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Stop Killing the Internet: Governments are walling off the open internet. We are a global movement opposing restrictions — and building a better internet. (www.stopkillingtheinternet.com)
submitted 4 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] 0 points 4 months ago (4 children)

I have. Threw an external antenna on my roof just peaking above the crest (HOA hasn't noticed yet). I Keep nodes set as router-late in my car so when I go driving I can see other people exist.

TBF, even when I'm out, I've never made contact on the mesh. There are a dozen meshtastic nodes here and there, best I can tell it's just a couple other hams, no real comms going on. Even the VHF Ham scene here is mostly dead.

My actual goal was to get a half-decent signal for my kids' bus route and school. The school is only a mile away, but it's not like i'm going to throw a $300 aprs radio in his bag, a $30 LoRa capsul though, sure!

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  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago (3 children)

    Have a look at both meshtastic and meshcore. You say you've already seen some meshtastic nodes, but a lot of people are moving to meshcore, and so you might have better luck there.

    Also, with your node antenna up at the crest of the house roof, I would think a mile should be doable to your kid's school.

    It may not work while they're in the building itself, but if they are outside, then I don't see why it wouldn't work.

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  • [–] 0 points 4 months ago (2 children)

    There is 0 meshcore anywhere near me. I drove heltek v3's around my beltway, nada.

    I would think a mile should be doable to your kid’s school.

    Nope, tried it, no radio line of site. it's a little hilly here and there's a shit ton of old-growth forrest in between.

    I've been trying to find a tree tall enough to repeat with clear solar from the south, that's not on someone's property, The only good options are in the middle of a swampy run.

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  • [–] 2 points 4 months ago (1 child)

    Ah, gotcha. Well in that case meshtastic is definitely your best bet for now and as for getting a node up into the tree I'm not sure unless you're willing to go swamp bogging

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  • [–] 0 points 4 months ago

    If I weren't so close to an airport, I'd do a tethered balloon. I do have a drone so i could lay paracord over a high branch and hoist it up if I had the gear to not get bit by something nasty. If I wasn't so worried about the cost. I could just strand a solar node up there with a long break-away line and just write it off when it needed batteries.

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