Remotely administering your node

[KiwiHC16]

As per the documentation page: https://meshtastic.org/docs/software/device/device-remote-admin#creating-the-admin-channel

Admin channel created on both equipment.

Then try to change the remote owner:

www-data@hosts:$ meshtastic --dest \!f244c480 --set-owner "Im Remote"
Connected to radio
Setting device owner to Im Remote
INFO:root:Requesting preferences from remote node (this could take a while)
ERROR:root:Error while handling message from radio 'admin'
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/var/www/.local/lib/python3.7/site-packages/meshtastic/__init__.py", line 873, in __reader
    self._handleFromRadio(self._rxBuf[HEADER_LEN:])
  File "/var/www/.local/lib/python3.7/site-packages/meshtastic/__init__.py", line 554, in _handleFromRadio
    self._handlePacketFromRadio(fromRadio.packet)
  File "/var/www/.local/lib/python3.7/site-packages/meshtastic/__init__.py", line 692, in _handlePacketFromRadio
    handler.callback(asDict)
  File "/var/www/.local/lib/python3.7/site-packages/meshtastic/node.py", line 291, in onResponse
    self.radioConfig = p["decoded"]["admin"]["raw"].get_radio_response
KeyError: 'admin'
Aborting due to: Timed out waiting for node config

While:

meshtastic --info

give on both sides:

Channels:
  PRIMARY psk=default { "modemConfig": "Bw500Cr45Sf128", "psk": "AQ==" }
  SECONDARY psk=secret { "psk": "I97thsduDgpDVciKiOt9TcZL3+LijKj2LTfm879rXp0=", "name": "admin" }

Primary channel URL: https://www.meshtastic.org/d/#CgUYASIBAQ
Complete URL (includes all channels): https://www.meshtastic.org/d/#CgUYASIBAQopIiAj3u2Gx24OCkNVyIqI631Nxkvf4uKMqPYtN-bzv2tenSoFYWRtaW4

[KiwiHC16]

Second exemple fail in the same way:

meshtastic --dest \!f244c480 --set ls_secs 301 --info

[markbirss]

@KiwiHC16

At first I though that the Bw500Cr45Sf128 (shortfast) was the issue https://meshtastic.discourse.group/t/1-2-45-firmware-ready-for-brave-alpha-testers/3785/10?u=mark.birss

but here is what i did to get it working

sometimes on both devices when changing the USB port it was connected to

Delete the admin channel Add the admin channel again Set the URL same on both again

meshtastic --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --ch-index 1 --ch-del
meshtastic --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --ch-add admin
meshtastic --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --seturl https://www.meshtastic.org/d/#ChUiAQEqC1Blbmd1aW5GYXJtVdkHAAAKKSIguYkh_NzLo_gUALEuy4WyMo-acOPItOgX93JqRYesHfMqBWFkbWlu

meshtastic --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --dest \!2897868c --info
Connected to radio
INFO:root:Requesting preferences from remote node (this could take a while)
INFO:root:Requesting channel 0 info from remote node (this could take a while)
INFO:root:Requesting channel 1 info from remote node (this could take a while)
INFO:root:Requesting channel 2 info from remote node (this could take a while)
Preferences: { "phoneTimeoutSecs": 900, "lsSecs": 300, "region": "EU865" }

Channels:
  PRIMARY psk=default { "psk": "AQ==", "name": "PenguinFarm", "id": 2009 }
  SECONDARY psk=secret { "psk": "uYkh/NzLo/gUALEuy4WyMo+acOPItOgX93JqRYesHfM=", "name": "admin" }

Primary channel URL: https://www.meshtastic.org/d/#ChUiAQEqC1Blbmd1aW5GYXJtVdkHAAA
Complete URL (includes all channels): https://www.meshtastic.org/d/#ChUiAQEqC1Blbmd1aW5GYXJtVdkHAAAKKSIguYkh_NzLo_gUALEuy4WyMo-acOPItOgX93JqRYesHfMqBWFkbWlu

