Mesh Chat has been in a difficult state since October 2024. It would not operate in AREDN nodes with any firmware release after 3.24.10.0. Mesh Chat 2.12.1 in a node with a nightly build would not sync with Mesh Chat in other nodes.
KN6PLV remedied this situation about 2025-02-07 by publishing new Mesh Chat releases. I have his meshchat_2.13_all.ipk running in a hAP ac2 and meshchat-api_2.13_all.ipk running in a hAP ac lite with an RPi 5 service computer with meshchat_1.02. Both 2.13 nodes synchronize with several other Mesh Chat 2.12.1 services on our mesh island.
The new Mesh Chat apps are available at https://github.com/kn6plv/meshchat . Click the version that you want, then click the download button near the right end of the bar labeled CODE. It appears that you need to be running a current nightly build (after NB 20250207) in your node for the new Mesh Chat to work. For me, the new versions picked up the previous-messages log as if nothing had changed.
A tip of my hat and many thanks to KN6PLV for this accomplishment.
I noticed that installing the new package actually installed three packages, not just the one. Is there anything related to other packages affected by these changes?
Ed
Ed -
If you go to your node's Status screen, click to the right of the installed packages area, then click the view button to the right of the "Remove Package" field, you will see names of your meshchat app and two other packages which are necessary for meshchat to run. I think these were no longer provided in the nightly builds. To clear, just click "Done" in the lower right without selecting any package.
Tim K5RA
Downloading http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/targets/ath79/mikr...
Failed to send request: Operation not permitted
Failed to send request: Operation not permitted
Failed to send request: Operation not permitted
Failed to send request: Operation not permitted
Failed to send request: Operation not permitted
*** Failed to download the package list from http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/targets/ath79/mikr...
Downloading http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc...
*** Failed to download the package list from http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc...
Downloading http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc...
*** Failed to download the package list from http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc...
Downloading http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc...
*** Failed to download the package list from http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc...
Downloading http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc...
*** Failed to download the package list from Failed to send request: Operation not permitted
Failed to send request: Operation not permitted
Collected errors:
* opkg_download: Failed to download http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/targets/ath79/mikr..., wget returned 4.
* opkg_download: Check your network settings and connectivity.
* opkg_download: Failed to download http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc..., wget returned 4.
* opkg_download: Check your network settings and connectivity.
* opkg_download: Failed to download http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc..., wget returned 4.
* opkg_download: Check your network settings and connectivity.
* opkg_download: Failed to download http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc..., wget returned 4.
* opkg_download: Check your network settings and connectivity.
* opkg_download: Failed to download http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc..., wget returned 4.
* opkg_download: Check your network settings and connectivity.
* opkg_download: Failed to download http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc..., wget returned 4.
* opkg_download: Check your network settings and connectivity.
* opkg_download: Failed to download http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc..., wget returned 4.
* opkg_download: Check your network settings and connectivity.
http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc...
Downloading http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc...
*** Failed to download the package list from http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc...
Downloading http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc...
*** Failed to download the package list from http://downloads.arednmesh.org/releases/3/24/3.25.2.0/packages/mips_24kc...
The node I can't get to work is an SXT5 HP. It's running 3.25.2.0. Weird thing is when I attempted (again) to install 2.13.0 it did not give me the error messages, but when done and rebooted the node reports it has package 2.12.1 installed. The two extra packages are not in place.
I'll leave everything on other nodes un updated for a while until this is resolved.
Ed
I have put Meshchat_2.13 and Meshchat-api_2.13 in three Mikrotik nodes (two hAP ac Lites and one hAP ac2) with no issues.
Since the two support packages are not in your node, I think your attempt to load 2.13 was not successful. Meshchat_2.13 does work for several of us here running 3.25.2.0 and later nightly builds., so have confidence.
I suggest you uninstall whatever Meshchat and supporting packages you have in one or more of the nodes. Reboot. Get a copy of Meshchat_2.13 in your service computer. Install stable release 3.25.2.0 in the node(s), and ensure that it is (they are) working.
Then use the package install function in the (each) node to bring Meshchat_2.13 to the node(s). Next you will have to advertise your Meshchat service in each node with the name of the Meshchat zone that you and your fellow operators will use. Reboot. I think this causes creation of chat and file directories in the node. The Meshchat zone name should appear in your node's Local Services pane. There may be service names like Meshchat-8792. Delete those. Click your service announcement. Enter your call sign in the Chat box. You should be good from there.
For now I've rolled everything I can back to 3.24.10.0 and everything installs fine including MC2.13 so I'm leaving 3.25.2.0 alone until I get more definitive information. I've lost control of one remote node rolling the firmware back so I'll have to revisit it and do a fresh install. None of this addresses the simultaneous loss of use of Waterfall when switching to 3.25.2.0 so there is something in the new release that does not play well with packages.
Ed
I installed 3.25.2 and the pkg file, I see 3 pkgs when listing pkgs to remove.
So I went on to install 3.24.10 directly without removing pkgs.
Meshchat works!
Then I installed 3.25.2 on top, and Meshchat still works.
So now I am confused but happy :-)
will try again on some radio nodes like the Nanobeam's
Frank
I looked at your info above, and it looks like the error messages were from 3.25.2.0, not from attempt to install Meshchat. Meshchat is not sourced from AREDN. Go to
https://github.com/kn6plv/meshchat
You will see the names of the two versions of Meshchat slightly left and slightly below center of the screen. Click the one you want. Look on the right edge of the screen somewhat above the middle and see a symbol with a down-pointing arrow (for download). Click that, and a copy of the code you selected will come to you.
Good luck!
--Tim K5RA