US Oregon

[hoary harbor]

I am using nothing these days aside from those tiny flexy drone antennas. They actually work. Need them for a form factor issue presently.

[sonic plover]

Heck yeah! When you thinking about doing that? I haven’t had any success with traceroute. I see plenty of nodes showing up with good signal but each traceroute I run returns “no response “

[turbid sequoia]

Signal strength only shows the signal to the closest node, not anything more than 0 hops away.

SNR isn't sent as a metric over the mesh.

Your node only knows the strength of the signal it just received.

[hoary harbor]

Thinking about tomorrow actually! I'll check in here during, and if no one's around just post the deets afterwards.

[near wraith]

Is anyone using an externally mounted antenna on their vehicle they'd recommend?

[turbid sequoia]

Pretty pleased with #antennas message

The coax is a bit longer than I'd like. I've taken in off for a bit to rework some things. Using a cheap PCB antenna stuck to the window at the moment.

[dusky niche]

Hi all, the notification area of the Meshtashtic app on my phone is saying I'm connected to 33 of 112 online! That is the most I've ever seen. That begs the question though, does anyone know what 'connected' technically means in this case? Some of the 112 nodes have only been seen once a long time ago. What is the criteria to be considered connected? Thanks!

[turbid sequoia]

Heard in the last 15 minutes

[dusky niche]

Ok, thanks. I did check the documentation but didn't see that. Good to know...

[hoary harbor]

Dear gosh, someone sprinkled Miracle Gro on the mesh 🙂 Pleased to see that the little 2000mah repeater on the hill is going into day 5, beating all expectations. New stable 2.2.24 firmware out. Revised case design is open in FreeCAD presently .. yup, a good weekend.

[sonic plover]

Dig it. I should be around the house all day. If you know roughly what time you’ll be up there let me know and I’ll make sure I’m paying attention

[hoary harbor]

Shall do. Still caffeinating. Been busy busy learning FreeCAD. Making the designs fully parametric presently so that the same basic case type can be used with a variety of boards and batteries. It is sometimes an inconsistent mishmash depending on what you can get from suppliers at any time .. so .. err more coffee.

[sonic plover]

Ah, that makes sense! I’m still trying to wrap my head around a lot of this. One thing I’m still trying to understand is why I’m only able to connect to nodes with good LOS intermittently. Lookout Ridge Mobile is a good example. I sent out five traceroutes this morning over the course of ten minutes. Two came back as direct connections. Three as no response

[hoary harbor]

Oh that's cool that we can both see Lookout Ridge .. spotty signal. It's 16km from Rocky Butte but right in the signal path. I haven't gotten return messages yet, been pinging and occasionally saying hi. Huh. Been thinking of nodeing up the gorge anyway. We'd have to do both sides, midslopes on the insides of all the turns etc. Been thinking of how to best cover weird topography with as few repeaters as necessary. Somewhere folks probably write whole dissertations on this subject.

[sonic plover]

I’ve been fantasizing about node locations myself. There is a disused water tower about 1/2 mile. If we could get setup on the top of it, it looks like it would be pretty sweet. I’m too lawful to sneak up the top of that though.

[hoary harbor]

Been eyeballing that tower too, but, unfortunately, I am not going to go places with "no trespassing" signs. Been unknown to the police so far, planning to keep it that way. But what /does/ work however are the many hills & peaks around town. Kelly Butte has not only hiking trails & woods, but (AFAIK) it's relatively easy access. Powell Butte too has some height and forest cover.

Still kinda shocked at the news last night of triple-digit node counts in this town. In a good way 🙂

[sonic plover]

Right there with you. Especially since it is owned by the Emmerts who are notoriously litigious. Once the snow melts off I’m thinking of poking around in the Yacolt Burn/Gifford Pinchot to see what things are looking like from there

[hoary harbor]

If you are driving east on Sandy, go past 82nd, come up to where Prescott crosses, etc, there's a beautiful view of a hillside far off in Camas or someplace further out. With good eyes you can see the clumps of trees way up there. One of my wish list places for siting a solar node. Got a pretty long list of those!! OK, Fuzzy, was going to ask what you are doing for height. I must use an extra-hop setup here just to get out of the neighborhood. So much clutter near the ground .. I'm not far off Halsey. Anyway so there is a repeater I must keep up at rooftop height just to reach Rocky Butte. Sometime this summer I'm planning to solarize that node and get it up in one of the taller trees on the property. (As usual, all of mine are set to "repeat all", I honestly DGAF if other people want to run their private traffic through it, that's their business. Also, maintaining repeaters for everyone is good social responsibility.) How high up have you gone so far? Any little bit of height off the ground will pay you back in spades.

Ordered four more V3s the other night, they'll be here early next week. Using a different dimension battery this time, hence the need for fully paramaterized designs.

[sonic plover]

Just yesterday I strapped a node to the old TV aerial mast behind my house. I haven’t measured it yet, but it gets me just above my roofline, which I think is about 20 feet. No real noticeable improvement, that’s still below most of my neighbor’s roofs. Terrain also looks to go up a bit in all directions from me. I took a drive around yesterday with the pole mounted node (Fuzz Base/FASE) sending a rangetest ping. Taking Halsey (I’m a block off it) I got about 3/4 mile before I lost signal. 😪

I also set all mine to repeat all! If it ever becomes an issue I’ll reassess then, but I think we’re a ways from that.

[sonic plover]

I also went up Rock Butte and was sporadically able to get the signal from the park at the North end.

[hoary harbor]

That 3/4 block has been around the number I've been seeing too. Kinda makes me want to go big at this node thing, but going elevation is the better way.

[turbid sequoia]

Be sure your CHUtil is well under 50% before trying a traceroute. It's pretty guaranteed to fail if you're not.

[hoary harbor]

Cool thing about this town, the topography is so weird that we could have a huge local mesh yet no one would see too many other nodes at the same time unless we had absolutely amazing repeater+MQTT coverage. And that would take District-9-alien-ship-parked-overhead emplacement 🤣

[sonic plover]

Looks like I’ve been maxing out around 12% so I’m guessing that’s not the issue.

