If you're just putting it out at some remote location you don't need those fancy expensive devices. You can get a stripped down SX1262/ESP32 combo for like $4 each. I hope it gets more popular so there are more stations online.
Thank you for tip on the SX1262/ESP32 combo. I am putting mine up at my house. I also bought a mag mount 915 mhz antenna for my car for testing as well.
I don't even know what a meshnet is, but I'm curious now! If I may make a suggestion, for casuals like me just strolling by, include a bit right up front about exactly what purpose this thing serves. I have no idea at the moment. lol
Very good point and certainly appreciate the feedback. This is the third video of the series and I suppose I need to make that clarification up front. Good point. In short, a mesh network is several devices “linking” together and relaying messages through each other allowing everyone in the group to be able to communicate together. Let me know if you had a chance to see the first video if you still have questions, send another message. Happy to help.
If you'd like to camouflage the antenna ... Well, around here, the most likely place in our vicinity that you'd probably be using a directional antenna is in the mountains. Maybe a local thrift store has a cheap artificial Christmas tree. Take a note from the attempts to camouflage cell towers and make it look like a tree ...
Thank you for your video. I will be using a omnidirectional 915mhz antenna strapped to the top of a 20 foot mast tripod mounted roof mounted and run the coax down into my second story window where my lilygo T-beam will reside inside out away from the harsh winter conditions.
I will say that at this high of frequency there is a lot of loss on the coax. If any way possible to add the unit outside in a weather proof box with the antenna mounted directly to it. Then run a power cord down. You will see better results if so. Certainly worth comparing
Look closely, there are two Chameleons there. Loop and the MPAS. Love my Chamelons. Will be doing some videos on them as well. Thanks for the great product
Build a black water tight box for the radio, and batteries with 2 sealed wire on for antenna, one for solar panel. As long as the box is in the sunlight it should keep the battery warmer. Add insulation and or make the box as small as possible to increase thermal resistance. Also if equipped with a solar panel you can build a tiny little heater inside that keeps it from dropping to low in temp.
Great pointers for the box. Painting black would certainly help giving thermal. I did look for a design with the small heater. There are some out there as well. Thanks so much for the feedback.
Another more NASA way of doing it would be to wrap the battery and devices in mylar which would reflect the heat back into the battery/device, and simultaneously block it from radiation outside. I.e. solar flares, c.m.e and idk maybe e.m.p to some degree. Point is it's what the space industry uses to protect things in space, so maybe there is something there too?
Hey there! A few questions. Is the usb a type c one? You said that on the video but in the video I saw you changing the cable orientation so I thought it might not be a type c one. Also I wanted to ask if you can power the system by usb only (without the battery) and if you can charge the battery from the usb while it's inserted in. Thank you!
The record is around 100 miles but this is all based on line of sight. We have a mesh here and are reaching 5 miles between the base stations but in between is some dead zones due to hills.
How about burying the lithium ion cells in the ground and account for voltage drop with a little buck converter at the transceiver? Or give it a Styrofoam body and a little self heating wire and thermostat, again account for the greater energy use with more cells.
I thought about hiding the radio in pvc buried a little. Could help with temps. The only issue for me on that is the length of antenna coax would be longer. That would then introduce loss of strength then. So I think an insulated option would certainly be a good idea as well. Thanks for the feedback. More on the way
@@Disastercommunications wouldn't the electronics be fine in cold, with the batteries being the only part that can't handle charging at low temps, and having less usable capacity at low temps? If you just protected the battery, you could have a long set of wires to charge and discharge, and not need to worry about long coax.
That is true. You would want to beef up the power cables to something a little more durable. I know squirrels sometimes like to chew through wires in the past. But the main issue is the cold temp charge (and high temp also) of the LiPo4s
@@Disastercommunications This topic is near and dear to me. A group of us do trail work (and occasionally rescues) in an area of extreme terrain, deep valleys, and almost no cell signal. Doing homework on how we could leave a vehicle at the trailhead (with a meshtastic router using someone's phone as a gateway) and emplacing repeaters within the park. A deep-cycle 6V battery in an ammo can, with enough solar panel to charge it in almost any sunlight, might suffice. Obviously you'd want to keep a close control on humidity within the sealed parts of the device.
Before installing something outside on roof, I plan to add a node in upstairs 2nd floor bedroom in window. Do you think window glass or non metallic screen will block 915mhz RF signal?
I don’t feel it would enough to even notice. I have seen some people 3d print suction cup type holders to mount right to the glass even. Keep us posted.
If you're just putting it out at some remote location you don't need those fancy expensive devices. You can get a stripped down SX1262/ESP32 combo for like $4 each.
I hope it gets more popular so there are more stations online.
My most recent boards are the heltec. They were like $25 a piece. Enjoying the low cost.
Thank you for tip on the SX1262/ESP32 combo. I am putting mine up at my house. I also bought a mag mount 915 mhz antenna for my car for testing as well.
I don't even know what a meshnet is, but I'm curious now! If I may make a suggestion, for casuals like me just strolling by, include a bit right up front about exactly what purpose this thing serves. I have no idea at the moment. lol
Very good point and certainly appreciate the feedback. This is the third video of the series and I suppose I need to make that clarification up front. Good point. In short, a mesh network is several devices “linking” together and relaying messages through each other allowing everyone in the group to be able to communicate together. Let me know if you had a chance to see the first video if you still have questions, send another message. Happy to help.
