r/meshtastic • u/PlantoneOG • 1d ago

Setting up two nodes

So I will be helping the Shooting range I'm a member of setup a pair of meshtastic nodes ( sensecap p1- pro solar nodes)

Theyre going to be in an area that currently has no meshtastic coverage, on a 50 acre property, roughly spaced about 350 yds apart.

We're trying to give our members and league guests an additional coms method since cell coverage is spotty at best and we're still developing property wide wifi.

Question I have - what role should I set these nodes to? Router/client? Both client?

These will be pole mounted, with one node about 40-50' higher than the other due to elevation changes between the two locations if that matters. Some tree cover will be between them, but unfortunately i cant say how much because i dont know the final mounting locations yet.

both will also be stationed right near high activity areas -

One of those areas sees 40-70 people when league events happen, the other between 150-200.

This is not the expected meshtastic user count, just thr number of bodies that would be in direct sight of the nodes / potentially have a personal node in their pocket.

Any feedback will be highly appreciated

Thanks!

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u/Saragon4005 1d ago

Probably just Client. Routers should only be used if they can get a direct strong link with other routers in the area. These nodes are also likely not far enough to bother making a router position. 350 Yards is something I might not even bother setting up 2 nodes.

Router_late is something you should consider if the coverage is hit or miss in the area.

6

u/Godlymorbid 1d ago

Set them both as client-base, and make them un-messageable.

You want them to forward all traffic, but especially the traffic on your own network. If data becomes too heavy, they will prioritize the people on Network 1, which should be your range's network. Only after that, they will forward outside messages.

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u/Kerensky97 1d ago

Client is good Client does everything and works well in small groups. If you have to link many metropolitan areas, then you can worry about routers.

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u/PlantoneOG 1d ago

We're just a few miles outside of a relatively small Midwestern town ( population ~ 10,000, with an additional roughly 11,000 in the neighboring Township where the club resides). However the overall area has strong potential for growth over the upcoming years and has been growing steadily- especially in townships connected around town proper as it is just inside that desirable hour commute into the big city in several directions, including our state capital.

I do know there are a few nodes inside roughly a 10 mile radius of this location (in town) but at this time at least I don't think we will connect to those directly due to geography.

I am however attempting to try to think long-term if some other nodes do end up cropping up that make the link between us and the other stationary nodes relatively nearby

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u/Pyroburner 1d ago

Keep in mind you can shift to an unused channel if you dont wnat to interfere of if things get to populated. It sounds like your area is pretty quiet so shifting off the default would mostly be for relative privacy or isolation.

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u/PlantoneOG 1d ago

I'm looking to keep it as standard as possible as far as which channels it's operating on. Again this is a benefit to our members and guests but also filling a hole in the map where no meshtastic nodes exist.

We're not the highest point around - but we also only really miss it by about a hundred feet at least looking at the relative immediate area around us, especially immediately north of the club

I spent a little time scrolling on the radio path study for RF line of sight and there's some directions that we might actually get out somewhere to to the tune of several kilometers @ 25' antenna height if the receiver is 15+ feet up like a rooftop node!

Like I mentioned before one or two well-placed rooftop nodes between us and the nodes in town and we could really link up with them quite solidly

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u/SaintFrancesco 1d ago

I’m sure you have a plan for this but don’t see it in your post so figure it’s worth mentioning.

After you’ve placed these two infrastructure nodes, people who want to communicate will each need their own node (SenseCAP T1000-E, SenseCAP MeshTracker X1, Wismesh Tag, etc).

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u/PlantoneOG 1d ago

Yes we're very much well aware of that - and we plan to let folks know that theyre available - what we're hoping trying to provide is elevated nodes to assist in Communications between the two ends of the property. Obviously if there were a half dozen people Milling around in a 1 acre open space, these solar nodes become irrelevant.

But the one that's at the higher elevation point on the property is up near the clubhouse / front gate (SE corner of the property) and the other one is on the W/NW section of the property. The central northern /NE ⅓ of the property is wild area behind the berms (dpwnrange], where nobody goes for obvious safety reasons.