meshtastic --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --nodes
Connected to radio
╒═════╤══════════════╤═══════╤═══════════╤═════════╤═════════════════════╤═══════════════╤════════════╤═════════════╤════════════╤═══════════╕
│   N │ User         │ AKA   │ ID        │ SNR     │ LastHeard           │ Since         │ Latitude   │ Longitude   │ Altitude   │ Battery   │
╞═════╪══════════════╪═══════╪═══════════╪═════════╪═════════════════════╪═══════════════╪════════════╪═════════════╪════════════╪═══════════╡
│   1 │ Unknown f5a0 │ ?A0   │ !bdf0f5a0 │ N/A     │ 2021-09-04 15:51:16 │ just now      │ N/A        │ N/A         │ N/A        │ N/A       │
├─────┼──────────────┼───────┼───────────┼─────────┼─────────────────────┼───────────────┼────────────┼─────────────┼────────────┼───────────┤
│   2 │ Unknown 868c │ ?8C   │ !2897868c │ 9.25 dB │ 2021-09-04 15:45:50 │ 5 minutes ago │ N/A        │ N/A         │ N/A        │ N/A       │
╘═════╧══════════════╧═══════╧═══════════╧═════════╧═════════════════════╧═══════════════╧════════════╧═════════════╧════════════╧═══════════╛

[KiwiHC16]

I tried with "Short range (but fast)" and "Medium range (but fast)" and I get the same error. With "Very long range (but slow)" I get a timeout.

I tried to delete one admin channel and re-create it in one side and still the same issue.

Will delete all and try again.

[KiwiHC16]

Got it to work. I have 2 TBeam. Lets call them master and slave. I notice that he "master" was flashing at 1hz but with a quick flash while the "slave" was also at 1Hz but with a flash as long as the dark period. Both Red and Bleu LEDs flashing together. From master I asked in debug mode:

meshtastic --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --dest \!f244c480 --info --debug

Later one I discovered that It's not the debug which make it works. It's the fact that I used your url.

And it works !

Now I can do the same request without out debug and Master as Slave flash quick at 1 Hz.

With

meshtastic --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --dest \!f244c480 --info 

From master to interrogate slave, I get the info from slave.

[KiwiHC16]

If I setup with your URL and reset both equipments then it works. If I use my URL and reset both equipments it doesn't work.

[KiwiHC16]

With your URL:

meshtastic --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --seturl https://www.meshtastic.org/d/#ChUiAQEqC1Blbmd1aW5GYXJtVdkHAAAKKSIguYkh_NzLo_gUALEuy4WyMo-acOPItOgX93JqRYesHfMqBWFkbWlu

I get: (This works)

Channels:
  PRIMARY psk=default { "psk": "AQ==", "name": "PenguinFarm", "id": 2009 }
  SECONDARY psk=secret { "psk": "uYkh/NzLo/gUALEuy4WyMo+acOPItOgX93JqRYesHfM=", "name": "admin" }

Primary channel URL: https://www.meshtastic.org/d/#ChUiAQEqC1Blbmd1aW5GYXJtVdkHAAA
Complete URL (includes all channels): https://www.meshtastic.org/d/#ChUiAQEqC1Blbmd1aW5GYXJtVdkHAAAKKSIguYkh_NzLo_gUALEuy4WyMo-acOPItOgX93JqRYesHfMqBWFkbWlu

With my URL:

meshtastic --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --seturl https://www.meshtastic.org/d/#CgUYASIBAQopIiAj3u2Gx24OCkNVyIqI631Nxkvf4uKMqPYtN-bzv2tenSoFYWRtaW4

I get: (This doen't work)

Channels:
  PRIMARY psk=default { "modemConfig": "Bw500Cr45Sf128", "psk": "AQ==" }
  SECONDARY psk=secret { "psk": "I97thsduDgpDVciKiOt9TcZL3+LijKj2LTfm879rXp0=", "name": "admin" }

Primary channel URL: https://www.meshtastic.org/d/#CgUYASIBAQ
Complete URL (includes all channels): https://www.meshtastic.org/d/#CgUYASIBAQopIiAj3u2Gx24OCkNVyIqI631Nxkvf4uKMqPYtN-bzv2tenSoFYWRtaW4

[KiwiHC16]

I looked a bit more to your topic: https://meshtastic.discourse.group/t/1-2-45-firmware-ready-for-brave-alpha-testers/3785

And I used my URL and change only the modem_config on both sides:

meshtastic --ch-set modem_config Bw125Cr45Sf128  --port /dev/ttyUSB0

Reset both side and it works.

