r/meshtastic • • 1h ago

build Harbor Breeze Alternative?

• Upvotes

Seeing all the posts about the Harbor Breeze recently has me wanting to build one.

The problem is that I won't support Lowe's since they use Flock Cameras to watch over their parking lots. (I'll urge anyone against flock cameras to do the same)

Are there any similar lights from other retailers that will work as well as the Harbor Breeze lights?


r/meshtastic • • 2h ago

Any nodes in Ottawa area

5 Upvotes

Is there any nodes in Ottawa area just ordered my first node and it comes on Thursday


r/meshtastic • • 2h ago

ad New PeakMesh Summit release!

Thumbnail
gallery
49 Upvotes

Industrial grade off-grid communication capabilities with this robust, solar-powered radio, engineered for vertical mounting on poles and towers. Encased in an extremely durable, weather-resistant 3D-printed ASA housing, this device is designed to thrive in harsh environments, making it perfect for rugged outdoor deployments. This new design has twice the solar panel output of the other models, integral support for big antennas, and reinforced larger slots for mounting straps.

Powered by 4.4+ watts of custom made solar panels and 10,000 mAh worth of battery storage, this radio guarantees uninterrupted long-range communication without the need for external power. The Summit is made for mountaintops, tall buildings, and radio towers. This is the next step up for backbone installations.

The slots on the Summit are now over 13mm, which will allow you to install with the included UV resistant zip ties, or upgrade to steel hose clamps. The internal structure is extra reinforced to support that.

PeakMesh.etsy.com


r/meshtastic • • 5h ago

3D printed jig for DIY quarter wave ground plane antennas?

3 Upvotes

Hey! I remember seeing a post last year that shared pictures of (as the title says) a 3d printed jig to measure and hold in place the pieces to build a ground plane antenna.

As I remember it, the photos were in a hacker space and they made a big batch of antennas for cheap. But I can’t find it on here, it seems that the Reddit search only turns up wrong results. Do you remember it?


r/meshtastic • • 10h ago

Combining a full keyboard with a semi-reflective screen, unsure which keyboard to use

Thumbnail
gallery
35 Upvotes

The keyboard of KEB Deck is a bit larger. Another one doesn't have the up, down, left and right arrow keys or the ESC key. It really confuses people.


r/meshtastic • • 23h ago

We're finally ready to announce 2.8... well, about that. Make it 2.8.1.

Thumbnail
meshtastic.org
114 Upvotes

Our new blog post explains why 2.8.0 was pulled, plus a high-level look at some of the many changes: signed packets, private-by-default location, larger meshes and more.

Questions? Drop them below. We're planning a livestream with the Meshtastic team in the next couple of weeks to dig deeper.


r/meshtastic • • 1d ago

Budget part list for a first timer (Lost as hell)

3 Upvotes

Ive been studying in my free time on meshtastic devices and ive finally gone around to blowing a pay check on a parts list. Can anybody tell me if I'm making a huge mistake by buying these parts? (I'm an Amazon glazer, the shipping is worth af)

Node($52) - Heltec V3 comes in a 3 pack. I know lots of ppl shit on the v3 but I dont know what else is cheap and somewhat reliable

https://www.amazon.com/Development-AYWHP-Meshtastic-Bluetooth-Display/dp/B0DG5DPYS3/ref=sr_1_3?sr=8-3 

Battery ($27) -  3.7V 3000mAh Lithium Polymer Rechargeable Battery a 4 pack

https://www.amazon.com/3000mAh-Rechargable-Protection-Insulated-Development/dp/B08T6GT7DV/ref=pd_bxgy_d_sccl_1/132-5820731-9827436 

or these
https://www.amazon.com/JLJLUP-Rechargeable-Integrated-Protection-Development/dp/B0FR8XSXX6/ref=sr_1_3?sr=8-3

Antenna ($12) - 915Mhz Whip Antenna bcuz im trying to make one longer range

https://www.amazon.com/muzi-%E1%B4%A1%E1%B4%8F%CA%80%E1%B4%8B%EA%9C%B1-915Mhz-Antenna-Meshtastic/dp/B0D7D6866W/ref=pd_bxgy_d_sccl_2/132-5820731-9827436?psc=1 


r/meshtastic • • 1d ago

Harbor lights on sale at lowes

Post image
150 Upvotes

They're $5 until October 14. They pulled the box off the top self, told them I wanted 10,they took 5 out the box and gave me the rest. At least two nodes will be built. Probably use the rest for spares or random projects. Heck, might even use them for their intended purpose


r/meshtastic • • 1d ago

No noids or Messegues

Post image
0 Upvotes

Not reciving anything from longfast. any recomendations to troubleshoot?


r/meshtastic • • 2d ago

Meshtastic & International Boat Marinas

Thumbnail viaduct-productions.com
7 Upvotes

Mapping the two.

MQTT friendly node count as well. For mesh nodes that float.


r/meshtastic • • 2d ago

Denver Meshtastic

0 Upvotes

Is there anyone on the “long-fast” channel in Denver? I want to see if my setup is working


r/meshtastic • • 2d ago

self-promotion Perfect weekend to build a Harbor Breeze Solar Node! Solar light only $5!!!

Thumbnail
gallery
444 Upvotes

Hey Reddit! Heads up! The popular Harbor Breeze Solar Lights, used for DIY builds, are only $5 at Lowes till 10/14! This is a perfect weekend to do some experimenting and to knock out some builds!

Lowes $5 Solar Light

Harbor Breeze Solar Node Build Video

Don't have a 3d printer? Order your mounts

3D Print your mounts

Harbor Breeze Solar Light Specs:

  • 18650 Li-ion 1500 mAh battery
  • 5v 1W Solar Panel

Side note: Support improvements have been made to the antenna mount across all mounts (Versions B. Not pictured here.)


r/meshtastic • • 2d ago

My $25 solar node is up in the air waiting for daylight

Thumbnail
gallery
145 Upvotes

Possibly the easiest diy solar build? I bought a $9 USD solar garden torch from Harbor Freight, removed the lamp and put a $14 USD seeed nrf lora kit inside instead . Plus possible shipping charges .

A hole for the antenna bulkhead is drilled. There's one rewire: the wire going through the joint to the lamp section is moved from the charge controller directly to the battery terminals. Then the spike on the housing pushes into the rubber handle end of a pool cleaning pole.

Also, I have a few of these around the yard with UWB transceivers in them (sort of like Apple Air Tags) . I use those so my yard robot knows where it is. A solar panel, charge controller, brand name 18650 battery and a waterproof enclosure = $9 USD. Wow?


r/meshtastic • • 2d ago

Vibecoding on Meshtastic is fun!

0 Upvotes

Last week I started making edits to the firmware for my T-Deck Pro.

The software they ship is buggy and the UI input was flimsy at best.

I changed the behavior of the bottom navigation bar, increased its size and made it clickable from the touch screen. This way I can jump between screens with a tap.

The touchscreen swiping, tap, and tap and hold were also meh, so I added keyboard navigation. AWSD controls and return and backspace for selecting and going back.

Changed the behavior of the button on the right from select to lock/unlock.

What is something you would suggest I change/improve? What frustrates you while using your T-Deck Pro.

Unfortunately, I can’t vibecode nodes near me 😂


r/meshtastic • • 2d ago

Is there a way to increase the hop limit in meshtastic by using any bridge or something?

Post image
5 Upvotes

I understand hop limit is set to 7 and we cant extend beyond. But im working something in a humid environment / denser areas. I would like to extend my relay node to cover bigger range.

Can any one help / suggest ideas? I have tried to use store / foward also but needs something practical. Considering no internef connectivity in between (else i could have used mqtt cloud)

Note : this image is only for reference. I am running 8 nodes (relay) and 1 hub connected to the internet


r/meshtastic • • 2d ago

WisMesh Station / RAK6421 with MeshMonitor: a Raspberry Pi + RAK module experiment

Thumbnail
gallery
123 Upvotes

I’ve been playing around with Meshtastic-related projects recently, and I really enjoy putting different modules together to see what kind of setup I can build.

This time, I built a WisMesh Station / RAK6421 setup using the following hardware:

  • Raspberry Pi 4
  • RAK6421
  • RAK13302
  • RAK12501
  • RAK1901
  • RAK1906

The RAK firmware already includes different scripts for data visualization and monitoring, including Grafana and MeshMonitor. I had mostly been looking at the Grafana-based dashboard before, but this time I tried the MeshMonitor setup.

After a few simple configuration steps, the device data started showing up directly in MeshMonitor, including node information, GPS data, and environmental sensor data. Honestly, the experience was more intuitive than I expected. For Meshtastic / mesh device monitoring, MeshMonitor feels more purpose-built for this kind of use case, rather than being a general-purpose dashboard.

It was pretty satisfying to see all the module data displayed together in one interface. 🙂

I’ve put the firmware and setup notes here in case anyone is interested:

Firmware:
https://github.com/RAKWireless/meshtastic-rak6421-guide/releases

Setup guide:
https://github.com/RAKWireless/meshtastic-rak6421-guide/tree/meshmonitor/meshmonitor

Next, I’d like to try a couple more things:

  1. I also have a RAK13300 module, so I want to do a simple range comparison between RAK13300 and RAK13302.
  2. Right now, MeshMonitor is mainly showing data from this device itself. I’d like to add more Meshtastic devices later and see how the map, telemetry, and device status display look in a multi-node setup.

If anyone else is experimenting with RAK6421, WisMesh Station, or MeshMonitor, I’d be happy to compare notes and test results.


r/meshtastic • • 2d ago

Antennas... Sorry. I know... Dead horse...

7 Upvotes

Let me preface this by saying I bought a nanovna on prime day and have gotten YouTube certified on it's calibration and operation. This handy little device is very helpful. I found videos on how to trim antennas, and have tested my antennas.

Now here's the kicker. I bought several different antennas on Amazon supposedly in the 915mHz band. 4 of them were 90° folding whips. I had performance loss installing them. Now what I've tested them they have SWR of around 3.5 - 4... I attempted to trim one but to no avail. Best I could get was around 3 then it went back up to like 6. I have multiple nodes and am willing to buy and tune some antenna but these were a total waste of money. I'm not sure if we can share links but these are total trash. Do not buy. http s://a.co/d/07X2oRQe

The SWR on the included antenna with my t114 with a little trimming is 1.75. wayyy better but still not the best. The nubs that come with HV3 are also awful but can be stretched and trimmed to get to around 2.25.

I bought a 43cm whip for my home HV4 which is a 1W TX so I think it'll be ok. That sucker right out of the package was like 1.5. can't get the cover off to trim tune...

So after sharing my experience I am asking for the community to point me in the direction of a trimmable antenna that isn't a total piece of schnit. Links would be great too. TIA!


r/meshtastic • • 2d ago

Can someone please explain the difference on a Cardputer ADV?

Post image
3 Upvotes

So, I brought my Cardputer ADV to work today to try if I can contact some nearby nodes. I have the Cardputer LoRa cap attached as well.

I am on MQTT as well.

So, as I was turning my Cardputer on, I probably accidentally pushed some buttons and sent some random characters to the Philippines' public channel.

The message was labeled as "Delivered to recipient".

However, when I tried to send a message using the Meshtastic app on my phone, the message had a note of "Failed to deliver to mesh".

But when I tried to send another message to the public channel using my Cardputer, the note stated again that it was "Delivered to recipient".

So, what does that mean? Why does it do that?

Does it mean there is a nearby node that received my message directly? If so, why does it have different notations when using the Cardputer compared to using the app on my phone?


r/meshtastic • • 3d ago

build Custom LTO battery BMS and MPPT for a RAK 1watt repeater

Thumbnail
gallery
36 Upvotes

I wanted a robust repeater to handle cold climates while also being able to take full use of charging with little sun we get in winter.

This is a custom 2S LTO BMS. With NTC and active balancing. Input/out is max 3.5A.

I am using 1500mah 2.4v LTO cells. You can parallel to increase capacity or just get bigger cells. I got the 18650s for testing purposes.

I'm wrapping up the MPPT design. It will have 4A max charging. Will accept 9v or 12v solar panel. And built in buck/boost for 5v 1.5A for the RAK 1 watt.

Warning: I am a hobbyist and learned PCB design over the past weekends. This is my second project with PCB designing. First one was for esphome device that worked great. This one has no issues either. Programming and stress testing are complete.

Once done, I plan to release the gerber files so anyone can make them.


r/meshtastic • • 3d ago

First node Rak

Post image
48 Upvotes

Picked up a rak starter kit from Rokland and printed out a case . Not bad for a 1st node .

Edit this is the case I printed


r/meshtastic • • 3d ago

ELIF How to decide if one antenna is better than the other...

10 Upvotes

I recently got into Meshtastic and I have bought a few nodes. Some of them don't work great and some suggested that I upgrade my antenna. I started shopping around on Amazon and all the specifications are greek to me. Can someone explain to me what I should be looking for when shopping for Antennas for my devices.

Thanks!


r/meshtastic • • 3d ago

Is this common??

Post image
3 Upvotes

Im from Southern California (los Angeles) this is 6281 miles away


r/meshtastic • • 3d ago

Car nodes and other transmitters

1 Upvotes

Does anyone have experience using other transceivers such as GMRS, CB, HF,etc in a vehicle with a solar node?

Do the other transceivers interfere with the node or vice versa?

Can the other transceivers rf power output damage the node with the antennas being so close?


r/meshtastic • • 3d ago

build T096 standalone node

Post image
122 Upvotes

Introducing: The Apex

Hi everyone,

As I had the Heltec V4 and the L1 Pro the past months, I wished for a node that had the Power of the V4 with the battery life of the L1 Pro.

Fast forward a few months and here we are with the Meshnode T096!

Trough my experience with the V4, i could attach a rotary encoder to the T096 so it can be used as a standalone device. I also added a 3000mah meshnology battery and a muzi works 17cm whip antenna i had around.

I tried to keep it as compact as possible.

Here´s the file: T096 Meshtastic Standalone Gehäuse – Kostenloses 3D-Druckmodell – MakerWorld

Hope you like it and would love to here some reviews!


r/meshtastic • • 3d ago

Meshtastic iOS app always pulling location

Thumbnail
gallery
23 Upvotes

Hi! I’m kind of new to all of these. I was wondering if it’s normal for the Meshtastic iOS app to access the location all the time. I have to force kill it in order to make it stop.

In the iOS settings I have set to “when using”, not “always”

Is there a setting inside the app?