On August 14, 2026, the MeshCore firmware was updated to version 1.17.1. This release introduces a series of crucial bug fixes and optimizations, enhancing the stability and compatibility of the LoRa-based network.
RF Control Improvements
A significant change involves more precise control over Radio Frequency (RF) power. For devices utilizing external Front-End Modules (FEM), the PA level (Power Amplifier Level) is now correctly applied at the start of a transmission, optimizing transmit power efficiency. Furthermore, an issue where RX Boosted Gain reverted to a compiled-in value after an ACG reset (Automatic Gain Control Reset), rather than retaining the user-defined setting, has been resolved. This ensures more consistent receive performance. For Companion Radios, external FEM gain preferences for both RX and TX operations have been added, allowing for finer tuning.Lilygo T-Echo Board Revisions
The Lilygo T-Echo and Lilygo T-Echo Lite boards received dedicated attention. Pin definitions have been corrected, and the TCXO voltage (Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator) for the T-Echo Card has been set to 3.0 volts, enhancing timing precision.Repeater and Room-Server Stability Optimizations
Several stability issues for Repeaters have been addressed. Notably, a bug causing replies to be dropped when theflood.max.unscoped parameter was set too low has been fixed. This ensures more reliable message forwarding within the network. The R1 Neo Repeater benefited from a cleanup of its build configuration, improving compilation and maintainability.
Extensive Pin Corrections and Build Optimizations
Numerous boards received corrections to their pin definitions, including Heltec T1, Heltec MeshPocket, and Heltec T096. The Promicro pinmap was also streamlined by moving LoRa-specific pins to thevariant.h file, enhancing clarity. For Minewsemi and NRF52, build processes and initialization routines have been optimized to ensure more robust firmware.