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Matthew Murphy (KF5NRU) and I traded emails, texts, and then a phone call following the recent discussion here on the forum. Matt turned me onto this fun real-world Meshtastic range test video (T-Beam repeater + basic T-LoRa nodes):
Real World Meshtastic Range Test – I’m not as funny as I think I am, I know. (video below)
The guy only gets about a mile in typical conditions with stock-ish setups. I found it mildly entertaining — it clearly shows the limitations (terrain, antennas, power), but it also proves the concept works for basic off-grid texting. I continue to believe Meshtastic is a highly viable low-cost entry point for LoRa EMCOMM experimentation. And regarding his range experience, I will soon post some range modeling I have been doing.
Anyway, if you’re into tinkering, these cheap LoRa boards are great for playing with mesh networking, repeaters, and EMCOMM ideas (even though it’s actually 915 MHz LoRa). Just flash the Meshtastic firmware, pair via Bluetooth to your phone, and you’re texting off-grid.
For better performance out of the box, here’s a good contrast: this solar-powered ThinkNode M6 repeater (higher power, built-in GPS, battery + solar panel). It’s more turnkey for remote/off-grid nodes versus rolling your own. After doing a lot of research, the M6 is what I’m advocating for a local mesh grid. I have one on the way and I’m working on an implementation plan, so if you want to be an early adopter, that’s the direction I am going.
This stuff is interoperable, so even if I go with the M6 and advocate for them for a robust regional network, whatever you buy should work with it. Having some of us on the same hardware will just make it easier to share notes and transferable knowledge.
I am also getting feedback from people through other channels who aren’t posting here, so I’m writing these posts with the lurkers in mind too.
Is anyone here experimenting with this stuff? Does anyone have antenna upgrades, solar setups, or range tests to share? I encourage anyone who wants to go the DIY route to jump in — it all contributes to local mesh resilience.
73
Phillip Beall (W5EBC)