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Tactical map2 min read

Mesh visualization

The glowing lines on the Sentinel map connect the gateway with visible nodes. What they represent, what they don't, and how they will evolve with link telemetry.

Published on April 18, 2026

Operational summary

Glowing lines connect the hub (gateway) to each displayed node. They are a logical deployment guide in this view—not a live RF link measurement until link telemetry is wired in.

When you open the Sentinel tactical map you'll notice thin glowing lines from the gateway to each visible node. They are the visual representation of the deployment's logical topology: who is enrolled under which gateway and, at a glance, the geographic spread of the fleet.

Deep dive

It's important to clarify what the mesh is and is not in the current version. Today it's a logical deployment guide, not a live RF link quality measurement. That is, a line does not mean 'the LoRa link between this node and the gateway is in optimal condition'; it means 'this node is enrolled to gateway X'. That distinction prevents wrong interpretations during critical operations.

The roadmap includes evolving the mesh into a richer view with link telemetry: SNR, RSSI, packet loss, latency. When that telemetry is in, lines may change thickness, color, or transparency based on real-time RF quality. Until then, we recommend validating critical links with on-site physical testing before each deployment.

For large sites with multiple gateways, the mesh helps plan topology: see on the map which nodes are closer to which gateway and whether coverage is balanced. If all nodes hang off a distant gateway, reconsider the assignment. Topology decisions still require RF analysis, but mesh visualization speeds up the first read.

Frequently asked questions

Does the mesh reflect live signal quality?
Not yet. It's a logical visualization of which nodes are enrolled to the gateway. Live RF telemetry (SNR, RSSI) is on the roadmap.
Can I hide the lines?
Yes. From the layers panel you can toggle the mesh visualization without affecting other tactical info.
Does it work with multiple gateways?
Yes. Each gateway draws its own lines to enrolled nodes. Useful to understand load balance on large sites.
Does the mesh impact performance?
It's lightweight even with hundreds of nodes. If you experience lag, check active filters and zoom first; mesh is rarely the bottleneck.
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