[hoary harbor]

Traceroutes: so far my experience tends to indicate that it's the CPU horsepower of the machine running the node that makes all the difference. On a fast Android phone, results were good, on a modern Linux box the results have been better, and on a slow old Android tablet the results have been abysmal 😦

[turbid sequoia]

Ah, perhaps other nodes in the mesh are maxed out though. My node has a good vantage point and is typically 30-40%.

[hoary harbor]

Speaking of your nodes, sir, do you have them set as routers, which is why they are visible in the nodes list and in traceroutes?

[turbid sequoia]

If I recall correctly, I have everything set as client. It's the most tested/stable.

router/repeater in theory will help with overall traffic reduction but doesn't make a stronger mesh

My nodes are all lucky to be high elevation but nothing worthy of router/repeater status.

Side of the hill, not TOP of the hill.

[hoary harbor]

Makes sense. Also plenty of room in long name to denote role. I was hoping to have a --nohuman flag for the nodes that will never get their incoming messages read. Having CLI app access to the incoming message buffer is on my wish list of things.

[turbid sequoia]

what functionality are you looking for? I've been working on some python examples.

[hoary harbor]

The CLI does fine for sending messages, peeking at the nodes list, changing settings, inquiring about settings, etc. I would like to be able to write a frontend that accesses everything (including the incoming message traffic) so as to group & present it in ways a bit different from what the phone apps do .. sort of like for a touchscreen terminal display environment if you follow. We used those extensively at a place I used to work at .. we wrote our own code for almost everything. Very minimal overhead & system requirements. (I don't know python yet but could learn it)

[turbid sequoia]

Sounds like a big project!

[hoary harbor]

Fixing the CLI would be much harder for me since there's the language aquisition step in between. Observing the serial traffic between the phone app and the radio board might give me some clues. Obviously there's a bunch of commands flying back and forth between the two. That same command set is not replicated in the CLI. Not yet anyway.

[turbid sequoia]

Not really sure what the phone apps don't offer that you'd be looking for but if you were curious about a python client, the examples I linked above would be a start. Currently working to add sending of different data types.

[hoary harbor]

Just different groupings & presentations of the same data, is all, nothing special. Fully automated client-to-client interchange. Etc.

[sonic plover]

I’m still wondering if it is a signal strength issue. I’m connecting directly to LRM and seeing RSSI values bouncing between 0 and -122

[turbid sequoia]

That's either a loose antenna connection or you are getting there by two different paths.

🤔 I don't think 0 is a valid RSSI

[hoary harbor]

Fuzzy - just put up RockyButte Hts. Different spot. Higher and more on the east face. LMK if you can see it.

[sonic plover]

Just saw it!

[sonic plover]

Ah! Thank you! I’ll head up the ladder in a minute to check all the connections and possibly put on a different antenna.

[hoary harbor]

What app are you using? Doesn't look like the same one I use.

[sonic plover]

Here’s where I’m seeing that

[sonic plover]

iphone. I’m not loving it. Pulling up the meshmap lately makes things crash

[hoary harbor]

Oh, interesting, from that other location it's still finding a route to Green Bluff and other nodes west of here. Trying to get traceroute but nothing is going through.

[turbid sequoia]

Strange. It must mean it didn't receive a value.

I've never seen 0 on Android

[sonic plover]

I replied to you on LongFast and sent a direct message. Either of those get through to you?

[hoary harbor]

To which node? The only one with a frontend for getting messages is '6624 Portable'. And yes, apparently the new location still has the direct to Green Bluff. No incoming messages there today yet.

[sonic plover]

that's the one I messaged. Also on LongFast

[hoary harbor]

Nothing. How are your hops set? I need extra links to get out of here. RockyButte Hts -> becc -> portable is the path for incoming

[cold horizon]

Sorry to butt in, but I had the same issue. Going into App Settings and enabling “Use Legacy Mesh Map” fixed it for me.

[sonic plover]

I'm sending from Fuzz Deck->Fuzz Base -> RockyButte Hts->6624 Portable. Let me try going outside to get connected direct to Fuzz Base

[sonic plover]

I've had that work sometimes, but not consistently and every time it crashes or I connect to a different node it reverts back to the new map

[hoary harbor]

Sending direct to Fuzzbase and Feck.

My hops are set to 7 JIC.

[cold horizon]

Yeah, it reverts for me too. It will also crash if I scroll through the list of nodes too quickly lol

[sonic plover]

My hops are set to 7 as well. I was able to get a message on Fuzzbase, and sent one back. Nothing on Feck yet

[hoary harbor]

OK just got one through & responded.

[sonic plover]

got it and replied. Nothing from Feck?

[hoary harbor]

Not from Feck. (and is that really a t-deck?)

[sonic plover]

interesting. yup, it's a T-deck. anything on LongFast?

[hoary harbor]

There's one more hidden node between Portable and Rocky. That invisble rooftop repeater I can't get anywhere here without 😦

U all set with a case for the deck?

On LongFast 0 all I have is the Fase not the Feck.

[sonic plover]

yeah, picked one up off Etsy. getting into printing is a rabbit hole I can't afford and don't have the physical space for!

[hoary harbor]

It's not a bad rabbit hole. You can make it comfy and not burrow too many levels deep. LMK if you need a case printed. Don't have PETG yet but it's on the way.

[sonic plover]

will do! I think the only way I could get a printer set up is by encroaching on my wife's turf in our house. It's a small space made smaller by two mischievous dogs. Speaking of the wife, she just got home so I should probably get going!

[hoary harbor]

Oh, and what got me there finally (been lurking awhile on that topic) was FreeCAD getting good enough and the printers being able to make durable / reinforced parts for things. Didn't find the cases I wanted so rolled my own.

[turbid sequoia]

Everyone on 7 hops is not good for the mesh. Focus on antennas and placement.

[bronze compass]

This was just posted -- good and hopefully helpful info https://youtu.be/8tIuBqH69xA?si=eCLHja8EtBIlYbm2

[sonic plover]

That makes sense to me. I normally keep mine down at 3. I’m also wondering about rangetest being an issue. I’ve been intermittently picking up nodes sending out rangetest on LongFast as I drive around. Some of them are up above seq10000

[turbid sequoia]

There's a node in NW thats had rangetest on for a least a year

[dapper crane]

Was assembling a node today and punctured the lipo battery. The case pressed the battery into the sharp contacts on the back of the RAK 19007's battery connector when I screwed it all together...all's fine, but a bit more excitement than I intended for my morning. Just worth keeping an eye out when assembling.

[dusky niche]

Yikes! Glad it was ok!

[hoary harbor]

I saw those pointy connectors .. was thinking about putting a JST1.25 female connector there so it takes my other batteries with the smaller connector. Also the cable angle of the JST 2 connector(on the top face of the board) makes an awkward cable bend that leaves dead airspace.

[dusky niche]

I get a kick out of a node that I have started seeing: mkultra666🤣. I doubt the feds would use a name that is so on the nose, but you never can tell 👀.

[bronze compass]

So, I just got my Wisblock from Rokland today and am trying to strategize a setup for it. Considering our climate, etc., does anyone have recommendations for a small solar panel to help top off a battery? I've never bought a solar panel before but I know I need one that delivers 5v. I'm seeing some sub-$20 ones on amazon and it seems too good to be true.

[near wraith]

This happens to me too.

[dusky niche]

I've got a couple coming soon and would like to do the same. I like the setup here: https://meshtastic.org/docs/community/enclosures/rak/harbor-breeze-solar-hack/ and have hung out a little on the #solar-power forum too. Lots of good ideas there...

[bronze compass]

Nice! That looks pretty easy and cheap to set up. Also, I didn't even know there was the #solar-power channel. Someone mentioned the exact one I was looking at 😉

[dusky niche]

Today I received a new antenna that I hope will allow my JDMO node to communicate with at least some of you all 😁. I have nearly all of the parts needed to stuff the enclosure. This will also be mounted about 10 ft higher than my present set up. I'm a little worried that the standard BLE antenna won't have enough range to pick it up in my house. Has anyone tried using a WI-FI/ BT Antenna with a WisBlock board?

[ashen spruce]

You might be surprised at what those little stock PCB Bluetooth antennas can do. Mine punches through my roof, ceiling and and a few walls pretty reliably.

[hoary harbor]

I have been using nothing but those flexy drone antennas that Andy Kirby showed off in his early videos .. and they do the 18km from Rocky Butte to Green Bluff just fine. Of course both are high up locations.

[hoary harbor]

Well, that didn't take long.

[rich arch]

Well that's interesting, how many nodes can you see? I saw a couple random ones from abroad(Think someone probably connected it to internet)

[hoary harbor]

Not sure, I was running it without a phone/tablet along to prettify the interface. Didn't take Portland too long to go through a doubling of the number of nodes.

[dusky niche]

It's not connected to MQTT is it?

[rich arch]

Aaah I see kinda curious the nodes I am missing

[hoary harbor]

Yah I hope someone didn't open the door and let MQTT in. The local mesh had been growing steadily. And thanks to the whacky topography we've still got users with marginal/irregular signal based on whether or not someone nearby is in position. There are even some bowl-type features with no views down into them from nearby hills. I am thinking about trying some of the other modes .. wondering how they do for distance propagation.

[cold horizon]

I think there might be an MQTT node around here. I was looking at my node map the other day and it was showing me a single node somewhere in the Southern US.

[silk flare]

Heh, I'm new around here and just have gotten my first 2 Heltec V3 nodes running, been very interesting seeing all of the nodes that I can sometimes see from where I live (near I-5 and Kruse Way in Lake Oswego)

went up to Nansen Park and was blown away by how many nodes I was able to receive up there.

[ashen spruce]

Welcome! Are you located such that you can reach the "Nansen" node from your home base? That node tends to be our main bridge between the east and west side of the portland hills, in my experience.

[silk flare]

It seems to be inconsistent, but I have seen the Nansen node!

[ashen spruce]

I've got permission to deploy a node off to your west on the lower portion of bull mountain. Once that goes it it might give you a little help connecting up to Nansen. 🙂

probably a month-ish out to being able to do something about that deployment

[silk flare]

I have a feeling that if I get a node up high and on the outside of my house I could probably get signals from Nansen - currently just working with the little antennas that come with the Heltec devices anyways but it's been fun so far to discover nodes

[sonic plover]

I’m betting there is an MQTT node running. Overnight I was getting a rangetest sequence from Nuremberg. Currently showing several nodes East of the Mississippi on my map

[sonic plover]

Welcome!

[cold horizon]

Yep, It appears we have MQTT among us!

I think my nodes are set to ignore MQTT. I need to double check

[dusky niche]

I have one node showing in San Juan PR and two in the mid-west: Chicago and Minneapolis/St Paul.🤓

[turbid sequoia]

@silk flare @ashen spruce I'm pretty sure Nansen died a couple of days ago. I'll hopefully swap the battery in the next few days.

Hi @silk flare , welcome! I'm K1PDX, Nansen, No Hands, Turtle and Bella.

[silk flare]

Ah yes that does align with my experience as I saw it was around and then it no longer was.

I’ve definitely seen your nodes around @turbid sequoia

[hoary harbor]

A question about the Nansen node .. which seems to be the sole over-the-top link .. does it do just LongFast or does it have components for other modes?

[turbid sequoia]

Just LongFast. Would need multiple radios to do any more.

[hoary harbor]

Figured on the multiple radios, just curious. I know one spot tht has a simultaneous view of Portland and Hillsboro, will check it out in better detail next time I go by there. Been looking at some West Linn areas to leave a node to shorten the number of hops from home to somewhere down there. Right now it's effectively out of range due to the number of hops. But I think Rocky Butte to someplace down there might make it in one hop .. just need to site the nodes correctly.

[ashen spruce]

Yeah, I was watching the telemetry and saw the battery level dropping rapidly. Thanks for deploying/tending that node!

[shut willow]

@past narwhal you free on the 27th to meet folks from the CARS radio club to talk Meshtastic?

[dusky niche]

'The Comms' YouTube channel has a new video today explaining how to use 3 of the websites available to see LoRa coverage for your area. I know a lot of folks in this forum have used these before, but there might be some who have not, and it's a pretty good primer on their use. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aZ9JbweQJg

He also has his own Discord server for Meshtastic (invite linked in the video description) that is helpful as well...

[turbid sequoia]

Possibly but I won't know until closer. I'd sure like to join!

[turbid sequoia]

@hoary harbor was that you that posted a comment on my myGMRS reapeater page for the WQWG882 Tabor repeater?

[shut willow]

Sure

[hoary harbor]

No, sorry.

[sonic plover]

I’m planning on doing some range tests from some of the buttes out here in East County and wanted to double check my thinking on something. Since sending out rangetest pings can add to congestion on the network can I alleviate that by setting my frequency slot to something other than 20, like 15 maybe?

[near wraith]

@silk flare What's the name of your node?

[silk flare]

Currently my mobile node is Meshtastic 85b0 and my base station is Meshtastic 734c

[near wraith]

I'm not far from you and will watch for your nodes.

[silk flare]

Nice! I'll keep an eye out for anything that pops up in Tualatin!

[turbid sequoia]

Yes.

[dusky niche]

Finally got the JDMO node mounted very high and with a 3dB antenna. If anyone wants to try and DM me, I would appreciate it! 🙂

[dusky niche]

Sigh... So far all the rssi's I'm seeing are still above 110😩

[idle trail]

how's the coverage for Beaverton? I'm receiving my radios on thursday and i'm hoping there is a way to contact the portland area

[idle trail]

ohh according to my calculations i can reach bull mt

[turbid sequoia]

Can't get a traceroute back from you but I did get an ACK from a DM!

[idle trail]

oh wow more than i expected

[idle trail]

I will be filling that middle gap

That's around were I live

[dusky niche]

Thanks for that. I was hoping for a more dramatic improvement, but I guess I would need to tether a weather balloon with a node on it over my house to really get a reach.😄

[near wraith]

I had a drone hovering in the air this morning with a node attached for roughly 15 minutes in Tualatin. I would estimate an elevation of about 280' (my drone wouldn't go higher than 100' with a payload attached). The experiment didn't work; no responses from other nodes. Did anyone out there see a message on LongFast mentioning a drone?

[idle trail]

Can someone send something on longfast I'm using my sdr test an antenna

im turning it off in 5 minutes

still on

[near wraith]

Nansen is back!

[turbid sequoia]

Yup!

[near wraith]

Did that happen just a bit earlier today?

[turbid sequoia]

Bout 10 minutes ago.

It's been on client but I just also switched it to router-client, because why not?

Might get signals over the hill a bit quicker

[ashen spruce]

Depending on where you are at in the circled region you will have varying degrees of success. Lots of valleys in there that get shadowed. You'll hopefully be able to see the Nansen and/or council crest nodes to get you over the hill.

[silk flare]

I definitely started receiving messages and nodes again whenever Nansen got up and running again

[ashen spruce]

The above is my home node coverage. Might help you bounce your way to Portland....

[ashen spruce]

Here's the rough/optimistic expected coverage of the lower bull mountain location that I'll be setting up:

[near wraith]

I DM'ed you.

[dusky niche]

I replied at near real time but only got a check mark not the little person check (what the heck is that called?🙂). I was able to get several of the person/check with a few people today so that's better than before! Even had another node in Aloha that I've never seen before! I'm not alone here!

[near wraith]

Is this what you see on your end?

[dusky niche]

This is what I saw...

[idle trail]

I live at the of a hill

mine might be a little optimistic

smh

[bronze compass]

Has anyone experienced a power cycling issue with a Wisblock? Asking here because #help hasn't been helpful so far. I can get the device into drag&drop mode and when I try dropping the firmware it copies fine, but when it reboots it goes back to power cycling every couple of seconds. Since it does that I can't access serial output on the web interface nor is it showing up as a bluetooth discoverable device.

[dusky niche]

Sorry, can't help. I have had good luck with the one I have (I've only flashed it twice). I am receiving 2 more tomorrow, so I hope I won't see this come up! Have you tried asking at Rokland?

[idle trail]

i can hit bull mt

@ashen spruce

[bronze compass]

I created a github ticket. I'm not a programmer, so this should be fun 😉

[turbid sequoia]

Try an erase and install. Select rak4631 on the web installer then hit the trash can icon next to the flash button.

[bronze compass]

Thanks for the reply. I'll give it a shot later today.
After a handful of tries I finally got it back up and running. Thanks again for the help.

[ashen spruce]

Nice! Unfortunately it will be a month or two before I can get that node deployed so you'll have to be a bit patient for that particular leg of connectivity. 🙂

[dusky niche]

Lots of cool stuff going on in our area. Just saw someone doing a range test from just North of McMinnville, someone was broadcasting from the air yesterday evening and I heard another node in Aloha for the first time! Things are happening!

[daring steeple]

I can see the guy out of McMinnville and connected into PDX from Lafayette. First time I've seen anyone from out here that wasn't one of my own.

[dusky niche]

I get people who see the long name of my JDMO node and want a link directly to this group. Is there anyway to do that? I think you need an invite?

[sonic plover]

I didn’t need an invite! Try https://discord.com/channels/867578229534359593/1196918522706657330

[dusky niche]

Will do. Thanks! Yikes, that is a big bi#$h! Maybe tinyurl to the rescue: https://tinyurl.com/ycktemea

[dusky niche]

Nope, didn't work on my wife's phone. Just goes to the sign in screen. I think I will just change my nodes long name to something else 🤣

[daring steeple]

I just clicked the little link icon at the top of the channel to share on android. It seems to work. Brings me back here. I sent it to the guy above McMinnville when he asked.

[sharp pilot]

I will be putting up a repeater/router in Mcminnville once my RAK kit gets here on the slow boat from China

It will be about 60 feet above ground level on a roof of a build with battery backup and Genny power

Would be nice if the nodes with GPS units could/would show elevation

[daring steeple]

Nice! been waiting for others to put nodes out here. This is Omnius. It's going on my roof in Lafayette.

[sharp pilot]

Very nice. You should be able to hit the Mac one for sure once it's online

What antenna is that?

My nodes will have the YamCo-Mesh prefix followed by a number and YCM for short name with a number on the end

@daring steeple what antenna do you have?

[daring steeple]

It's one off Amazon for helium mining. I wish it had a n-male so I didn't have the adapter on it. Hexa Boost LoRa Antenna 915MHz Kit 8dBi Gain Outdoor Omni-Direction HNT Miner Antenna 3.6 ft Helium Hotspot Antenna https://a.co/d/bkY9qHn

[sharp pilot]

Ok. That's the same one I have coming tomorrow for my repeater

I heard that lighting detector isn't the best and will drop your DB. Plus we rarely see lighting around here

[daring steeple]

Not using it. Not too worried about lightning here. I might have more work to do on it. With the POE adapter and meshtastic with wifi on its 104 degrees in there right now. I was out of ABS so it's printed out off PLA. I have a feeling it will melt like a crayon this summer.

[sharp pilot]

Yikes. That's my concern too. Is the direct sun in the summer

Maybe some 5 volt fans or something.. run them off POE power

I have a GMRS repeater and the radios are in a shed and I have a 25 foot LMR400 for my mainline

The shed has a fan for cooling in the summer

I am contemplating whether to go POE and have a box on the mast with the antenna or use some LMR to the antenna and keep the box in the shed

Gonna loose some DB on a 20+ foot run. Not much though

Once that antenna goes up it's going to be a bitch to take down and get back up

[daring steeple]

I would avoid Coax if possible. Everything I've read says coax should be avoided. I'm dreading getting on my ladder. I added an admin channel yesterday to try and avoid getting back up there.

[sharp pilot]

Yeah. Same here. Admin channel is good

Think I will stick with POE and some outdoor rated Cat6

Maybe a fan too

They make these marine vent covers
HARSKIYER 2pcs 3" Nylon Marine Wire Cable Vent Cover, White Boat Transducer Wiring Cover Ventilation Cap Clamshell Vent Cover Wire Cable Hose Vent Cover for Boat Yacht Kayak with Installation Screws https://a.co/d/9zhNI6x

Put one on each side of the box and a fan one one side to move some air

[daring steeple]

Not a bad idea.

[dusky niche]

Here's the one I put up Saturday. WisBlock with a 3dB Helium antenna. Using 40 ft of USB for power. I had a multi-band Ham antenna mounted near the top to provide a guy-wire effect. It will be going back up there after a check up. This was really just a test to see if there was anything I could do to get my messages heard. Seems to be working pretty well...

[sharp pilot]

@dusky niche looking good

[dusky niche]

I was worried about the little BLE PCB antenna making it from up there to my phone, but those things are amazing 🤩.

[idle trail]

its fine, im not in a rush, i will be doing more of this stuff during the summer when i dont have school

[idle trail]

oh is yours on gmrs 17?

[turbid sequoia]

I believe nodes with GPS do show elevation.

[crystal osprey]

I had similar trouble with RAK4631 firmware flash. I connected to usb cable to a power bank instead of laptop usb. I also updated firmware by OTA: Over The Air using iPhone. It took pretty long time to find out all these.

[sharp pilot]

WRAR562 is my repeater. you can gett he info on mygmrs.com

[idle trail]

I was listening on an sdr

nope not it

[near wraith]

Is anyone on here both a HAM & transmitting at a higher power than they would if not a HAM?

[bronze compass]

I've considered seeing if how much of a difference it would make

[near wraith]

Were you responding to my question?

[bronze compass]

Yep. I forgot to hit a direct reply. Messaging while working is non-ideal

[near wraith]

Gotcha! I'd be interested to see if it makes a difference. You can't encrypt. Does that mean your node wouldn't relay messages from other nodes?

[bronze compass]

Not sure. Can any other hams chime in about that?

[turbid sequoia]

I'm a ham but haven't done any experimentation with the mode. The devs say a "ham node" wont retransmit encrypted packets, but I don't see why non-ham nodes wouldn't retransmit unencrypted packets.

In fact, a regular node wouldn't know or care a packet came from a node in ham mode, so I'm 99% sure it would retransmit.

[turbid sequoia]

Again, I haven't done this but if you can get out but others can't get in, I'm not convinced there is a measurable advantage. Running a high power node would make a lot of sense if you had a lot of feed line.

[dusky niche]

How about my situation where I don't have an issue seeing most of you all (currently 30 connected of 100 online) but it seems rare I can get a message out?

[turbid sequoia]

Nodes are seen easier because they send out frequent updates. I'd guess if you sent a message out every 10 minutes, you'd get at least one out every day.

What kind of antenna are you sporting?

[turbid sequoia]

High power nodes could certainly be useful if you had two connecting distant regions.

[sharp pilot]

how you would you have high power nodes with existing meshtastic hardware?

are you talking about amplifying the signal?

[dusky niche]

Sadly my JDMO node has been at 300 seconds for a long time. I guess I should set it back to default. I just recently upgraded (I hope) to a 3dB Helium antenna from Amazon. Also went quite a bit higher on a pole. TBH, I'm not sure going to the Ham setting would do much with all the trees and buildings around me.

[sharp pilot]

FCC states max transmit power on 915mhz is half a watt

correcteed 1 watt

I can do 50 watts on my GMRS repeater

if you transmit over a different freq will it still mesh?

[dusky niche]

According to the Meshtastic FAQ: Privileges of Amateur license
Increased Transmit Power
Up to 10W transmit power in the United States! 47 CFR 97.313(j)
Higher Gain Antennas

[sharp pilot]

also are you able to up the power or just have better propagation on a different frequency?

[sharp pilot]

Hmmm

[dusky niche]

Not sure how one would accomplish that though... Aren't the radios on our nodes limited to about 1W?

[sharp pilot]

yeah, you would need some kind of amp or different hardware

you would also need to transmit on a different freq, since 30cm is limited to 1 watt

so that means 70CM (430 to 440 MHz) band and a different chipset that can transmit on that freq

[turbid sequoia]

Check out the Station G1. It can transmit at around 3 watts

[turbid sequoia]

Most hardware we use is around 200mW.

[turbid sequoia]

LoRa can receive below the noise floor. GMRS can't. You'll get insane range with LoRa with a good setup.

[turbid sequoia]

I see your telemetry no problem.

[dusky niche]

I guess I need to temper my expectations as far as the use of the mesh model. You are correct that someone is seeing my messages as I almost always get a cloud and check mark, but when I try to make direct contact with nearly anyone it never goes through (person and check symbol). I'm coming to the Meshtashtic system in hope of another layer of connectivity if needed in some future situation. Kinda wondering if that is a valid expectation or if it's more of a fun hobby.

