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
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)
Go to the Command Screen
Select a Node
Push WiFi
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