Bench Testing Protocol
6 structured test protocols to establish baseline RF performance before field deployment.
Equipment Needed
- 2+ configured Meshtastic devices (v2.7.15+)
- USB cables for serial connection
- Laptop with meshtastic CLI
- Notebook for recording observations
- Tape measure or known distances
Test 1: Basic Communication (Indoor)
Verify two devices can exchange messages at close range.
# On device A meshtastic --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --sendtext "TEST-1-$(date +%s)" # On device B -- verify message received meshtastic --port /dev/ttyACM0 --info
| Metric | Expected |
|---|---|
| Delivery | 100% at <5m indoor |
| Latency | <5 seconds |
| SNR | >10 dB |
Test 2: Indoor Range
Walk devices to opposite ends of building. Record SNR/RSSI at each distance.
Test 3: Outdoor Range
Open field test. Walk apart in 100m increments, recording SNR/RSSI. Note first packet loss distance.
Test 4: Multi-Hop
Place 3+ devices in a line. Verify messages hop through intermediate nodes.
meshtastic --traceroute '!<node-id>'
Test 5: Antenna Comparison
Swap antennas on same device at same location. Record SNR/RSSI for stock vs upgraded antenna.
Test 6: Battery Life
Fully charge device, enable periodic telemetry, record time until shutdown. Document device role and screen settings.