This is a fantastic hardware setup if you want to give #Meshtastic a try. I added up all the components and this is cheaper than assembling it yourself. These RAK boards will run for days on that battery, also.
I'd say this is buy once cry once for a Meshtastic node. I can't think of anything you'd add except maybe a better antenna, and those aren't super expensive.
https://store.rokland.com/collections/kits/products/wismesh-pocket
What antenna would you recommend?
I've been running some cheap Amazon ones that massively improved range. They appear to be a 1/2 wave. I did check them on a NanoVNA to make sure they're actually tuned for 915 MHz, though. One of my T-Beams came with one tuned for 433, so the VNA is probably a good tool to have around.
When I get a minute I want to build a little 1/4 wave ground plane to compare to these cheap antennas.
Nice. Thanks for the tips and info.
Cool! Jack posted this video about it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=40llxjrIG3w&feature=youtu.be
If I’m being explained to like I’m 5 years old, Is the idea that it’s basically a private text walkie talkie? If we could get, let’s say, at least one person every mile from each other, the text walkie talkie can skip over users much further away to the device you’re trying to reach? You just need a device for typing, like a phone or computer to pair with it?
But it seems not everyone can be on the same network right? Kinda like a group chat really? Still trying to picture current and future use cases.
You share an encryption key like with a group chat on a messenger. Each channel gets one. To join, you need the channel name and the key.
The best use case we see is for off-grid comms. Hurricanes are a thing here, and the power goes out for days or weeks.
I'm experimenting with motion sensors that broadcast to the channel, also. So the neighbors know your house is being burglarized. In this area that's like a hunting permit being issued.
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