meshtastic

212 readers

2 users here now

Meshtastic® is a project that enables you to use inexpensive LoRa radios as a long range off-grid communication platform in areas without existing or reliable communications infrastructure. This project is 100% community driven and open source!

https://meshtastic.org/

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

J4g2F@lemmy.ml

New Router! (and questions) (lemmy.world)

submitted 11 months ago by ch00f@lemmy.world to c/meshtastic@lemmy.ml

7 comments fedilink hide all child comments

So just installed a rooftop relay based on a Rak wireless module. I can now reach over 120 nodes (around 20 “online”).

I guess my question now is…now what?

I come from ham radio, so I was hoping to make come connections and maybe have some conversations, but the best I got was a single reply to a CQ, but I got no response from my follow-up.

Does anybody actually have conversations over the general Meshtastic channel? Is it all encrypted channels? Or is nobody talking at all?

Is there any way to determine how much traffic my router is handling?

This is in Seattle, BTW.

top 7 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] Bocky@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Step 1, change it to client mode.

Nice install!

[–] ch00f@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

What’s wrong with router mode?

[–] Bocky@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

They said not to use it unless your node is mounted exceptionally high. They specifically said not to use router mode on roof or backyard tower nodes.

Router_client s being removed next release

https://github.com/meshtastic/firmware/releases/tag/v2.4.0.46d7b82

[–] ch00f@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

Oh. That’s interesting. I mean it’s on the roof on a hill with a view of all of downtown Seattle, but it’s not “exceptionally” high I guess.

[–] NotSpez@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

Same here. The difference is that I couldn't find any more nodes in my area. I think I will have to work with the community if that makes sense.

Im thinking that meshtastic should be build and used by local communities. Mqtt is nice, but defeats the purpose of an off grid mesh network. With that been said, I'm working on a project to automatically post information relevant to the community on the default channel. No spam, but maybe some weather alerts, and other services like that.

[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Are you earthing that pole anywhere that is not the radio cable?

I ask because when I was doing radio installations we would earth the radio/antenna to the pole and earth the pole to the roof. In the pic all I see is metal pole bolted into wood.

[–] ch00f@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

If your concern is lightning, we’re in a very low-lightning environment surrounded by taller trees.

I’ll probably run a ground cable down to the house’s ground post at some point.