Mesh Network Simulator
Visualize and test Meshtastic managed flood routing with our interactive simulator. See how messages propagate through a mesh network with physical obstacles.
How to Use the Simulator
Introduction
This interactive simulation demonstrates how Meshtastic's Managed Flooding protocol works to route messages through a mesh network of nodes. The simulation shows how messages propagate through a wireless network with physical barriers and limited transmission ranges.
Key Concepts Illustrated:
- Packet flooding mechanisms
- Collision avoidance (CSMA/CA)
- The impact of physical barriers on transmission
- Efficient path finding in multi-hop networks
Getting Started
- Launch the Simulator: The simulation starts automatically with default settings.
- Initial View: You'll see a grid of white nodes (representing Meshtastic devices), mountain-like barriers, and messages propagating as expanding rings.
- Observe Message Flow: Watch as a message travels from a randomly selected blue sender node to a red target node.
Understanding the Visualization
Node Colors
- White: Untouched node
- Blue: Sender node
- Orange: Received, will retransmit
- Green: Actively retransmitting
- Red: Target node
- Grey: Faded (max hops reached)
Message Transmission
- White Rings: Expanding message transmissions
- Green Path: Final highlighted optimal path
- White Lines: All message paths
- Numbers on Lines: Hop count
CSMA Indicators
- Cyan: Listening to channel
- Green: Transmitting
- Magenta: Backing off
- Red: Transmission failed
Using the Controls
Simulation Controls
- Run Simulation: Restarts with new parameters
- Reset Current Simulation: Keeps the same layout but starts a new message
Visualization Options
- Show sensing ranges: Toggle CSMA detection ranges
- Show transmission ranges: See node transmission limits
- Enable collision detection: Turn CSMA on/off
Adjustable Parameters
Network Parameters
- Total Nodes (5-100): Network density
- Total Obstacles (0-10): Mountain barriers
- Max Hops (2-7): Maximum retransmissions
CSMA Parameters
- Listen Time (50-300ms): Channel check duration
- Check Range (200-600px): Activity detection distance
- Max Retries (1-10): Maximum transmission attempts
Experimentation Scenarios
Scenario 1: Dense vs. Sparse Networks
- Try setting nodes to 10 (sparse) vs. 50 (dense)
- Observe differences in path efficiency and reliability
Scenario 2: Impact of Obstacles
- Run with 0 obstacles, then with 10 obstacles
- Notice how barriers force messages to route around them
Scenario 3: Hop Count Limits
- Set max hops to 2, then to 7
- Observe how limiting hops affects network coverage
Scenario 4: CSMA Effects
- Enable/disable collision detection
- Adjust listen time and check range
Interpreting Results
Success or Failure
- Successful Delivery: Green path shows the optimal route
- Failed Delivery: No green path appears, message failed to reach target
- Grey Nodes: Show network limitations (hop count or physical gaps)
- Distance Labels: Help identify network coverage gaps
Statistics
- Total Retransmissions: Message forwarding count
- Nodes Involved: Participation count
- Final Hop Count: Length of successful path
- Efficiency: Hop count / retransmissions
- Backoffs/Failed Transmissions: CSMA collision metrics
Technical Background
This simulation demonstrates the Meshtastic Managed Flood protocol, which ensures reliable message delivery through controlled message flooding. Unlike basic flooding that can overwhelm networks, managed flooding:
- Limits message propagation by hop count
- Uses CSMA to avoid collisions
- Prevents redundant retransmissions
- Finds efficient paths through challenging terrain
Understanding these concepts is essential for planning effective Meshtastic deployments in real-world scenarios.
Tips for Optimal Learning
- Start with default settings to understand basic behavior
- Make one change at a time to see its specific impact
- Look for patterns in how messages propagate around obstacles
- Compare efficiency statistics across different configurations
- Watch for collision events (red indicators) to understand wireless contention
- Observe how the final highlighted path may not be the shortest geographic distance