# Using password for RNodeInterface?

_Help · started by oliverg on Mon, Oct 12, 2026 8:14 PM_

Tags: Question, RNode, Help

---

## Original post

**oliverg** · Mon, Oct 12, 2026 8:14 PM

Hi,

I have flashed a Heltec V4 board with RNode firmware, configured it for Wifi ("rnodeconf /dev/ttyACM0 --wifi STATION --ssid my_open_hotspot"), and configured rnsd on a computer to use an interface with type=RNodeInterface and port=tcp://<Heltec IP> . This works well - nice!

But the Wifi hotspot is public (no password), and there may be other people connected to it. My understanding is that anyone could use this Heltec device on their own (and I guess only one rnsd instance can use the Heltec at a time?). Is there a way to protect TCP access to the Heltec by some password or key, so that not everyone can connect their rnsd to it?
It's probably not a big risk :-) but it feels weird to have a completely open device on an open network.

Thanks, and thanks for building Reticulum!
Oliver

---

## Reply 1

**burger** · Wed, Oct 14, 2026 8:02 PM

The antenna on that thing is not good.
People wont probably see it at all

---

## Reply 2

**burger** · Wed, Oct 14, 2026 8:03 PM

have you tried appending --psk "password" to it?

---