB MeshCore companion covers MeshCore on its own frequency.
Full packet decoding. 14 Meshtastic portnums decoded: TEXT, POSITION, NODEINFO, TELEMETRY, ROUTING, ADMIN, WAYPOINT, DETECTION_SENSOR, PAXCOUNTER, STORE_FORWARD, RANGE_TEST, TRACEROUTE, NEIGHBORINFO, and MAP_REPORT. 6 MeshCore message types decoded. Device roles (CLIENT, ROUTER, REPEATER, TRACKER, SENSOR) extracted from NodeInfo.
Private channel decryption. Configure your private channel PSKs and the Meshpoint decodes traffic on those channels alongside the default key. Supports any number of channels with AES-128 or AES-256 keys.
6 frequency regions. US, EU_868, ANZ, IN, KR, and SG_923. Select during setup and the concentrator auto-tunes. MeshCore companion radios configure to match automatically.
Real-time dashboard. Live map with node positions, color-coded packet feed with decoded payloads, traffic charts, signal analytics, and 24h active node counts. Accessible from any device on your network.
Cloud integration. Optional WebSocket uplink to Meshradar for aggregated multi-site mesh intelligence. Fleet management, city-wide maps, and packet history across all your Meshpoints.
Dual-protocol MQTT gateway. Publish captured packets to community MQTT brokers and Home Assistant. Dual-protocol: Meshtastic (protobuf) and MeshCore (JSON) from a single device. Two-gate privacy model ensures private channel data never leaks. Optional JSON publishing, HA auto-discovery, and configurable location precision.
Smart relay. Optional re-broadcast of captured packets via a separate SX1262 radio. Deduplication, token-bucket rate limiting, RSSI-based signal filtering. TX path is independent from RX: transmission never blocks reception.
Auto-detect hardware. RAK Hotspot V2 and SenseCap M1 identified automatically during setup. MeshCore USB companions auto-detected on /dev/ttyUSB* and /dev/ttyACM*.
Hardware
Requirements: Raspberry Pi 4, 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS, Python 3.13. The compiled core modules are aarch64 binaries: other platforms (Pi 3, x86, 32-bit OS) are not currently supported.
Option A: RAK Hotspot V2 (~$60, recommended)
The easiest path. RAK/MNTD Hotspot V2 miners (model RAK7248) include a Pi 4, RAK2287 (SX1302), Pi HAT, metal enclosure, antenna, and power supply: everything you need. Helium's IoT network didn't pan out, so these are all over eBay for $40-70.
<img src="rak7248.png" width="360" alt="RAK7248 Hotspot V2">Remove the 4 bottom screws to access the SD card slot. Flash a new card with Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit, run the install script, and you have a Meshpoint in a nice aluminum enclosure.
Option B: SenseCap M1 (~$40-60)
Another Helium-era miner with identical compatibility. The SenseCap M1 includes a Pi 4, Seeed WM1303 concentrator (SX1303), carrier board, metal enclosure, and antenna. Some units ship with a 64GB SD card included.
<img src="docs/sensecap-m1.png" width="360" alt="SenseCap M1">Remove the 2 screws on the back panel (the side without the Ethernet/antenna ports) to access the SD card: it may be held in place by kapton tape. Flash with Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit and run the install script. USB-C power connects to the carrier board, not the Pi directly.
Option C: Build Your Own (~$85)
| Component | Price | |-----------|-------| | Raspberry Pi 4 (1GB+) | $35 | | RAK2287 SX1302 + Pi HAT | ~$20* | | 915 MHz LoRa antenna | $10 | | MicroSD card (16GB+) | $10 | | USB-C power supply (5V 3A) | $10 |
*Helium's surplus means RAK2287 concentrators and Pi HATs go for ~$20 combined on eBay.
Assembly: Seat the RAK2287 on the Pi HAT, mount the HAT on the Pi GPIO header, connect the antenna. Always connect the antenna before powering on.
Optional: MeshCore USB Companion
Add a Heltec V3/V4 or T-Beam running MeshCore USB companion firmware to monitor MeshCore traffic alongside Meshtastic. Plug it into any USB port on the Pi -- the setup wizard auto-detects the device and configures its radio frequency for your region.
Full step-by-step guide: See the Onboarding Guide for detailed instructions covering flashing, assembly, installation, MeshCore setup, and troubleshooting for all hardware options.
Install
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y git
sudo git clone https://github.com/KMX415/meshpoint.git /opt/meshpoint
cd /opt/meshpoint && sudo bash scripts/install.sh
This builds the SX1302 HAL with Meshtastic patches, sets up a Python venv, and installs the systemd service.
sudo meshpoint setup # interactive config wizard
meshpoint status # verify everything is running
Open http://<pi-ip>:8080 for the local dashboard.
First time? The Onboarding Guide walks through everything from flashing the SD card to verifying your first captured packets.
Architecture
┌─────────────────────────┐
│ Meshradar Cloud │
│ (meshradar.io) │
└────────────┬────────────┘
│ WebSocket
│
┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌────────────┴────────────┐
│Meshtastic│ │ SX1302/ │ │ Meshpoint (Pi 4) │
│ packets │───▶│ SX1303 │───▶│ │
│ (OTA) │ │ 8-ch RX │ │ Capture → Decode → API │
└──────────┘ └──────────┘ │ │ │
│ Dashboard │
┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │ (port 8080) │
│ MeshCore │ │ Heltec │ │ │
│ packets │───▶│ USB │───▶│ │
│ (OTA) │ │companion │ │ │
└──────────┘ └──────────┘ └─────────────────────────┘
CLI
meshpoint status # service status + config summary
meshpoint logs # tail the service journal
meshpoint restart # restart the service
meshpoint meshcore-radio # configure MeshCore companion radio frequency
sudo meshpoint setup # re-run config wizard
Local API
FastAPI server on port 8080:
| Endpoint | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| GET /api/nodes | All discovered nodes |
| GET /api/nodes/map | Nodes with GPS for map display |
| GET /api/packets | Recent packets (paginated) |
| GET /api/analytics/traffic | Traffic rates and counts |
| GET /api/analytics/signal/rssi | RSSI distribution |
| GET /api/device/status | Device health and uptime |
| WS /ws | Real-time packet stream |
Updating
cd /opt/meshpoint && sudo git pull origin main && sudo systemctl restart meshpoint
The local dashboard shows an orange update indicator when a new version is available.
Troubleshooting
Chip version 0x00: Concentrator not responding. Check that the concentrator module is seated, SPI is enabled (raspi-config → Interface Options → SPI), and try a full power cycle (unplug for 10+ seconds). Normal chip versions are 0x10 (SX1302) and 0x12 (SX1303).
No packets: Verify antenna is connected and frequency matches your region. Check meshpoint logs for lgw_receive returned N packet(s).
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