The goal is reliable alternate communication channels, not tribalism. – ObstacleMan
202601179 - followed FEDF to Meshcore
20251230 - I moved my nodes here in Canutillo to MediumFast, slot 0 (ie, 45 for MediumFast). Same common key.
written comms for the win
I’ve always preferred time-shifted written comms to realtime comms like phone, chat, or meatspace conversations.1 And from a technical standpoint text is a lot more efficient than video, voice, fax, etc.
I ran a FidoNet BBS back in the day. I was interested in packet radio but got my ham Technician ticket too late – by then packet BBSes were basically extinct.
I keep hoping that smartphone-based mesh would take off because the devices are so prevalent, but no go. Briar, serval mesh, etc failed to thrive.
a wild viable (?) mesh appears
In the last year or so LoRa-based Meshtastic seems to have achieved critical mass. The devices are inexpensive and are not tied to Meshtastic. Meshcore appears to be more structured but with less adoption and fewer supported hardware types.
implementation
MC repeater - solar
I picked a solar powered, magnet mounted node built by etsy/eBay seller PeakMesh. It’s built around a RAK 4631 on a RAK19003 baseboard (NRF52) powered by an 18650 and ~1w of panel on an allegedly-MPPT control module.
Its crazy-strong neodymium magnets stick to easily to things and unstick only with intentional effort. At the moment it’s stuck to the outside of an east-facing steel door of my second-floor apartment.
It’s not clear to me what happens to charging at freezing temps; maybe the very low charging C rate will be OK. Having a replaceable 18650 makes it a simple swap if it gets wrecked. Might end up wiring in a NO thermal switch into one leg of the solar input that only closes at ≥4°C.
MC companion
- One Heltec v3 out of a two-pack. Playskool-aesthetic “L” cases and internal antennas. Using this because my favorite (e290, see below) is not supported on MC
not presently deployed on Meshcore
- Heltec E290 is not yet supported on Meshcore. I have fired it back up on Meshtastic longfast since it has a screen. I can see traffic on the e-ink screen and don’t have to monitor it with a client. I changed the role from
client mutetoclientsince my “repeater” node outdoors is on MC now. - a Heltec T114-based kit with case and 3Ah battery. Stock antenna replaced with one from Muzi. IMO the N36 case is an ugly duckling but it gets good reviews for feel and durability. And it holds a lot of battery.
- Rak Wishmesh Tag
MQTT
I sometimes use a non-mesh client (MQTT Connect) to participate in MQTT traffic.
- Meshtastic’s public MQTT server: msh/US/TX, Texas
- Meshtastic’s public MQTT server: msh/US/TX, LongFast (usual PSK)
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I have rather serious anxiety, social and otherwise. Anything that requires me to make a Normal and Appropriate response on the fly is likely to go down in flames. Part of the reason I boondock is to be away from other people; Sartre and all that. ↩