Flash a LoRa Board

📡 What is a LoRa Board?

CrewDash uses LoRa (Long Range) radio boards to create a mesh network between crew members at live events. These small, low-power devices transmit data up to 10+ miles without WiFi or cell service. The firmware also includes a Meshtastic compatibility mode that can leverage existing Meshtastic infrastructure when available.

Each board connects to a tablet via Bluetooth and relays show data, schedules, and alerts to other boards over LoRa radio — creating a fully offline communication backbone for your event.

⚙ Board Specifications

CrewDash runs on the Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3 — an ESP32-S3 board with a built-in LoRa radio and OLED display.

🔬 How Mesh Networking Works

When a tablet broadcasts a show via LoRa, the connected board transmits the data over radio. Other LoRa boards within range receive the data and forward it to their connected tablets via Bluetooth. Boards without a connected tablet automatically act as mesh relays, extending the network's reach with built-in hop limiting to prevent loops.

All traffic is AES-256-GCM encrypted and boards broadcast heartbeat signals so the app can display real-time mesh health. This means crew members can receive show data, schedule updates, and emergency alerts without any internet connection — perfect for remote festival sites, stadiums, and outdoor venues.

🔌 How to Flash

1. Plug in your board — Connect the Heltec board to your computer using a USB-C cable.
2. Open this page in Chrome — Web Serial only works in Chrome, Edge, or Opera on desktop.
3. Click "Flash Board" below — A dialog will guide you through connecting and flashing.
4. Wait for it to finish — The firmware will be written to the board. The OLED display will show "CrewDash" when complete. A 4-digit PIN will appear on the screen — you'll need this to pair with the app.

✅ Requirements

• Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3 board
• USB-C cable (data capable, not charge-only)
• Chrome, Edge, or Opera browser (desktop)
• No drivers or software needed on Mac. Windows may need CP210x drivers.

🎮 Board Button Guide

After flashing, the board has a PRG button (bottom button) with these features: