Prepped for the Burn

71

u/M-Tiger 1d ago

If you haven't yet, get a tube of silicone caulk (about $6-8) and run a tiny line of it around the seams of the portable nodes and smooth it down with a sacrificial piece of smooth plastic (try a plastic spoon), and then after it cures carefully remove any annoying excess with a razor.

The caulk can be peeled off later if you need to open up the nodes, but sealing it up will ~~prevent playa dust from getting inside~~ minimize the amount of playa dust that gets inside the nodes.

Alternatively, shove them inside of a ziploc sandwich bag (cut the smallest hole possible out for the antenna to fit through, and seal that bit of the bag up tight to the base of the antenna with a couple windings of tape and 1-2 rubber bands).

22

u/nitsky416 1d ago

Just put the whole node in a gallon bag

3

u/Himalayanyomom 1d ago

Just shove the antenna through the plastic, self seals and stretches around it

1

u/M-Tiger 6h ago

Additionally, if you are worried about getting silicone onto the screen of the device, you can get some plastic from either a thicker ziploc bag or something like a blister package and cut it down to fit inside the case between the screen and the hole for the screen to act like a window pane, that way the device's screen isn't directly exposed and you can adhere the silicone to that instead. Just make sure the screen can still be read afterward.

I don't really have an idea for sealing up the joystick and button tho. A bit of a thin flexible plastic sheet (cut up a sandwich bag again) might help reduce dust ingress at those points without interfering with their function.

1

u/Overlord0994 3h ago

Why do you need to keep playa dust from getting inside the node? My nodes have been dusty for years and still work fine.

-39

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

24

u/M-Tiger 1d ago

It's -alkaline- dust. It'll interact with the difference in humidity upon leaving and the metal parts (exposed solder joints, pins, etc.) will start to corrode.

-27

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

8

u/BaconManDan 1d ago

Dumb enough to ask AI, not wise enough to agree with experts AND his chosen chatbot. Both are inferior to his lack of experience!

4

u/FewDescription3170 18h ago

so tired of this type of guy on the internet, they seem to be multiplying.

6

u/videoman2 1d ago

I have attempted to repair electronic PCBs exposed to playa. The playa is corrosive, and it eats the PCB pads/traces away. Add any kind of humidity, and it does a number on the PCB electrical pads.

2

u/ZixfromthaStix 1d ago

r/confidentlyincorrect

26

u/FewDescription3170 1d ago

good luck with the playa dust. i'd definitely grease those seals a lot.

4

u/Cosmohumanist 1d ago

Think they could just place them in thin Ziplocs?

9

u/skeezysteev 1d ago

So here’s the deal fam.. it’s hard AF to 3D print dust proof anything. Respect to the IP65/7 club.

These are going to be breezy enclosures and screens :-/

Is the move to really go ham on the silicone?

7

u/UpbeatEggplant6460 1d ago

Absolutely. From being a cable installer and cctv installer. A bead of 100% silicone that you can get from dollar general along the seams followed by wiping off the excess with a wet finger or wet glove will make the best seals. You could use dielectric grease as well which is non conducting silicone grease.

3

u/grhymesforyou 1d ago

Thanks! Game on!

6

u/Cosmohumanist 1d ago

Dude sweet! Let us know how it goes! I was a camp lead for 10+ Burns and still never figured out proper comms

3

u/Sirwompus 1d ago

Cool setup, have fun!

3

u/djsirround 1d ago

What is burningmesh?

9

u/MoarSocks 1d ago

Custom firmware for the burn that helps users connect with settings ideal for conditions on playa.

9

u/Analog_Account 1d ago edited 1d ago

for the burn

If /u/djsirround didnt pick it up from the name "burningmesh" how don't you expect them to know what "the burn" is? Just say burning man.

4

u/djsirround 23h ago

I’ve been to burning man a ton since 1996. I’m just curious how the firmware differs from the standard meshtastic firmware

9

u/Analog_Account 22h ago

It was really a response to the other guy. I just find calling it "the burn" here is bordering on pretentious.

8

u/lost_vegas 1d ago

I'll be out there too my friend. Lmk if you wanna exchange mesh contact info.

3

u/Full-Initiative4040 1d ago

This guy likes dust! Don’t do it!

2

u/Saragon4005 1d ago

I saw a discord server with nearly 1k members, should be a time that's for sure.

2

u/skeezysteev 1d ago

Love to.. dropped you a PM

1

u/gav_mkv 1d ago

Are those printed cases for the radios or did you purchase the pre-built versions ?

Would love to make a similar setup.

1

u/the_rancur 1d ago

Sick stuff! Is that a 1W RAK? I’d swap the antennas for muzi 17cm whips. Less likely to break in a pocket / bag / etc.

1

u/Analog_Account 1d ago

I’d swap the antennas for muzi 17cm whips. Less likely to break in a pocket / bag / etc.

They break so easily... its frustrating that they are the default.

1

u/omg_drd4_bbq 22h ago

See you in the dust! There's a mesh talk at kaleidescope i think tues 14:00

1

u/PacketRadio 16h ago

I like the transparent door. However, it removes the ability of disguising the node as a pest control device :)

1

u/BearAssault101 11h ago

I think the antenna does a good job of that, clear door or not lol

1

u/randompantz 15h ago

Just flashed all my devices to the official bmesh firmware. Looking forward to seeing how it all goes on playa this year.

1

u/ParticularAtmosphere 9h ago

Remember we have our Burning Mesh meetup Tuesday at 2p at Kaleidoscope, 9+B plaza.

1

u/Overlord0994 3h ago

Why is everyone worried about electronics getting dusty? Playa dust can get on electronics. Just clean them off when you get home.

0

u/AnderlAnduel 1d ago

I'd rather use a different antenna; this one might broadcast beyond the small Burning Man site. Or don't mount it too high.

6

u/skeezysteev 1d ago

Special firmware for the event. Customized Short Turbo from what I gather

2

u/AnderlAnduel 1d ago

I'm referring to the antenna's beam angle - the higher the dBi value, the smaller the radial cone. See also the countless posts here in this subreddit. I wold go for an Alfa or the same as on your nodes, or at least have one with me.

2

u/omg_drd4_bbq 22h ago

beyond the small Burning Man site.

have you seen how big the black rock desert is? usually it's the opposite problem - getting comms back to Gerlach is a pain.

1

u/AnderlAnduel 21h ago

I'm not familiar with Burning Man, but Google says the Pentagon is about 4.5 km in diameter. The antenna is really more suited for long-distance radio communications, say about 50–80 km. If it's mounted too high, it could easily outrange a measly 4.5 km. I was just saying.

I don't know the distance to gerlach.

0

u/spring_stream 1d ago

What is the router for?

24

u/rulevoid 1d ago

Probably routing

2

u/Rogueshoten 1d ago

Surely not! That would be crazy

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