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.