To be noted that with Bw125Cr45Sf128 the little screen indicate: MediumZ but meshastic info doesn't give the info modemConfig:

Channels:
  PRIMARY psk=default { "psk": "AQ==" }
  SECONDARY psk=secret { "psk": "I97thsduDgpDVciKiOt9TcZL3+LijKj2LTfm879rXp0=", "name": "admin" }

while previously it was saying:

PRIMARY psk=default { "modemConfig": "Bw500Cr45Sf128", "psk": "AQ==" }

[KiwiHC16]

Bw500Cr45Sf128 (Fast) -> doesn't work Bw125Cr45Sf128 (Medium) -> works Bw31_25Cr48Sf512 (LongAlt) -> works Bw125Cr48Sf4096 (LongSlow)-> works

[KiwiHC16]

So I see 2 issues to solve:

• admin doesn't work in Bw500Cr45Sf128 mode
• meshtastic doesn't print modemconfig if not in Bw500Cr45Sf128 mode

[geeksville]

This issue has been mentioned on Meshtastic. There might be relevant details there:

https://meshtastic.discourse.group/t/1-2-45-firmware-ready-for-brave-alpha-testers/3785/12

[KiwiHC16]

@geeksville yes this is the same conclusion. I added a comment to link the 2 topics.

[joshpirihi]

I'm getting this error too:

 joshuapirihi@Joshuas-MacBook-Pro-3  ~  meshtastic --host 10.147.253.136 --dest \!f24750a4 --info
Connected to radio

Requesting preferences from remote node.
Be sure:
 1. There is a SECONDARY channel named 'admin'.
 2. The '--seturl' was used to configure.
 3. All devices have the same modem config. (i.e., '--ch-longfast')
 4. All devices have been rebooted after all of the above. (optional, but recommended)
Note: This could take a while (it requests remote channel configs, then writes config)
Requesting channel 0 info from remote node (this could take a while)
Requesting channel 1 info from remote node (this could take a while)
ERROR file:stream_interface.py __reader line:165 Error while handling message from radio 'admin'
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/meshtastic/stream_interface.py", line 163, in __reader
    self._handleFromRadio(self._rxBuf[HEADER_LEN:])
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/meshtastic/mesh_interface.py", line 535, in _handleFromRadio
    self._handlePacketFromRadio(fromRadio.packet)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/meshtastic/mesh_interface.py", line 685, in _handlePacketFromRadio
    handler.callback(asDict)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/meshtastic/node.py", line 322, in onResponseRequestChannel
    c = p["decoded"]["admin"]["raw"].get_channel_response
KeyError: 'admin'

[mcumings]

I'm also getting this failure mode. I originally tried the 1.2.52 firmware but upon failure also tried bumping to the 1.2.53 firmware with the same results. I'm using Bw125Cr48Sf4096 (LongSlow) and am not seeing the success mentioned by KiwiHC16 above.

Here are my node infos:

Connected to radio

Owner: Mojo-8380 (838)
My info: { "myNodeNum": 4145973296, "hasGps": true, "numBands": 13, "firmwareVersion": "1.2.53.19c1f9f", "rebootCount": 7, "bitrate": 17.08847, "messageTimeoutMsec": 300000, "minAppVersion": 20200, "maxChannels": 8, "hasWifi": true, "channelUtilization": 13.799999, "airUtilTx": 1.1956389 }
Nodes in mesh:  {'num': 4145973296, 'user': {'id': '!f71e8830', 'longName': 'Mojo-8380', 'shortName': '838', 'macaddr': '30:c6:f7:1e:88:30', 'hwModel': 'TBEAM'}, 'position': {'batteryLevel': 100}, 'lastHeard': 1643684420}  {'num': 4145975016, 'user': {'id': '!f71e8ee8', 'longName': 'Mojo-8ee8', 'shortName': '8EE', 'macaddr': '30:c6:f7:1e:8e:e8', 'hwModel': 'TBEAM'}, 'position': {'batteryLevel': 100, 'time': 1643560320}, 'lastHeard': 1643684403, 'snr': 12.5}  {'num': 4145975392, 'user': {'id': '!f71e9060', 'longName': 'Mojo-9060', 'shortName': '906', 'macaddr': '30:c6:f7:1e:90:60', 'hwModel': 'TBEAM'}, 'position': {'time': 1643560476}, 'lastHeard': 1643684265, 'snr': 10.5}

