Standards

Every MeshCom node uses the owner's callsign plus a suffix from this table. One look at the call on the map tells you what kind of node it is.

* Mesh ON if the base station sits high (roof, mast) and no relay covers the area yet. Mesh OFF if it's a low home location already covered by a relay. See How to use.

Rules

• Use only your own callsign. Club nodes use the club call.
• One callsign-SSID per device. Two nodes with the same call and suffix overwrite each other on the map.
• Repeaters (-21–-24) are numbered per owner: first relay -21, second -22, and so on.
• Gateways (-20): one, at most two per area. Coordinate with us before turning one on.

Each suffix has a fixed icon. The code is the standard APRS symbol: table (/ primary, \ alternate) + symbol character.

Suffix	Node type	Icon	Code
-20	Base station with gateway	IGate (diamond)	\&
-21 – -24	Repeater / relay, RF only	Digipeater (star)	/#
-25	Second mobile (car, jeep, van, pickup, any vehicle)	Jeep Van Pickup	/j /v /k
-27	Personal companion	Person	/[
-28	Truck (18-wheeler)	Truck	/u
-29	Mobile (main vehicle)	Car	/>

Emergency / event icons

Use these only during an actual activation or public-service event, then switch back.

Use	Icon	Code
EOC / net control	EOC	/o
Aid station / first aid	Red cross	/+
Shelter	Shelter	\z

Rules

• Don't invent your own icons for standard node types. If your node doesn't fit any row, ask first.
• After setup, check that your node shows the right icon on the map.

Full list of APRS symbols: aprs.world/symbols. Icon images: APRS symbol set by OH7LZB (CC BY-SA).

Required for all nodes

These match the official US profile in the MeshCom firmware (Country ID 10). Setting the country sets all radio parameters automatically. Don't change them by hand, or your node won't hear anyone.

Position beacon

Fixed nodes without GPS: set the position once with --setlat, --setlon, --setalt. Round it if you don't want your exact address public.

Full command list: MeshCom commands (ICSSW)

MeshCom groups work much like talkgroups on the FM Poland and Brandmeister networks. Instead of everyone receiving every message, a node subscribes only to the groups it wants, and the gateway sends just those packets over the local radio channel. This keeps our shared frequency quiet and usable.

• A node can subscribe to up to 6 groups at once.
• Group numbers are 1 to 5 digits long.
• Group 0 means no filter: you receive everything that passes through the gateway.
• Set your groups in the phone app settings or in the node's web interface.

Our groups

Rules

• Everyone subscribes to 312 and 911. Add 9 if you're on a local RF node.
• Group 9 stays on the air. Gateways never pass it to the internet, so it works even when the internet is down. That makes it ideal for local testing.
• Keep 911 clear. No tests or chatter, only real emergency and EmComm traffic, plus scheduled drills announced in advance.

How our partners do it in Poland

Poland uses a structured scheme under its country prefix 260: regional groups for each call district (2601–2609), national service groups such as 26009 for warnings and alerts, and local groups that reuse existing talkgroup numbers (e.g. 26066 for Brzeg). Group 9 is local RF only there too. We're starting with just three groups and will add more as the network grows. More: meshcom.pl: Groups.