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Channels

Channels are read-only broadcasts where only the owner (author) can post messages. Subscribers receive updates but cannot reply in the channel.

When to Use Channels

Channels are perfect for:

  • Announcements - Company updates, community news
  • Newsletters - Regular updates to followers
  • Alerts - Emergency notifications, status updates
  • One-way communication - When you need to broadcast without discussion

Need discussion?

If you want members to reply, use a Group instead.

Channels vs Groups

Feature Channel Group
Who can post Owner only Any member
Join method Subscribe (anyone) Invite or join
Purpose Broadcasts Discussions
Author verification Yes (signed) No
Replies Not in channel Yes

Channel Types

Mesh Local Channels

  • Range: Local mesh only (nearby devices)
  • Transport: Nearby Connections (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi)
  • Best for: Local announcements, event updates

Global Channels (Future)

  • Range: Worldwide via internet
  • Transport: Nostr relays
  • Status: Planned for future release

Creating a Channel

Step by Step

  1. Open Mycel and go to Chats
  2. Tap the Channels sub-tab
  3. Tap the + (floating action button)
  4. Enter a Channel Name (required)
  5. Optionally add a Description
  6. Tap Create Channel

You're now the channel owner and can start posting.

What You Can Do as Owner

  • Post messages to all subscribers
  • View subscriber count
  • Delete the channel
  • All your posts are cryptographically signed

Subscribing to Channels

Finding Channels

Channels can be discovered through:

  • Direct share - Someone sends you a channel link/ID
  • QR code - Scan a channel's QR code
  • Nearby discovery - Channels can broadcast their existence

Subscribing

  1. Open the channel preview
  2. Review the channel info:
  3. Name and description
  4. Owner identity
  5. Subscriber count
  6. Tap Subscribe

After subscribing:

  • The channel appears in your Channels tab
  • You'll receive new posts as they're broadcast
  • You can read all future messages

Unsubscribing

  1. Open the channel
  2. Tap the channel header
  3. Tap Unsubscribe
  4. Confirm

You'll stop receiving new messages. The channel moves to your archive.

Reading Channel Messages

Message Display

Channel messages show:

  • Author name - Who posted (channel owner)
  • Timestamp - When posted
  • Message content - The actual message
  • Verification status - Signature check passed

Message Actions

Even though you can't reply in the channel, you can:

  • Copy - Copy message text
  • Forward - Send to a contact or group
  • View info - See message details and verification

Posting to Your Channel

As the channel owner:

  1. Open your channel
  2. Type your message in the compose area
  3. Tap Send

Your message is:

  1. Signed with your Ed25519 key (proves you wrote it)
  2. Encrypted (optional, for private channels)
  3. Broadcast to all subscribers via the mesh

Post Delivery

Channel posts travel through the mesh like other messages:

Status Meaning
Pending Waiting for relay
Forwarding Traveling through mesh
Broadcast Sent to mesh

No per-subscriber delivery tracking

Unlike DMs, channel posts don't track delivery to individual subscribers. Once broadcast, the message spreads through the mesh.

Channel Notifications

Per-Channel Settings

  1. Open the channel
  2. Tap the header
  3. Toggle Mute to silence notifications
  4. Choose duration if muting

Global Settings

In Settings > Notifications, you can control:

  • Popup notifications for all channels
  • Sound and vibration
  • (Mesh Group has its own toggle)

Author Verification

Why It Matters

Anyone could claim to be a channel owner. Mycel prevents impersonation through cryptographic signatures.

How It Works

  1. When you create a channel, your public key is associated with it
  2. Every post you make is signed with your private key
  3. Subscribers verify the signature before displaying the message
  4. Invalid signatures are rejected

What You See

  • Verified - Signature matches the channel owner
  • Unverified/Warning - Something doesn't match (rare, investigate)

Managing Your Channel

Viewing Subscribers

Currently, you can see:

  • Total subscriber count
  • Channel creation date
  • Your ownership status

Individual subscriber lists are not shown (privacy).

Deleting Your Channel

  1. Open your channel
  2. Tap the header
  3. Tap Delete Channel
  4. Confirm

Deletion is permanent

Deleting a channel removes it from your device. Subscribers may still have cached messages.

Use Cases

Emergency Alerts

Create a channel for your community or building:

  • Post emergency updates
  • Share evacuation info
  • Coordinate during disasters
  • Works without internet

Event Announcements

At a festival, conference, or gathering:

  • Announce schedule changes
  • Share location updates
  • Post important reminders
  • Reaches nearby attendees via mesh

Community Updates

For neighborhoods or local groups:

  • Share community news
  • Post meeting reminders
  • Announce local events
  • No internet required

Team Broadcasts

For work teams in the field:

  • Send instructions to all team members
  • Share status updates
  • Coordinate activities
  • Works in remote areas

Tips

For Channel Owners

  • Be concise - Channel messages should be clear and actionable
  • Post sparingly - Too many posts = subscribers mute you
  • Use descriptive names - Help people understand your channel's purpose
  • Share your channel - Give people the ID or QR code to subscribe

For Subscribers

  • Mute noisy channels - Keep important channels unmuted
  • Forward useful messages - Share to contacts who might benefit
  • Unsubscribe from inactive channels - Keep your list clean

Troubleshooting

"I'm not receiving channel posts"

  • Check subscription - Open Channels tab, verify you're subscribed
  • Check mute status - The channel might be muted
  • Check connectivity - Go to Mesh Lab > Nearby
  • Is the owner posting? - The channel might be inactive

"My posts aren't being delivered"

  • Check connectivity - Ensure you're connected to the mesh
  • Check Queue - Go to Mesh Lab > Queue to see pending posts
  • Wait for subscribers - Posts only reach people in the mesh

"Signature verification failed"

This is rare and could indicate:

  • Corrupted message - Try refreshing
  • Impersonation attempt - Someone trying to fake posts (blocked)
  • Bug - Report if it persists

Technical Details

For developers and curious users:

Property Value
Encryption AES-256-GCM (optional)
Author signatures Ed25519
Message TTL 4 hours default
Routing Topic-based (interest filter)

Deep Dive: Channels Technical Details

Next: Mesh Broadcast | Groups | Contacts