Google Meshtastic and start from there… beware it’s a fun rabbit hole
If you'd like to camouflage the antenna ... Well, around here, the most likely place in our vicinity that you'd probably be using a directional antenna is in the mountains. Maybe a local thrift store has a cheap artificial Christmas tree. Take a note from the attempts to camouflage cell towers and make it look like a tree ...
Good point. Make sure it is the metal free branches. Good idea for sure. I may try this
Thank you for your video. I will be using a omnidirectional 915mhz antenna strapped to the top of a 20 foot mast tripod mounted roof mounted and run the coax down into my second story window where my lilygo T-beam will reside inside out away from the harsh winter conditions.
I will say that at this high of frequency there is a lot of loss on the coax. If any way possible to add the unit outside in a weather proof box with the antenna mounted directly to it. Then run a power cord down. You will see better results if so. Certainly worth comparing
@@Disastercommunications You may be right however I run some tests using low loss coax.
@@Disastercommunications Have you tried using an amplifier? I think boosts to 5 watts.
Very nice CHA F-LOOP 2.0 PLUS at the back! 👌👌👌
Look closely, there are two Chameleons there. Loop and the MPAS. Love my Chamelons. Will be doing some videos on them as well. Thanks for the great product
Build a black water tight box for the radio, and batteries with 2 sealed wire on for antenna, one for solar panel. As long as the box is in the sunlight it should keep the battery warmer. Add insulation and or make the box as small as possible to increase thermal resistance. Also if equipped with a solar panel you can build a tiny little heater inside that keeps it from dropping to low in temp.
Great pointers for the box. Painting black would certainly help giving thermal. I did look for a design with the small heater. There are some out there as well. Thanks so much for the feedback.
Another more NASA way of doing it would be to wrap the battery and devices in mylar which would reflect the heat back into the battery/device, and simultaneously block it from radiation outside. I.e. solar flares, c.m.e and idk maybe e.m.p to some degree. Point is it's what the space industry uses to protect things in space, so maybe there is something there too?
What you pointed out as the bluetooth antenna is actually the GPS antenna.
Good catch. You’re 100% correct and not sure why I said that lol. Thanks for the correction.
Poor antenna getting messed up with tape lol
lol. In my defense it never complained lol. Thanks for watching.
Hey there! A few questions. Is the usb a type c one? You said that on the video but in the video I saw you changing the cable orientation so I thought it might not be a type c one. Also I wanted to ask if you can power the system by usb only (without the battery) and if you can charge the battery from the usb while it's inserted in. Thank you!
So the t-beam is not a usb-c but a micro usb. Also, you can charge the battery from the usb and it will run without the battery as well.
Im new to hearing about mesh communication whats that range on these things ?
The record is around 100 miles but this is all based on line of sight. We have a mesh here and are reaching 5 miles between the base stations but in between is some dead zones due to hills.
Seen your IG and I'm definitely interested thanks for sharing.
Awesome thank you! Thanks for watching and feel free to sub as I’ll be adding more. Thanks again
How about burying the lithium ion cells in the ground and account for voltage drop with a little buck converter at the transceiver?
Or give it a Styrofoam body and a little self heating wire and thermostat, again account for the greater energy use with more cells.
I thought about hiding the radio in pvc buried a little. Could help with temps. The only issue for me on that is the length of antenna coax would be longer. That would then introduce loss of strength then. So I think an insulated option would certainly be a good idea as well. Thanks for the feedback. More on the way
@@Disastercommunications wouldn't the electronics be fine in cold, with the batteries being the only part that can't handle charging at low temps, and having less usable capacity at low temps?
If you just protected the battery, you could have a long set of wires to charge and discharge, and not need to worry about long coax.
That is true. You would want to beef up the power cables to something a little more durable. I know squirrels sometimes like to chew through wires in the past. But the main issue is the cold temp charge (and high temp also) of the LiPo4s
@@Disastercommunications This topic is near and dear to me. A group of us do trail work (and occasionally rescues) in an area of extreme terrain, deep valleys, and almost no cell signal. Doing homework on how we could leave a vehicle at the trailhead (with a meshtastic router using someone's phone as a gateway) and emplacing repeaters within the park. A deep-cycle 6V battery in an ammo can, with enough solar panel to charge it in almost any sunlight, might suffice. Obviously you'd want to keep a close control on humidity within the sealed parts of the device.
There is different versions on these tbeams, which one to buy?
I would use only equipment listed on the meshtastic.org website.
Before installing something outside on roof, I plan to add a node in upstairs 2nd floor bedroom in window. Do you think window glass or non metallic screen will block 915mhz RF signal?
I don’t feel it would enough to even notice. I have seen some people 3d print suction cup type holders to mount right to the glass even. Keep us posted.
Thank you for the video
Thanks for watching.
Great video. What was the gain on the yagi?
It has been a while since I purchased it but I think it was around 5db. I have a much larger one that is a 15db as well
Bulkhead... It does not mean bulk head, and should not be pronounced that way. It's a generic term for a wall or any flat separator panel.
Thanks for the clarification
👏 Promo'SM
Thank you