MeshTastic

Anyone using MeshTastic for LoRa messaging?

Here's a video describing how it works.

https://youtu.be/DumgHz56IjI

Seems like $50 should get you going and I'd see it as a way to stay in contact in a place like Death Valley. You can use messaging or as a way to locate other members of the group.

 

Was just about to ask the same question in an identical post.

 

I have, I have a couple of buddies we've been testing with our own solar nodes (RAK Wireless Wisblock) and different clients (Heltec V3, Heltec Wireless Tracker, RAK Wireless Wisblock and Lilygo T Beams).

So far so good, I'd love to get a set up for the Taco so it's easier for the signal to get out. Thus far my favorite is the T Beam I have in a 1010 Pelican case which I put on my dash whenever going out trying to see if I find new nodes.

 

I put a Group out on Groups IO for Arizona.
https://groups.io/g/Mesht-AZ-tic

Hoping we can get some more interest in TW though - seems like this group would really take to it.

My T-Echo ships in 19 days. F'ing AliExpress. Only place I could find them.

 

Oh man, I've been waiting to get a T Echo but haven't found them available anywhere.

Got a Heltec Wireless Tracker but the battery life is horrible (I have a 2000mAh battery on it). Doesn't last more than 9hrs.
Maybe the Heltec Wireless Tracker would be a better always in the car connected when I have the truck on, we'll see.

 

I’m late to the OP but my brother in law and I have been dabbling with Meshtastic from the beginning of the year or so.
Currently I have 4 devices, one is a stock lilygo T3S3 with a 3dprinted case that I keep as a connection from my phone to whatever node I want to look at.
One T3S3 is with my brother in law to verify his wisblock is working.
And I have 2 solar node prototypes currently.

solar node V2 will be deployed on a 40’ tilt mast in the next few weeks with a 40” 8.5DB gain antenna.
I’m also thinking of building a node for the truck.

I took the solar node V2 to work today and on lunch got intermittent contact with a router about 19 miles away.


V1


V2

 

That looks awesome!

I want to do this one next to make a node for the Taco:
https://www.printables.com/model/815769-enclosure-case-insert-for-rak-wisblock-meshtastic

 

Thoroughly excited about the good stuff coming out of this thread.

 

That’s pretty cool! I’m thinking I’m just gonna put a T3S3 behind the back seat in an enclosure and run a 3’ cable to an antenna mounted on the opposite side of the bed as my ham/gmrs antenna, I think I’ll see about .8DB loss with that setup.

 

Question....
I see a lot of these LoRa devices up on a pole - in the sun.
Left on a mountaintop in an ammo can - in the sun.
Mounted on a homes roof - in the sun.
Strapped to a roof rack on a truck - in the sun.
Mounted inside a truck - in the sun.

Are they not effected by heat? I would expect the tiny circuitry to kill off these devices pretty quick. If not the device, the battery.

 

I know that the PVC junction box in direct sun so far is only 7-10 degrees above ambient.
I haven’t seen any reports of devices overheating or failing due to heat on the forum or Facebook groups.

 

Put a wisblock in my solar node prototype for some more efficiency, and installed the 8.5DB antenna, slapped it on the fence and it’s performing well.
In my area it’s pretty flat, but lots of trees, I’m very surprised that at just a few feet above ground, in a bowl of sorts, that I’m getting 20+ miles, this makes me even more excited to get the node 40’ in the air on ground that is about 110’ ASL (just 20’ below where I am, and 80’ above my brother in laws house).

 

Just checking back in. Have been playing with it and learning.

 

Here is my latest addition to the list of devices:

 

HOLY COW! Love that display! That is useful intel right there. I hate the displays that show up on the T-Echo.. Might have to upgrade to one like that.

 

I didn’t realize they updated the T-deck firmware, gonna have to update mine.

 

It's still in the works, it's not even Beta but now we have a full stand alone device that once configured with the channels and settings you want. The T-Echo is still my everyday carry, the battery last enough for my everyday needs.

 

I just ordered a Wisblock starter kit.

 

I kinda like it. Also have a relay node at home tied to the local mesh, and some experimental nodes on medium slow (my region has some places with too much congestion and they want us to switch ... yeah no).

And yeah, the touch firmware is... very experimental, tbh. Neat though.

 

"New Deck, Who Dis?" - LOL!!!!