If you have joined the #test channel you may have noticed people entering random commands. These are bot commands and each time a user enters a command the bot should reply with a preprogramed response. The first thing I noticed it that a majority of the time the bot does not respond. The cause could be the bot not functioning properly or the bot never seeing the command. To verify that the command actually got transmitted you can check out the WCMesh discord channel and view the live feed.
These bot commands fall into a few main categories:
- System checks:
test,t,ping,sta - Help and discovery:
help,cmd,prefix - Information services:
wx,aqi,sun,moon,solar,hfcond,satpass,sports - Utilities and fun:
dice,roll,hello - Network or content tools:
path,advert,@string
Together, they make the bot useful for diagnostics, information lookup, and everyday interaction within the MeshCore – West Coast Mesh network.
Below is a plain-language explanation of each bot command, written for non-technical users.
Bot Command Overview
Please use the submit feedback form at the bottom of this page to share more accurate descriptions of each command.
test or t
Checks whether the bot is working and able to receive commands. This is usually used for quick troubleshooting and the bot should reply with : ack @username, the path or hops displayed as the first 2 digits of the repeaters used to rout the message and lastly the time in milliseconds it to for the message to be delivered. It looks something like this…
ping
Tests the bot’s responsiveness. If the bot replies, it confirms that it is online and reachable.
help
Displays a list of available commands and brief usage instructions. This is the best starting point if you are unsure what the bot can do.
hello
A simple greeting command. It confirms the bot is active and responding, often returning a friendly message.
cmd
Shows command-related information, such as supported commands or command syntax. In some setups, this may provide a more technical or complete command listing than help.
advert – not verified
Displays an announcement, notice, or promotional-style message. This may be used for network notices, project information, or general broadcasts.
@string – not verified
Triggers a search or lookup based on the provided text (string). This is often used to query stored information, messages, or keywords. The exact result depends on how the bot is configured.
wx
Provides weather information for a specified location, such as current conditions, temperature, or forecasts.
aqi
Returns the Air Quality Index for a given location. This helps users understand pollution levels and air health conditions. Usage: aqi – Example: aqi seattle, aqi greenwood, aqi vancouver canada, or aqi 47.6,-122.3
sun
Shows information related to the sun, commonly including sunrise and sunset times for a location.
moon
Provides moon-related data, such as the current moon phase and sometimes moonrise and moonset times.
solar
Displays broader solar information, which may include solar activity, daylight duration, or solar conditions relevant to radio or environmental monitoring.
hfcond
Shows high-frequency (HF) radio conditions, often used by radio operators to understand propagation quality and signal reliability.
satpass
Displays upcoming satellite passes over a given location, including times when a satellite will be visible or reachable. You need to include the satellites name for example: satpass ISS
Here is a list of list of common satellite name prefixes.
prefix
Shows or sets the command prefix used to trigger bot commands. The prefix is the character or symbol placed before a command so the bot knows it is being addressed.
path
Provides routing or network path information. This can help users understand how messages are traveling through the network or which nodes are involved. The path or hops displayed as the first 2 digits of the repeaters used to rout the message
sports – not verified
Returns sports-related information such as scores, schedules, or recent results, depending on configuration.
dice
Simulates rolling dice and returns a random result. Often used for games or casual interaction.
roll
Similar to dice, but may allow more control, such as specifying the number of dice or range of values.
sta – not verified
Shows status or station information, such as system health, node details, or operational metrics.