Meshtastic

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Seeking advice for a "repeater" node (beehaw.org)

submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by apotheotic@beehaw.org to c/meshtastic@mander.xyz

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Hey folks, I'm totally new to the whole meshtastic thing, but I checked the coverage in my area and it is basically nonexistent. I'm not primarily interested in using meshtastic myself but I am super into the idea of deploying my own ~~repeater~~ node to expand coverage here for the folks who may want to use it or need to use it.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Ideally it would be solar powered and waterproof so it can be self sufficient out in the elements and just do its thing. Bonus points if it can be used from my phone via bluetooth so I can fiddle around with meshtastic as a user instead of just an extra node in the mesh.

I don't have access to a 3d printer or soldering tools, so I understand that limits the options

Edited to remove use of "repeater" as this has a defined meaning in meshtastic.

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[–] KryptonNerd@slrpnk.net 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The SeedStudio SenseCAP Solar Node P1-pro (https://www.seeedstudio.com/SenseCAP-Solar-Node-P1-Pro-for-Meshtastic-LoRa-p-6412.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqytb61VMvplLkl4N7dTEDUw2kI7AajazQd9-dAtB8ovYq1EHMj) seems like it might suit your needs. Although it is quite expensive.

[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I had been looking at this one, but worried if this was a noob trap. I may give it a go.

[–] linuxguy@lemmy.gregw.us 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

What you get for the price seems pretty reasonable. You don't need the GPS for a static node though; it'd just drain the battery faster.

Edit: meshtastic firmware moves quickly. Having a solar node way up high and hard to reach is cool and all but having one accessible for firmware updates would probably be better.

[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Surely you can do OTA updates? :< noted about accessibility regardless, there's always things that go wrong

[–] linuxguy@lemmy.gregw.us 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Nope, OTA isn't yet a thing with meshtastic

[–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 days ago

I think it may be. The Android app definitely has the ability to do it, although they definitely say to have access to it in case it goes wrong.