New preset request for Finland users

[OH1MAC]

Hi all and thank you for this awesome project.

Here in Finland I am perhaps the first one taking this into use and just got my used WisGate RAK Hotspot Miner V2.0 up and running.

Unfortunately for me, the settings available in the tool are not feasible as here in Finland we have huge interference from Aidon electricity meters that use the LoRa network at the exact same frequency slot as the standard "LongFast" configuration of Meshtastic.

We have therefore started to migrate the local network to another configuration called "EdgeFastLow". You can see more information for that from this page (use the provided translator for English): https://www.meshabout.fi/efl-mista-on-kyse/

Now, I tried to configure the node manually by editing the local.yaml file, but based on my experience it does not work just like that, also it seems I am not able to change the name of the default (primary) channel name, it always defaults to the configuration default.

Instead of having to manually tweak configuration files, would it be possible to have an update to the firmware with support for a new modem preset called "EdgeFastLow" with the following settings:

Primary channel:

PSK: AQ==
Name: EdgeFastLow

Lora Radio settings:

SETTING NAME -------- SETTING

Use modem preset: Yes
Preset: EdgeFastLow
Bandwidth: 62
Spread factor: 8
Coding rate: 8
Frequency offset: 0.0
Region: EU_868
Hop limit: 7
Frequency slot: 1
Enable SX126X RX boosted gain True
Override frequency in MHz 869.4312744140625

(These are taken directly from the Console CLI settings for EdgeFastLow)

I am not that skilled with the technical part of the Meshtastic nor able to fully provide deep technical details other than described in the provided info page, but I'd be happy to help testing new presets if available so that we could have an "EFL" based Mesh Points in Finland too.

Thank you,

Br: Marco Johansson, OH1MAC / Node: !56e4a750

[KMX415]

Hey Marco, welcome and awesome to see a Meshpoint running in Finland!

The good news: you should be able to do this today with local.yaml without a firmware change. Meshpoint supports custom frequency, spreading factor, and bandwidth overrides already.

In your config/local.yaml:

radio:
  region: EU_868
  frequency_mhz: 869.431
  spreading_factor: 8
  bandwidth_khz: 62

If that didn't take effect when you tried it, a couple things to check:

• Make sure the YAML indentation is exactly right (2 spaces under radio:)
• Restart after editing: sudo systemctl restart meshpoint
• Check the startup log for the radio config banner: sudo journalctl -u meshpoint -n 50

The channel name defaulting: that's expected right now. Meshpoint doesn't use the Meshtastic channel name for decoding, it uses the frequency/SF/BW to tune the concentrator. The channel name in the UI is cosmetic. If your nodes are on EdgeFastLow and the concentrator is tuned to 869.431 / SF8 / BW62, it should pick up those packets.

Try the local.yaml config above and let me know what the startup banner shows. Happy to debug from there.

[OH1MAC]

Hi!

This is still pending, as I discovered that the included RAK2287 SX1302 is highly sensitive to local interference. There’s a mobile base station less than 300 feet from my balcony, so I already use a cavity filter on my Meshtastic base station node.

I’ve now ordered another cavity filter for the Meshpoint to achieve up to 60 dB of stopband attenuation on cellular frequencies, helping to keep the desired LoRa band as clean as possible.

[KMX415]

Hi @OH1MAC,

Very interesting! Makes sense it would be susceptible to local interference. Do you have a photo of your setup? Would be curious to see the cavity filters. And I wonder if the interference is unique to you in Finland or if it applies to others re: cellular bands.

[OH1MAC]

The LoRa cavity filter arrived yesterday and is now installed. It’s currently just a test configuration on the balcony shelf.

The filter is from sysmocom, a Germany based company: https://shop.sysmocom.de/868-863..870-MHz-cavity-filter-ISM-LoRa-SigFox-Helium/cf866.5-kt30

[KMX415]

Dang, I need to reach out and ask if they can make a couple for US 915...

[OH1MAC]

Great information, thank you!

I'll try this as soon as possible and will be back later.