Preferences: { "phoneTimeoutSecs": 900, "lsSecs": 300, "region": "US", "positionFlags": 99 }

Channels:
  PRIMARY psk=secret { "modemConfig": "Bw125Cr48Sf4096", "psk": "DvF56GZ7dg9uRwNqPvs0KccSfPN0/kSHyUdni4Vr0qo=" }
  SECONDARY psk=secret { "psk": "fh0QumogCISQ5++z7H4+FE2A2sb1LnJxNmBlmijx1XA=", "name": "admin", "id": 1 }
  SECONDARY psk=secret { "psk": "1CWOLK7+hjgYFklGUvX1+KJwkgxGWbaxuvFpQrzd5ww=", "name": "family", "id": 2 }

Primary channel URL: https://www.meshtastic.org/d/#CiQYAyIgDvF56GZ7dg9uRwNqPvs0KccSfPN0_kSHyUdni4Vr0qo
Complete URL (includes all channels): https://www.meshtastic.org/d/#CiQYAyIgDvF56GZ7dg9uRwNqPvs0KccSfPN0_kSHyUdni4Vr0qoKLiIgfh0QumogCISQ5--z7H4-FE2A2sb1LnJxNmBlmijx1XAqBWFkbWluVQEAAAAKLyIg1CWOLK7-hjgYFklGUvX1-KJwkgxGWbaxuvFpQrzd5wwqBmZhbWlseVUCAAAA

and

Connected to radio

Owner: Mojo-8ee8 (8EE)
My info: { "myNodeNum": 4145975016, "hasGps": true, "numBands": 13, "firmwareVersion": "1.2.53.19c1f9f", "rebootCount": 5, "bitrate": 17.08847, "messageTimeoutMsec": 300000, "minAppVersion": 20200, "maxChannels": 8, "hasWifi": true, "channelUtilization": 27.599998, "airUtilTx": 1.2245278 }
Nodes in mesh:  {'num': 4145975016, 'user': {'id': '!f71e8ee8', 'longName': 'Mojo-8ee8', 'shortName': '8EE', 'macaddr': '30:c6:f7:1e:8e:e8', 'hwModel': 'TBEAM'}, 'position': {'batteryLevel': 100}, 'lastHeard': 1643684416}  {'num': 4145973296, 'user': {'id': '!f71e8830', 'longName': 'Mojo-8380', 'shortName': '838', 'macaddr': '30:c6:f7:1e:88:30', 'hwModel': 'TBEAM'}, 'position': {'time': 1643684421}, 'lastHeard': None, 'snr': 8.5, 'lastReceived': {'from': 4145973296, 'to': 4294967295, 'id': 1041452968, 'rxSnr': 8.5, 'hopLimit': 2, 'fromId': '!f71e8830', 'toId': '^all'}, 'hopLimit': 2}  {'num': 4145975392, 'user': {'id': '!f71e9060', 'longName': 'Mojo-9060', 'shortName': '906', 'macaddr': '30:c6:f7:1e:90:60', 'hwModel': 'TBEAM'}, 'position': {'time': 1643560739}, 'lastHeard': 1643560743, 'snr': -12.5}

Preferences: { "phoneTimeoutSecs": 900, "lsSecs": 300, "region": "US", "rangeTestPluginEnabled": true, "rangeTestPluginSender": 60, "positionFlags": 99 }

Channels:
  PRIMARY psk=secret { "modemConfig": "Bw125Cr48Sf4096", "psk": "DvF56GZ7dg9uRwNqPvs0KccSfPN0/kSHyUdni4Vr0qo=" }
  SECONDARY psk=secret { "psk": "fh0QumogCISQ5++z7H4+FE2A2sb1LnJxNmBlmijx1XA=", "name": "admin", "id": 1 }
  SECONDARY psk=secret { "psk": "1CWOLK7+hjgYFklGUvX1+KJwkgxGWbaxuvFpQrzd5ww=", "name": "family", "id": 2 }

