Over-the-Air Updates

MeshCore supports Over-the-Air (OTA) firmware updates, allowing you to remotely update your devices without physical access.

OTA Requirements

To perform Over-the-Air updates, you will need:

•

A T-Deck running MeshCore firmware with remote administration features unlocked

OR

A BLE Companion client connected to a smartphone running the MeshCore app

For repeaters and room servers, remote administration is possible via RF.

OTA Update Procedure

Currently, only OTA firmware updates for RAK4631 (nRF-based) devices and Heltec T114 are verified via the nRF smartphone app. Lilygo T-Echo currently does not work with this method.

1

Download the specific node ZIP file from the web flasher to your smartphone

2

On the phone client, connect to the repeater as admin (default password: password) to send the start ota command to the repeater or room server to put the device in OTA DFU mode

This can also be initiated from the USB serial console on the web flasher page or from a T-Deck

3

On your smartphone, use the nRF app (available on Android and iOS) and scan for Bluetooth devices

4

Connect to the node you want to update

iOS

1. Once successfully connected, a DFU icon appears in the top right corner
2. Scroll down to modify the PRN(s) number:
   • For T114: change to 8
   • For RAK: can be 10, but 8 also works
3. Click the DFU icon, select file type (choose ZIP), then select the ZIP file downloaded earlier
4. The download process will begin and the device will reset when complete

Android

1. In the nRF Connect app's hamburger menu, tap Settings, then nRF5 DFU Options
2. Change Number of packets to 10 for RAK, 8 for Heltec T114
3. Return to the main screen
4. Tap SCANNER then SCAN to find the device, tap CONNECT
5. Tap the DFU icon in the upper left corner
6. Choose Distribution packet (ZIP) then OK
7. Select the firmware ZIP file to begin the update

Troubleshooting OTA

If you encounter issues with OTA updates:

Check Frequency Configuration

Verify that the frequency is correctly configured on all your devices. All devices on the same MeshCore network must use an identical frequency.

Admin Password

The default password to administer a repeater or room server is "password".