Step-by-step guide

Observer setup

Select the software you're using. Always replace XXX with your region's three-letter IATA code.

CZ preset only! This cluster is intended for traffic from the Czech MeshCore network. If your node uses a regional preset other than CZ, please do not connect your observer to this cluster. Traffic from other regions only adds unnecessary load and is outside the scope of this MQTT infrastructure.

GitHub: agessaman/meshcore-packet-capture

Open the user configuration

Edit the file:

/etc/meshcore-packet-capture/.env.local

Add both MQTT profiles

Change XXX to your region's code, e.g. PRG, BRQ or OSR.

Restart the service

Run sudo systemctl restart meshcore-packet-capture.

.env.local

# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Global MeshCore settings
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

PACKETCAPTURE_IATA=XXX

# Replace XXX with your location's 3-letter IATA code, e.g. OSR, PRG, BRQ...

PACKETCAPTURE_TOPIC_STATUS=meshcore/{IATA}/{PUBLIC_KEY}/status
PACKETCAPTURE_TOPIC_PACKETS=meshcore/{IATA}/{PUBLIC_KEY}/packets


# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# MQTT Broker 3 - MeshCore CZ MQTT1
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT3_ENABLED=true
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT3_NAME=MQTT1 Czech
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT3_SERVER=mqtt1.meshcore.cz
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT3_PORT=443
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT3_TRANSPORT=websockets

PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT3_USE_TLS=true
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT3_TLS_VERIFY=true

PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT3_USE_AUTH_TOKEN=true
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT3_TOKEN_AUDIENCE=mqtt1.meshcore.cz

PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT3_QOS=0
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT3_KEEPALIVE=120

PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT3_TOPIC_STATUS=meshcore/{IATA}/{PUBLIC_KEY}/status
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT3_TOPIC_PACKETS=meshcore/{IATA}/{PUBLIC_KEY}/packets


# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# MQTT Broker 4 - MeshCore CZ MQTT2
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT4_ENABLED=true
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT4_NAME=MQTT2 Czech
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT4_SERVER=mqtt2.meshcore.website
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT4_PORT=443
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT4_TRANSPORT=websockets

PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT4_USE_TLS=true
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT4_TLS_VERIFY=true

PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT4_USE_AUTH_TOKEN=true
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT4_TOKEN_AUDIENCE=mqtt2.meshcore.website

PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT4_QOS=0
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT4_KEEPALIVE=120

PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT4_TOPIC_STATUS=meshcore/{IATA}/{PUBLIC_KEY}/status
PACKETCAPTURE_MQTT4_TOPIC_PACKETS=meshcore/{IATA}/{PUBLIC_KEY}/packets

GitHub: Cisien/meshcoretomqtt

Open the configuration

Edit /etc/mctomqtt/config.d/99-user.toml.

Configure the region and both MQTT profiles

Replace XXX with your observer's three-letter region code.

Restart and verify

sudo systemctl restart mctomqtt
sudo systemctl status mctomqtt --no-pager

99-user.toml

[general]
iata = "XXX"

# ============================================================
# MQTT1 Czech
# ============================================================

[[broker]]
name = "MQTT1 Czech"
enabled = true
server = "mqtt1.meshcore.cz"
port = 443
transport = "websockets"
keepalive = 60
qos = 0

[broker.tls]
enabled = true
verify = true

[broker.auth]
method = "token"
audience = "mqtt1.meshcore.cz"

[broker.topics]
status = "meshcore/{IATA}/{PUBLIC_KEY}/status"
packets = "meshcore/{IATA}/{PUBLIC_KEY}/packets"


# ============================================================
# MQTT2 Czech
# ============================================================

[[broker]]
name = "MQTT2 Czech"
enabled = true
server = "mqtt2.meshcore.website"
port = 443
transport = "websockets"
keepalive = 60
qos = 0

[broker.tls]
enabled = true
verify = true

[broker.auth]
method = "token"
audience = "mqtt2.meshcore.website"

[broker.topics]
status = "meshcore/{IATA}/{PUBLIC_KEY}/status"
packets = "meshcore/{IATA}/{PUBLIC_KEY}/packets"

GitHub: openhop-dev/openhop_repeater

Open the configuration

Edit the mqtt_brokers section in the Openhop Repeater configuration (formerly PyMC).

Enter your observer's identity details

Replace <email>, <IATA code> and <pub key> with your own values.

Restart the service

Restart Openhop Repeater according to its documentation for the new configuration to take effect.

config.yaml

mqtt_brokers:
  brokers:
  - name: CZ 1
    enabled: true
    transport: websockets
    host: mqtt1.meshcore.cz
    port: 443
    format: meshcoretomqtt
    disallowed_packet_types: []
    retain_status: true
    tls:
      enabled: true
      insecure: false
    use_jwt_auth: true
    audience: mqtt1.meshcore.cz
  - name: CZ 2
    enabled: true
    transport: websockets
    host: mqtt2.meshcore.website
    port: 443
    format: meshcoretomqtt
    disallowed_packet_types: []
    retain_status: true
    tls:
      enabled: true
      insecure: false
    use_jwt_auth: true
    audience: mqtt2.meshcore.website
  email: <email>
  iata_code: <IATA code>
  owner: <pub key>
  status_interval: 300