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Mesh Network Recon

Mesh Recon scans for 802.15.4 mesh networks – the wireless protocol used by Zigbee, Thread, and Matter smart home devices. This is a separate radio standard from WiFi and Bluetooth, operating on its own set of channels (11 through 26).

How to Use

  1. Navigate to the Mesh Recon feature in the app
  2. Start the scan – the device sweeps through all 802.15.4 channels (11-26)
  3. Discovered networks and devices appear in the results as they are found

What You Will See

Each discovered device and network provides the following details:

  • PAN ID – The Personal Area Network identifier. Each mesh network has a unique PAN ID that groups its member devices together
  • Device address – Either a short 16-bit address or an extended 64-bit address, depending on what the device advertises
  • Device role – The function of the device within the mesh:
    • Coordinator – The central hub that formed the network
    • Router – A relay device that forwards messages between other nodes
    • End Device – A leaf node such as a sensor, light, or switch that does not relay traffic
  • Protocol – The identified protocol: Zigbee, Thread, or Matter
  • Packet count – The number of packets observed from each device
  • Operating channel – Which 802.15.4 channel the network is using

Network Topology View

Mesh Recon includes a visual topology diagram that maps how devices in a network are connected to each other.

  • Tree layout – Devices are arranged in a hierarchy showing parent-child relationships within the mesh
  • Color-coded roles – Coordinators, routers, and end devices are each shown in a distinct color for easy identification
  • Interactive – Drag to pan around the topology and pinch to zoom in or out
  • Tap for details – Tap any device node in the diagram to view its full details

The topology view is especially useful for understanding the structure of a smart home network at a glance – which device is the coordinator, which devices relay traffic, and how end devices connect through the mesh.

Use Cases

  • Discover IoT devices – Find all mesh-connected smart home devices in range, even ones that do not appear on WiFi or Bluetooth scans
  • Map mesh topology – Understand how a smart home network is structured and identify potential single points of failure
  • Identify protocols – Determine whether devices are using Zigbee, Thread, or Matter, which is useful when assessing interoperability or planning network changes
  • Security assessment – Evaluate the mesh network’s structure and identify devices that may be improperly configured or exposed