Channels

The Channels view provides group messaging. The number of available channel slots is reported by the device (typically 8).

Channel Types

Adding Channels

Click the + button in the channels sidebar:

• Create Private Channel -- generates a random key and creates a new private channel.
• Join Private Channel -- enter the channel name and 32-character hex PSK (shared by the channel creator).
• Join Public Channel -- joins the standard MeshCore public channel.
• Join Hashtag Channel -- enter a channel name starting with #; the key is derived automatically from the lowercased channel name.

Channels can also be added by scanning a QR code or importing a meshcore://channel/add?... URL from the contacts view. Hashtag channel URLs do not require a secret parameter -- the PSK is derived from the channel name, so a simple URL like meshcore://channel/add?name=%23hiking is sufficient.

Channel Chat

Channel messages show the sender's name. Your own messages appear on the right; others' on the left. The message input field supports multiline messages -- press Shift+Enter to insert a new line, Enter to send.

Mentions

Type @ at the beginning of a word in the message composer to mention another participant. A popover lists the senders recently seen in the channel (excluding yourself); pick one to insert a mention. Mentions are sent as @[name] and rendered as highlighted pills in the message list, with your own name highlighted differently when you are mentioned. When a channel's notification level is Mentions Only, only messages that mention you trigger a notification.

Message Paths and Repeats

MeshCore messages can arrive through multiple paths (via different repeaters). Meshy tracks these:

• Heard repeats -- if your message is echoed back through repeaters, the repeat count and paths are shown.
• Message paths -- right-click a message and select "Show Message Paths" to see all path variants, including SNR and hop details for each.

Channel Settings

Hover over a channel row and click the three-dot button, long-press or double-tap (on touchscreens) the row, or click the channel name in the header bar above the chat to open channel settings.

Channel Info

• Channel Name -- editable for public channels (rename is sent to the device). Shown as read-only for private and hashtag channels.
• Private Key -- shown for private channels (copyable for sharing).

Chat

• Participants -- opens a list of all senders seen in the channel. Each entry shows the sender's name, message count, and when they were last seen. You can filter by All or Blocked, and sort by Name, Last Seen, or Messages. Blocking a sender hides their future messages; you can also choose to delete their existing messages when blocking. Blocked senders can be unblocked at any time.

  Note: Channel messages don't include sender identity verification. Blocking matches by name only -- the sender could change their name to bypass it.

• Message Retention -- how long messages are kept: 1 Day, 1 Week, 1 Month, 3 Months, or Forever (default). Older messages are automatically deleted on app startup.

• Notification Level -- choose between Default, All Messages, Mentions Only (@yourname), or None.

Region

• Region -- limit flood messages to a specific region (requires regions configured in Settings).

When a channel is scoped to a region (either via the channel setting or the global default scope), the send button in the channel chat becomes a split button with a dropdown offering Send to All Regions -- a one-time override that sends the message without region scoping.

Actions

• Clear Messages -- deletes all messages in the channel. A toast notification with an Undo button appears briefly.
• Remove Channel -- clears the channel slot on the device. A toast notification with an Undo button appears briefly.