Chatters Mesh Cloud & MQTT

If you need to bridge a large distance within your cluster (or channel), ChatterBox can use MQTT as a cloud bridge. MQTT is a lightweight messaging protocol, often used for IOT.

  • Connect devices to your cluster from any distance, bridging gaps beyond LoRa reach

  • MQTT 3.1.1 / TCP (tested with shiftr.io)

  • Device-level end-to-end encrypted & signed payloads across all mediums

  • Additional LoRa hops happen as necessary at either end, automatically

  • MQTT/cloud bridges are automatically learned & leveraged by other on-cluster devices, even those only connected via LoRa

  • Download PDF

MQTT Broker

You will need to use an MQTT broker (service) for any device(s) you want to connect via cloud. There are a few providers that currently offer free service for testing purposes. You will probably want to use your own dedicated MQTT service, but here are a few options that are free to try:

Our Public MQTT Broker

We currently allow access to our own public MQTT service. Be aware your message payloads are end-to-end encrypted, but this is not a private service, as its name implies.

This is intended for temporary testing purposes, and may be taken down at any time.

  • Host: chatters1.cloud.shiftr.io

  • Username: chatters1

  • Password: public

  • Port: 1883 (no TLS) or 8883 (TLS)

shiftr.io Public

  • Host: public.cloud.shiftr.io

  • Username: public

  • Password: public

  • Port: 1883 (no TLS) or 8883 (TLS)

EMQX Public

  • Host: broker.emqx.io

  • Username: anything

  • Password: anything

  • Port: 1883 (no TLS) or 8883 (TLS)

Activating Cloud or MQTT on a Communicator

1. Choose Settings / WiFi / Add Network

Select a network, enter the password, and test it.

If test is successful, save the connection. You may store up to 5 networks.

2. Choose Settings / Mesh Cloud / Cloud Setup

Enter your MQTT details, save them, Enable Cloud, and Finish. Your device will automatically restart.

3. Use ChatterBox as Normal

Your device will utilize MQTT / Cloud automatically, leveraging it as a bridge whenever other on-cluster/on-channel devices are on the same cloud/MQTT host.

4. Optionally Enable Cloud on Node(s)

  1. Go to the Command Screen

  2. Select a Node

  3. Push WiFi

  4. Enable MQTT

Important Notes:

  • 2.4 GHz WiFi is supported.

  • WiFi-connected Nodes may automatically restart to maintain a good connection.

  • You can enable/disable cloud easily on any device at any time

  • You may choose to run exclusively cloud/MQTT on any communicator

  • Onboarding still happens exclusively via LoRa