Blackout Comms MQTT

MQTT is an experimental feature in Blackout Comms, which enables you to bridge a gap in your cluster with internet, when internet is available. Even if internet connectivity is intermittent, this can be very helpful in many cases.

We also offer a Mesh Cloud option which is inexpensive, much simpler to set up, and ready to use immediately. MQTT is intended more for people who prefer to host their own services.

Enabling MQTT

You may choose to enable MQTT on any Blackout Comms device. MQTT-enabled devices can become an instant long-distance bridge for your cluster. Connecting two devices from your cluster forms a bridge that then becomes available for use by your entire cluster. You will need an MQTT service. An inexpensive (or free) option is shiftr.io

Altware's Free Test Server

This is our test server, which we've made available for you to test with. If you use it, don't consider your data private, although messages and locations remain end-to-end encrypted at all times, so it would be pretty much useless for us to try to read.

MQTT Host:

Http Port:

Https/SSL Port:

User:

Pass:

chatters1.cloud.shiftr.io

8883

1883

chatters1

public

Remember this is an experimental feature, so you should be tech savvy and we can't offer tech support for this until it's no longer in the experimental/beta phase.

For MQTT Blackout Comms Supports:

MQTT 3.1.1
MQTT/TCP
2.4 G WiFi Only
Tested with shiftr.io

Blackout Comms supports both TLS and non-TLS, but remember, it’s already end-to-end encrypting and digitally signing your payloads no matter how the message arrives

1. Settings / WiFi / Add Connection

Add up to 5 connections

Once connected, your device will begin using MQTT, in addition to LoRa for connecting with other devices in your cluster or channel.

2. Settings / MQTT

Save MQTT, Enable Cloud, Finish

You can also activate MQTT/Cloud on links, by using the command screen as follows:

1) Push WiFi 2) Enable MQTT