[ashen spruce]

With the rate the PDX mesh is growing, just be patient and more nodes will appear which will make connectivity more reliable. In your case, I'm working a contact out in the Laurel area (at a high level) that is very interested in getting more info on the project. If I'm allowed to deploy a node on his barn then you'll get a major step up in connectivity.

[ashen spruce]

Also, if you have a goal for an area that you'd like reliable comms in, be the change you want to see and work what contacts you have as well! 🙂

btw, the Laurel location might be able to even hit the Mt Scott node, which would be awesome.

[idle trail]

During the summer I might set up a node at a relatives house

[turbid sequoia]

Don't get discouraged. There could be improvements to make in your setup though the photo looks pretty ideal. Do you have a way to test your antenna? I wouldn't trust anything from Amazon without a check on a nanoVNA. The Rokland antennas I've picked up have all been solid. As Mojapo said, a little planning and work can go a long way. If you're in a valley surrounded by tall buildings, your first order of business would be to get a repeater up on a hill or the roof of one the buildings. If you can do that, you should be able to mesh with just a node on your desk.

[sharp pilot]

Tomorrow I will be putting up my antenna in McMinnville. it will be one of the highest points in town. Hopefully it will be able to see some of the higher nodes in PDX. It just takes one to make the mesh. I am still waiting on my RAK kit, but I think for now I will just throw a Heltec V3 in there and see how it does.

[dusky niche]

I do have a NVNA but I didn't have the fittings to hook the antenna to it. I'll have to look around on the web to find something. I did just get two more WisBlocks from Rokland so I guess I will build a solar rig to put somewhere. I am thinking of the north side Cooper Mt. I'll have to work on overcoming my introverted ways and talk someone into letting me use a north facing location...

[sharp pilot]

Does anyone know what the highest node/repeater/router is in PDX area? would like to do a line of site and see if I will be able to hit it

[turbid sequoia]

Nansen is about 1000ft but not an ideal install. K1PDX is at 600ft.

[sharp pilot]

Yeah, doesn't look like I can hit Portland from Mcminnville

[silk flare]

Yeah isn't there some hills / high points in the way - ideally if we could get a node up on those high points you could get into the Portland area

[sharp pilot]

Yeah. Rex Hill is in the way

If we got something up in that area we could cover a lot. I have also thought about putting a remote node up in the mountains. It would have to be solar powered. When I was up there earlier this week I could see all over Portland and the valley.

I saw over 30 nodes

[near wraith]

@dusky niche I'm having a similar experience. I've sent hundreds of direct messages over the last couple of months. Replies are very rare.

[daring steeple]

I have a solar Wisblock I've been testing that I want to find a home for up home for up there. Where you able to get any tracroutes in? I wonder if you where hitting the guy in Banks. From what I understand he has a straight shot all the down hwy26. I can see him from Tualatin daily.

[ashen spruce]

not an ideal install
At some point you're going to have to share a picture! 🤣

[turbid sequoia]

It would be a picture of a fern

[ashen spruce]

Exactly! With a "where's Waldo" antenna somewhere in it... 😛

[lime dew]

I feel like it's jumping out at me lol

[turbid sequoia]

I didn't mean to strip the bg out, my phone just really wanted to.

[silk flare]

Haha a fern node sounds on brand for the PDX area

[sharp pilot]

I am back up in the hills testing

I can see all the nodes and repeaters in Portland

The node I am testing with is YCM6

I can see the mojo nodes and the satellite base

[blazing mauve]

Just got 5 more nodes for Irvington (pdx)

Should see them pop up next week

[dusky niche]

I saw you in Aloha. Traceroute went through. Sent a DM but... well, you know🥺 .

[turbid sequoia]

Many nodes don't have a client connected. I have at least 5 unmonitored nodes.

Better to send a broadcast, then DM anyone that responds.

[near wraith]

I will try this.

[whole rapids]

You have to make the request from iOS as well, you can long press on the router node or send the sf messsge

[gusty glade]

I bike up there a lot; I’m looking for this fern next time I’m up there

[sharp pilot]

I hope to have something setup in the next couple weeks to reach out to PDX. I will need to put up a remote router in the hills. Until some kids find it and steal it or shoot it

I was able to hit my house from the hills today..so that should tie into PDX. Need a way to provide power. Solar isnt really am option in the PNW, unless it's summer

[sharp pilot]

I have a 10000mah lipo and a 6watt panel. On a heltec V3. Will give it a shot and see how it does.

[solar garnet]

I’ve ordered 3 of the wisblocks. I plan to make them into repeaters for the Salem area. Going to need to look at batteries holders/solar panels and enclosures

[sharp pilot]

I have 2 wisblocks "coming" ordered on the 12th. Still haven't shipped

This the lipo batter I have. So much easier than soldering holders n such
MakerFocus 3.7V LiPo Battery 10000mAh Lithium Rechargeable Battery with Integrated Protective Board, Insulation Coating and PH2.0A Plug for Raspberry Pi UPS Board and Other https://a.co/d/icf9QJM

[sharp pilot]

Good enclosure
https://a.co/d/10IZysG

[sharp pilot]

Solar panel
https://a.co/d/eAnpi9Q

[sharp pilot]

Antenna
https://a.co/d/cMOs7ND

IPX to sma jumper
https://a.co/d/54kgX8U

[solar garnet]

Thanks!

[sharp pilot]

If you want to direct mount your antenna on the box go with this IPX connector (best option)
https://a.co/d/8n79mf0

I highly recommend using a step bit for drilling your plastic
https://a.co/d/7si3jDV

dont use the jumper that comes with the antenna, they are garbage

[solar garnet]

Good tips. Thanks

[sharp pilot]

stick to RG 240 or 400 fir N type jumpers. RG136 for SMA

[solar garnet]

I’m at $375 for 2 full solar repeaters and a 3rd WisBlock starter kit.

[sharp pilot]

RG 58 is garbage

thats all?