Primary channel URL: https://www.meshtastic.org/d/#CiQYAyIgDvF56GZ7dg9uRwNqPvs0KccSfPN0_kSHyUdni4Vr0qo
Complete URL (includes all channels): https://www.meshtastic.org/d/#CiQYAyIgDvF56GZ7dg9uRwNqPvs0KccSfPN0_kSHyUdni4Vr0qoKLiIgfh0QumogCISQ5--z7H4-FE2A2sb1LnJxNmBlmijx1XAqBWFkbWluVQEAAAAKLyIg1CWOLK7-hjgYFklGUvX1-KJwkgxGWbaxuvFpQrzd5wwqBmZhbWlseVUCAAAA

and the --support output (for both):

If having issues with meshtastic cli or python library
or wish to make feature requests, visit:
https://github.com/meshtastic/Meshtastic-python/issues
When adding an issue, be sure to include the following info:
 System: Darwin
   Platform: macOS-10.15.7-x86_64-i386-64bit
   Release: 19.6.0
   Machine: x86_64
   Encoding (stdin): utf-8
   Encoding (stdout): utf-8
 meshtastic: v1.2.78
 Executable: /usr/local/bin/meshtastic
 Python: 3.9.9 CPython Clang 12.0.0 (clang-1200.0.32.29)

Please add the output from the command: meshtastic --info

Note that one of these nodes has the range test plugin enabled and the other one does register every sequence number on its display so they appear to otherwise be working correctly.

[rolouis]

Hi, looks like the issue isn't resolved yet. Does anyone know a workaround?

[yhaenggi]

Same here, another gentle bump.

[KiwiHC16]

"firmwareVersion": "1.2.59.d81c1c0" meshtastic (python cli): 1.2.93

Some interesting findings today, en mode debug:

The code is looking for admin:

c = p["decoded"]["admin"]["raw"].get_channel_response

But in the message decode we don't have admin:

DEBUG file:node.py onResponseRequestChannel line:489 onResponseRequestChannel() p:{'from': 4064593024, 'to': 4064593152, 'channel': 1, 'decoded': {'portnum': 'ROUTING_APP', 'payload': b'\x18\x00', 'requestId': 554894865, 'routing': {'errorReason': 'NONE', 'raw': error_reason: NONE
}}, 'id': 606829195, 'rxTime': 1648582505, 'rxSnr': 13.0, 'raw': from: 4064593024
to: 4064593152
channel: 1
decoded {
  portnum: ROUTING_APP
  payload: "\030\000"
  request_id: 554894865
}
id: 606829195
rx_time: 1648582505
rx_snr: 13.0
, 'fromId': '!f244c480', 'toId': '!f244c500'}
ERROR file:stream_interface.py __reader line:171 Error while handling message from radio 'admin'
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/ben/.local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/meshtastic/stream_interface.py", line 169, in __reader
    self._handleFromRadio(self._rxBuf[HEADER_LEN:])
  File "/home/ben/.local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/meshtastic/mesh_interface.py", line 536, in _handleFromRadio
    self._handlePacketFromRadio(fromRadio.packet)
  File "/home/ben/.local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/meshtastic/mesh_interface.py", line 688, in _handlePacketFromRadio
    handler.callback(asDict)
  File "/home/ben/.local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/meshtastic/node.py", line 490, in onResponseRequestChannel
    c = p["decoded"]["admin"]["raw"].get_channel_response
KeyError: 'admin'

Is the system trying to decode wrong message ....

[KiwiHC16]

meshtastic --get is_router
Connected to radio
is_router: False
Completed getting preferences

[KiwiHC16]

As we can see in the message above, I got a "random" ROUTING_APP message which has the request_id.

This is not the answer message expected for this request_id.

decoded {
  portnum: ROUTING_APP
  payload: "\030\000"
  request_id: 554894865
}

When we don't have this "random" message, everything works well, when we got it it crash the code.

I made a modification in my code to manage such situation. Looks like it works well now.

I will push a "Merge Request" to have a code more robust.

At the same time it would be good to understand why we got this message.

A bug in the FW of the meshtastic ?

[KiwiHC16]

If pull request #310 approved then we can close this issue.