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Mesh Broadcast

The Mesh Broadcast (shown as "Mesh Group" in the app) is a special built-in channel that connects you with everyone nearby running Mycel.

What is Mesh Broadcast?

Think of it as a local walkie-talkie channel - anyone within range can hear and talk.

Property Mesh Broadcast
Range Local mesh only (nearby devices)
Who can read Anyone nearby with Mycel
Who can post Anyone
Encryption None (plaintext)
Always on Yes, cannot unsubscribe

How It's Different

vs Direct Messages

Direct Message Mesh Broadcast
Recipients One specific person Everyone nearby
Privacy End-to-end encrypted Public/plaintext
Delivery Store-and-forward Local flood

vs Groups

Group Mesh Broadcast
Membership Explicit (invite/join) Automatic (all nearby)
Persistence Long-term Ephemeral
Encryption Yes No
Scope Selected members Geographic

vs Channels

Channel Mesh Broadcast
Author Single owner Anyone
Subscription Opt-in Always on
Verification Signed messages None
Purpose Announcements Local chat

When to Use Mesh Broadcast

Good Use Cases

  • "Is anyone out there?" - Finding other Mycel users nearby
  • Local coordination - Quick messages at events
  • Emergencies - Reaching anyone within range
  • Testing - Verifying your mesh connection works
  • Casual chat - Talking with nearby strangers
  • Private conversations - Use DMs instead (encrypted)
  • Sensitive information - Messages are not encrypted
  • Long-term discussions - Use groups instead
  • Specific recipients - Use DMs or groups

No encryption

Mesh Broadcast messages are not encrypted. Anyone on the mesh can read them. Don't share sensitive information.

Using Mesh Broadcast

Finding It

  1. Open Mycel
  2. Go to Chats
  3. Look for "Mesh Group" at the top of your conversations
  4. Or find it in a dedicated section

Sending a Message

  1. Open Mesh Group
  2. Type your message
  3. Tap Send

Your message floods across the local mesh immediately.

Reading Messages

Messages appear in chronological order showing:

  • Sender name - Who posted
  • Timestamp - When posted
  • Message text - The content

Who Receives Your Messages?

Everyone who:

  • Is running Mycel
  • Is within Bluetooth/Wi-Fi range (directly or via relays)
  • Has the app active (foreground or background)

Privacy Considerations

What's Visible

When you post to Mesh Broadcast:

  • Your display name is shown
  • Your device UID is included
  • The message content is plaintext
  • Your approximate location (you're "nearby")

What's NOT Protected

  • Message content is not encrypted
  • Anyone on the mesh can read it
  • Messages may be relayed through other devices
  • No delivery confirmations

Recommendations

  1. Don't share personal info - No addresses, phone numbers, etc.
  2. Assume public - Treat it like shouting in a crowd
  3. Use for coordination only - Switch to DMs for private follow-ups
  4. Be respectful - You're talking to strangers

Technical Details

How It Works

  1. You send a message to Mesh Group
  2. It's wrapped in a MeshBroadcastPayload:
  3. Message ID
  4. Text content
  5. Your UID
  6. Your display name
  7. Timestamp
  8. The message floods across Nearby Connections
  9. Every device in range receives and displays it

Flooding vs Routing

Unlike DMs and groups that use intelligent routing, Mesh Broadcast uses flooding:

  • Message sent to all connected peers
  • Each peer forwards to their peers
  • No destination targeting
  • Reaches maximum local coverage

TTL (Time to Live)

Mesh Broadcast messages have a short TTL:

  • 4 hours default
  • Prevents old messages from circulating forever
  • Appropriate for ephemeral local chat

Notifications

Controlling Mesh Group Alerts

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Find Notifications
  3. Toggle Mesh Group notifications

When disabled:

  • You still receive Mesh Group messages
  • They just don't trigger alerts
  • Useful if the local mesh is chatty

Use Case Examples

At a Conference

You: "Anyone here from the networking track?"
Stranger: "Yeah! Where's the next session?"
You: "Room 204, starting in 10 min"

During an Emergency

You: "Power out in building A, anyone have info?"
Neighbor: "Utility company says 2 hours estimated"
You: "Thanks! Passing that along"

Testing Your Setup

You: "Mesh test - can anyone hear me?"
Nearby user: "Got you loud and clear!"

At a Festival

You: "Lost my friend near main stage, anyone see someone in a red hat?"
Stranger: "Red hat heading toward food court 5 min ago"

Tips

For Effective Communication

  • Be concise - Keep messages short
  • Identify yourself - "This is Alex from tent 5"
  • Be helpful - Answer questions when you can
  • Stay on topic - Respect the shared space

For Privacy

  • Use nicknames - Don't use your real name if concerned
  • Move to DMs - For anything private, ask to continue in DM
  • Be vague about location - Don't share exact addresses

Troubleshooting

"I don't see Mesh Group"

  • It should appear automatically
  • Check if you have the latest app version
  • Restart the app

"Nobody responds to my messages"

  • Are others nearby? Check Mesh Lab > Nearby for neighbors
  • Is your mesh working? Test with a known contact via DM
  • Be patient - Others might not be actively watching

"Too many messages"

  • Mute Mesh Group notifications (Settings > Notifications)
  • The chat remains available, just quieter

"I see strange messages"

  • Remember, anyone can post
  • Ignore spam or inappropriate content
  • Report persistent issues through the app

Summary

Aspect Mesh Broadcast
Purpose Local mesh chat with anyone nearby
Privacy None - messages are plaintext
Best for Coordination, emergencies, testing
Avoid for Private info, sensitive topics
Can disable? Can mute notifications, but stays subscribed

Next: Groups | Channels | Contacts