I am hundreds of dollars into this and I am on week 2 🙂

not to mention what I have put into my GMRS repeaters

[solar garnet]

I have rg 58 as a backup for my hf coax at home

[sharp pilot]

I have 4 Heltec V3 and 2 wisekits on order

[solar garnet]

Typically I use lmr400 for vhf or higher

[sharp pilot]

teh Heltecs I bought on amazon and go tthem next day

[solar garnet]

I have 3 tbeams and 2 nano station g1s

[sharp pilot]

yes LMR is good. Thats what I have for my mainline on my GMRS repeater

I bet you can hit my repeater from Aumsville. I have hit ir from Dallas and Kings valley

[solar garnet]

I’m going to dip into gmrs radios this fall I think

[sharp pilot]

GMRS is cheap and easy

[daring steeple]

I have an extra Wisblock I just got last week. If you want I can let you have mine until yours arrives and you can give me that one. I wouldn't waste my time with the Heltec, they really eat the battery compared to the Wisblock.

[solar garnet]

I’m already loaded for bear with vhf/uhf amateur radio gear

[sharp pilot]

excellent

once I get my node up we will see if I can seee yours. do you have elevation where you are at?

[sharp pilot]

the node I plan on putting up at my office will be on POE and UPS and generator backup

[sharp pilot]

are you the guy in Lafayette?

[solar garnet]

Nope. I’m in a hole but I have a buddies with repeater towers

[sharp pilot]

But I do plan on putting a remote node up in the Trask area. Clear view of PDX. that's where I was today and could see all the nodes and repeaters in the PDX area.

[sharp pilot]

I have family that lives up off Zena rd, with some elevation. I am thinking about putting a node up there. that should Link Salem area with Mac, there fore PDX...

[solar garnet]

I hope to have a node at 1000’ by Silver Falls. Another at 450’ near the Marion county transfer station

I also have the ability to put one on chehalem ridge when I have the funds

[sharp pilot]

oh nice

we should start a go fund me for node costs 🙂

the one I plan on putting up on BLM land in the mountains is 2000 feet and has a clear view of PDX and the valley.

but its on public land is vulnerable to unscrupulous individuals

I figure it would be a disposable router.

[solar garnet]

The one at silver falls may be able to be at 1900’ a few miles away from the other site I mentioned

[sharp pilot]

very nice

[solar garnet]

An acquaintance has a tower above drakes crossing

[sharp pilot]

you might be able to hit PDX from there

[solar garnet]

Bbl. Trip to the store

[sharp pilot]

k

[daring steeple]

Yes

[sharp pilot]

once I get my antenna up on the Oregon Mutual Building I should be able to see the node at your house.

was supposed to happen today, but life got in the way. maybe tomorrow if the weather is not too shitty

@daring steeple

[hoary harbor]

There were no velociraptors in the picture I've seen of it. Despite the background appearance.

[sharp pilot]

looking at about $120 to build out a remote node to put in the hills. I spend more than that on whiskey

Thats a heltec V3

add about $10 for a RAK kit

10 foot EMT (3/4") conduit is about $11

remote node has 10000Mah battery and a 6 watt solar panel

because solar works so good in Oregon...

[daring steeple]

My Wisblock solar has been going for 2 week on 2 18650 batteries.The next couple days of rain will be a challenge. I'm just using a panel from a cheap solar light. I think if I use a legit panel it will be good. I would like one of the battery packs that turn back on when they charge up again.

[sharp pilot]

thats the problem in Oregon. power in the winter...

might need to try wind generator

[idle trail]

anyone seeing my messages?

[sharp pilot]

sorry I am out of range, until I get my repeaters up

[idle trail]

i have seen 33 stations so far

can anyone get on longfast?

cedar mill area

[dusky niche]

I saw you in Aloha; no traceroute so I didn't even try to DM...

[idle trail]

i was in the car

[idle trail]

try now im at a very high elevation (if you can)

ohh i moved my antenna and now im getting lots of trace routes

[dusky niche]

Tried to DM...

[idle trail]

Hello jdmo !

[dusky niche]

Nice to get to talk to you!

[idle trail]

you too!

[solar garnet]

That’s awesome!

[dusky niche]

Had a dream last night that I was trying to surreptitiously install a node on top of a 3 story condo in the dark. It kinda turned into a nightmare when I realized I had no idea how I had gotten on the roof or how to get down 👀. Then our dogs finally woke me up 😆. I might need to step away from this activity for awhile...

[turbid sequoia]

@shut willow This Sunday at 8:10pm if I understand correctly: "The NET Net at 8:10 pm will be hosted by JR, KJ7VJQ.  His presenter will be Ed, K7EOK who make a presentation on "Update on Mesh and Mini Mesh in the Metro Area."
K7RPT VHF Repeater:  Output 147.040 MHz, +600 KHz offset, 100 Hz tone."

[blazing mauve]

is he from PBEM?

[turbid sequoia]

I'm uncertain what the relationship is between NET/CERT/CARS and PBEM.

[turbid sequoia]

Do you know when/where this is happening? I'd love to join if the stars align, but it's not looking likely.

[blazing mauve]

oic

maybe Bruce is running that one

[dapper crane]

Nifty, I'll be there. Haven't checked into the NET Net in a while. Thanks for mentioning it.

[crystal osprey]

NET is Portland version of CERT. Portland has SERT which is basically SWAT. so the name of CERT was avoided for safety reason. NET program is run by PBEM. Many of radio volunteers in NET also do volunteer for MCARES : Multnomah County Amateur Radio Emergency Service. He might be doing volunteer at one or both organizations or just a guest speaker. The NET Net on Sundays is run by NET volunteers.

[shut willow]

The update is one thing, I thought the 27th was the zoom/in person presentation...

I'll be able to follow up probably tomorrow

Ed is kind of super heavily into the high bandwidth mesh stuff... I forget the name

ARDEN

he's doing a ton of ARDEN stuff

and now also Meshtastic too

[sonic plover]

@hoary harbor are any nodes on Rocky Butte still active? I haven’t seen them pop up in a bit.

[gusty glade]

Thanks for that explanation! I usually listen in on the Monday LO NET on GMRS but I had always wondered why we don’t use CERT

[idle trail]

Anyone see my messages?

[solar garnet]

Well I’ve got everything ordered for 2 solar powered repeaters. I’m going to do some viewshed shots on Google earth to get best line of sites north

Is there a (kml?) file of nodes I can load into google earth?

[idle trail]

@dusky niche seen anyone else active?

