Mesh Network Kit
Benn Jordan did a recent video about how Meshtastic / Meshcore distributed communications networks work:
The kit in this document isn’t exactly what he uses, but it’s very similar.
The more of these we can set up around town, the more robust our local communications network will be.
Because these require a near-line-of-sight path to transceive signals, Ithaca’s hilly terrain presents a challenge here, particularly once you get downtown.
Parts
| Component | Model | Cost | Link | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LORA Board | RAKwireless Mini Meshtastic Starter Kit US915 RAK19003 + 4631 SKU 115093 | $29.41 | Rokland | The RAK starter kit that’s not the mini version works fine too, but the larger board has components that aren’t needed. |
| Solar Panel | 6W Solar Panel Charger | $15.97 | Amazon | Not ideal that it’s Amazon but they do have these inexpensive great solar panels. Goes on sale for about $10 periodically. Do not exceed 6W with a panel of you’ll fry your board and may start fires. |
| Antenna | ALFA AOA-915-5ACM 5 dbi Omni Outdoor 915MHz 802.11ah Mini LoRa Antenna | $17.97 | Rokland | Don’t skimp on the antenna. A good antenna makes a significant difference regarding range and signal-to-nose. |
| Battery | Samsung 35E 18650 3500mAh 8A Battery - Protected Button Top | $10.00 | IMR Batteries | Can use a different battery, just check the data sheet for the board you’re using (Mini board (19001), Regular board (19007)) Look at the info under “A suitable Li-Ion battery should have the following parameters as shown in the table below:” |
| Enclosure | 5.9”x3.9”x2.8 Waterproof Electrical Box, IP67 Junction Box | $14.99 | Amazon | If avoiding Amazon, you could check your local hardware or electrical supply store. Pelican cases and small ammo boxes could work, too. |
| Antenna Connector | UFL(IPEX/IPX) Mini PCI to N-Female Bulkhead Pigtail Cable Extension | $6.97 | Rokland | Needed to connect board to antenna. |
| Battery Case | Battery Holder for 18650 with JST PH Connector (Flat Spring Contact) JST 2.0 | $8.97 | Rokland | Make sure it’s JST 2.0 |
| Slide-on mounting brackets | Usually comes with the waterproof electrical boxes | |||
| Total cost | ~$110 |
Miscellaneous supplies
- JST 1.25mm 2 Pin connectors, to soldier to the solar panel’s wires.
- glue
- power drill & drill bits (step bits are useful)
- heat gun
- heat shrink tubing
Assembly Instructions
TK
However, I watched these videos and drew significantly from them. I followed this one most closely:
Didn’t use this process exactly, but it’s very useful to watch:
It looks like this (kinda) at the end– the enclosure I used for my first models like these were unnecessarily big, and the enclosure linked above is smaller.
