Just received my first meshtastic device. Unfortunately, as I expected, I couldn’t connect to another node from home. Drove to the top of the skiing hill by my house, and was super excited to see nodes pop up. Tried DMing the closest one, but I didn’t have much time to stick around for the response. Thinking about asking the general manager of the ski resort permission to put a router on top of the mountain (if I’m wrong about the mode, let me know, but seems router would be best fit). Does anyone have recommendations for outdoor solar panel ready-to-go kits?
Text in LongFast. People often don’t respond to DMs.
That was the first thing I did. Sadly no replies there either.
Router may be best for on top of that mountain as you mentioned, but instead I would put it in client mode, at least at first, and coordinate with the other people on your mesh to make sure that a router would be useful there.
You can set up remote administration so that you can change it from client to router mode remotely, if need be.
No rec about solar but I’ve seen cheap ones from Seeed. RAK also has em but they cost more. I have a small solar node from RAK but it was a bit expensive. Supremely made but expensive. I use it on my balcony.
What are the uses for these? Is it talking to someone you know or more like CB radio where you talk to the public?
It’s kinda both. There’s a common channel that everyone hears. Then there’s encrypted direct comm between any two radios. Then there’s privately encrypted channels for your own groups.
I just got my first unit in the mail the other day. I briefly connected to another node, but not long enough to try to contact them. It must have been someone driving though because I haven’t connected again. I’ve only used it at home indoors at this point. I am going to try taking it for a walk around or when I’m out driving.
The whole mesh network thing seems very cool, but I am just not really sure what I would use it for. Given it seems really cheap, I might get some device anyway, but just wondering if anyone actually has more of a use case outside of messaging random nodes?
Off the grid item/child/dog tracker
There are a lot of areas around me that do not have cellular coverage. Also, nice to have a fall back plan if shit hits the fan.
It isn’t a kit, but I bought one of these from Etsy six months ago and it’s been working perfectly. It’s mounted on the house of a friend who lives at the top of the highest ridge in my area. I went from seeing my three nodes to seeing close to a hundred.
Also, for people asking about use cases, Meshtastic doesn’t do anything you can’t do better with a phone. Aside from fun, it’s great for at least two scenarios. If your local cell towers stop working (natural disasters, power outages, etc.) the mesh provides emergency communication. If you’re going to a protest or other event where you would prefer not to be tracked or monitored, Meshtastic is far less likely to attract official attention than a phone.
I bought one of these from Etsy six months ago and it’s been working perfectly.
Glad to hear it. I bought the smaller variant (1 panel, 18650) a couple days ago. I’m traveling so it’ll take another couple weeks to catch up with me through my mail forwarder.
it’s great for at least two scenarios. If your local cell towers stop working
A related scenario: if there wasn’t cell coverage at a location at all. Boondockers sometimes camp in areas with no cell coverage, or coverage that only works with cell boosters or LTE/5G routers with external antennas on the roof of their rigs.
If you’re going to a protest or other event where you would prefer not to be tracked or monitored
Given the state of play in the U.S. I wouldn’t blame them…
