Frequently Asked Questions

How do I update my Stargate?

Every time your ESP32 starts up, it automatically checks whether a new firmware version is available. You don't need to do anything except click Update if prompted. Once the update is complete, the ESP32 will reboot automatically.

What is the SG1_basic gate?

The SG1_basic is a minimalist version of the SG-1 Stargate. Like the off-world gates seen in the series, the ring does not rotate. Instead, it only features LEDs for the chevrons and the event horizon.

It was originally designed while working on a version with a rotating glyph ring, but it also serves as a way to test compatibility between 36-glyph and 39-glyph Stargates.

Can a 36-glyph Stargate dial a 39-glyph Stargate?

Yes. By default, all addresses are assigned using only the first 36 glyphs, ensuring compatibility between every Stargate.

On SG-1 (or any other 39-glyph Stargate), you'll be able to enable an option to use the three additional glyphs in addresses. If this option is enabled, 36-glyph Stargates will no longer be able to dial that gate.

What's the difference between 7, 8, and 9-symbol addresses?

• 7 symbols: dials within the same cluster — a shared namespace like "Pegasus", or any custom cluster name you set. Only gates in that same cluster can be reached.
• 8 symbols: dials globally, independent of cluster — reaches any gate on the network regardless of which cluster it belongs to.
• 9 symbols: also a precise, global address, functionally close to 8 symbols — it's mostly there for the lore (9-chevron addresses are the "prestige" long-distance dial in the show).

I don't like the XP system. Can I unlock everything or reset my progress?

Yes! You can use the following cheat codes by dialing these addresses:

• Unlock everything: 24 4 19 9 5 6 11
• Reset XP (back to Level 1): 6 10 12 15 18 5 14 7

What is the Midway Station?

The Midway Station is a shared communication space that works like a public chat room.

Dial the following address to join it: 18 10 20 25 13 1 5 12

What is the Solar Flare event?

A solar flare mimics the eruptions seen in the show: whatever you send through gets displaced in time and space. Dial 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 and the wormhole opens normally — but it only holds for 3 minutes, and anything you send is redirected to a random online gate, delivered anywhere from 5 minutes to a few days later.

This works for naquadah too — send some through the "Send Naquadah" button while connected to a flare, and it'll land in a random gate's balance once it arrives, not necessarily yours.

There's also a small chance that any normal dial gets caught in a flare instead of reaching its intended target — you'll know it happened if your log shows a solar flare warning.

What is Naquadah, and how do I earn it?

Naquadah is a resource your gate slowly refines just by staying online and connected to the network — the longer your uptime streak runs, the faster you earn it. Your balance and total lifetime earnings are visible on your own DHD, and on the public leaderboard.

You spend it at the Trading Post, and can send it directly to whoever you're connected to with the "Send Naquadah" button.

What can I buy at the Trading Post?

Dial 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 and a menu appears in your message log. On offer: cosmetic skins, a gate address (usually another player's — occasionally a hidden naquadah deposit scattered somewhere on the network), a supply cartridge (a gamble: naquadah, XP, a skin, an EMP charge, or a breach that costs you some naquadah), EMP charges, Distress Signal charges, and naquadah boosters (temporarily boost your own earning rate, your whole cluster's, or the entire network's).

EMP and Distress Signal charges are stored on your gate and used later from their own dedicated buttons — no need to dial the Trading Post again each time.

What is P3W-451?

A gate trapped in a black hole's gravity well. Dial 20 5 35 26 25 34 30 and the wormhole opens normally — but it won't disengage on its own.

You'll need to either cut power to your gate, or discharge an EMP charge (bought at the Trading Post) from the dedicated button to break free — doing the latter successfully rewards you with a burst of XP.

What is the Naquadah Breeder?

Dial 2 3 5 7 11 13 17. Deposit up to 200 naquadah, and it grows over time — +5% every 6 hours, up to double.

The catch: anyone who dials in, including someone else entirely, can claim whatever's sitting in there right then. Only deposit what you're willing to risk someone else reaching first.

What is the Tok'ra Tunnel?

Dial 11 36 25 33 14 18 29 — an asynchronous message drop. You'll always receive the last message someone left there, and you can leave your own in return, rewarded with a small amount of naquadah (once per hour per gate).

What is P3X-584?

A temporal capsule. Dial 21 15 14 7 29 35 1, pick a delay in hours, then send yourself messages or naquadah through it. Everything comes back to your own gate once the delay passes — even if you're offline when it's due, it waits for you to reconnect.

How can I make my Stargate address public?

From the web interface, you can choose to make your Stargate address public and assign it a public name.

Your Stargate will then appear on the public directory. You can also choose whether the listing shows your global 8-chevron address, or your 7-chevron address plus your cluster name.

Your address remains listed whether your Stargate is online or offline. If you no longer want it to appear, simply uncheck the Public option in the web interface.

Can I order you a gate?

Depends on the moment — sometimes yes, sometimes not. Easiest is just to ask on the Discord.

Can I assemble a gate without giving you any money?

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Yes, because you can still create your own MQTT broker for free and connect Stargates to it — but you won't be able to connect to the whole network, more like a LAN.

The voluntary donation to join the official network is kept close to nothing — it allows gates to share their addresses publicly on the website, pays for the dedicated server that lets them communicate, and funds future features (physical DHD, new Stargate models...). If you want to support the project, you can do so at buymeacoffee.com/opengateproject!

How do I place the glyph ring correctly?

There are 2 ways to dial:

• Canonical mode: lights up the symbol under the chevron — the position of the glyph ring doesn't matter.
• Alternative mode: lights up the selected glyph directly — if you want your glyph ring to be perfectly aligned, you need to put the Earth symbol at the 8th position.

If your gate is already assembled and your glyph ring isn't correctly placed, you can use the calibration tool to correct this.