I managed to dm DNET and it went through (the little guy with a check mark) we are seperated by the west hills

[dusky niche]

I saw a couple of folks on tonight, but pretty quiet overall.

[blazing mauve]

That’s me!

I replied but I got a “implied ack”

[blazing mauve]

Im a NET fwiw

[idle trail]

ok so its called an implied ack. good to know

[sharp pilot]

https://meshmap.net/

[solar garnet]

Thanks. I guess I’ll need to figure out how to get mine on there eventually

[hoary harbor]

Not right now. Took them down for a redesign. And everyone I was hoping to connect (south and east of there) seems to have found a connection to the Portland net, so all good 👍 (I'm very new to CAD & printing .. wanted to go back and remove some of the airspace from that design .. putting the V3s onto a diet to lose some depth. Switch relocation. etc)

[blazing mauve]

Should I disable MQTT?

[sharp pilot]

Once you connect to a node or router/repeater that has MQTT enable and is connected to the internet, your node will show up on the map. When I went to the hills and put my node up I was able to see mine on the map because it was talking to a node in PDX that was on the internet and was reporting to the MQTT server.

[blazing mauve]

OIC

[sonic plover]

I dig it, thanks for the update! I’ve been working on testing a couple of solar nodes (one for home, one for the office). Once I settle on something that seems to work well I need to figure out how to connect to the wider world from home.

[solar garnet]

My tablet I use in the Jeep has cellular service so I should see if I can use that internet connection and MQTT somehow. Plus my node at home should be setup eventually.

[sharp pilot]

I just put together my remote node this morning.
Solar panel is protected so it didnt get paint or crap on it.
Got it all painted up.

I have a 10000 Mah Lipo for it also.

any thoughts on wrapping the battery in reflective bubble wrap to help regulate hot and cold tems?

[sharp pilot]

Depending on your elevation in Aumsville, you might be able to hit my router here in Mac( which isnt up yet)

[solar garnet]

I can’t from home. I’m in a deep hole

Got my panels overnight

[sharp pilot]

very nice

I think I am going to put up that remote node tomorrow sometime. lets see how long it lasts up there

It will be at an elevation of about 2000 feet

[silk flare]

Hmmm I'm not sure if it would make too much of a difference but if anything it would insulate the battery from cooling or warming which would (slightly) slow the heating / cooling effect from the environment

[vernal hull]

Hey, one of the guys in the central Oregon mesh was testing a location on Gray Butte and was able to reach into Portland!

It would have come from Jabu_9eed / Jabulani. Apparently he made contact with Muturtle.

He's working on getting approval for placement on the tower up on Gray Butte. It looks like that might be enough to reach into Portland.

[silk flare]

Oh damn that is impressive!!

[idle trail]

Wait did it go through my node lol

[idle trail]

i was on mt hood skiing with @exotic anchor

[silk flare]

Hah! I wonder if it did, because I was just looking at heywhatsthat for Gray Butte and it looks like it could hit Mt Hood

[idle trail]

I was up at the top of Vista express

[vernal hull]

It definitely can

[vernal hull]

Oh, nice. Well, he was able to get at least a ping from your node.

[idle trail]

perfect timing lol

[vernal hull]

Oh, and there's my portable!

[idle trail]

yeah i saw yours

wait so some came in from portland through mine?

[turbid sequoia]

Need a permanent Timberline node!

[vernal hull]

Most of the nodes in your screenshot are from Redmond or Bend. Likely through Jabulani.

[idle trail]

Yes

so did i start something new lol?

[shadow quest]

Thanks for responding to my test. Would have never known had you not replied then. I was heading back down when you did.

The service road access is apparently locked until April 1st. Or I would have made it to the top. My 4 year old in toe was not enjoying my billy goat trail up the side.

[idle trail]

That was pure luck

i was only there for about 1 minute

It was so windy

[shadow quest]

From my pinned location to Mt Hood is 70 miles.

[idle trail]

Epic

[idle trail]

so did you end up gettin any nodes from portland?

[shadow quest]

Looks like I picked up three new nodes. You, Michaelisthatyou and meshtastic c800. But no location so not sure where they are.

[silk flare]

That is awesome

[shadow quest]

From your screenshot looks like c800 is outside Fossil which is 70 miles East from where I was.

But I doubt they're actually at 45.0000, -120.0000

[idle trail]

no they are not

the signal was +11 at one point

Michaelisthat you was about very close and actually near me

[silk flare]

I saw that one at 45.0000, -120.0000 and figured that was not it's real location haha

[idle trail]

i was getting ones from portland tho

at the top

only 1 tho

i should have stayed longer

[silk flare]

still awesome that you got a node up there

[idle trail]

i might do it again next saturday

very low chance

[shadow quest]

Not sure, but I'll may head back up April 6th when the road is open. And better prepared.

[idle trail]

if the snow melts i can go to timberline for some hiking and stuff

[shadow quest]

I'm doubting it as well, but if not that's a whole new level of OCD.

[idle trail]

Thats my longest contact so far and ive only had this radio for 3 days

got it thursday night

@shadow quest did you see my message on longfast when i was up there?

[shadow quest]

@idle trail I did. Did you see Marie's reply? She's in Bend.

[idle trail]

nope

wasnt there for long enough :/

[shadow quest]

The weird thing is I got undeliverable for my test messages. Did you see my test from gate or the anyone out there message?

[idle trail]

I saw no messages from anyone

only an ack on longfast

and then the central oregon nodes started flooding in

[shadow quest]

So when you sent your message you pinged off me and I sent it onto Bend.

[idle trail]

Yes

and then all those acks from bend came back

and one location packet

[shadow quest]

So from Marie who got your ack it traveled 97 miles roughly.

[idle trail]

Wait where is Marie's location

[shadow quest]

She's in Bend. Near Awbrey Butte.

[idle trail]

Nice

it said "Portland? wow"

[shadow quest]

"Portland? How? I'm in Bend."

[idle trail]

i didn't expect it to go that far. and to achive it on my 3rd day of using this radio

no one from portland responded :/

[shadow quest]

That's not Marie.

[idle trail]

Ok

i wonder if anyone from portland got this

should have made myself a router_client

Can you find out who that is?

[rich arch]

MichaelIsThatYou here, this is what I got in my device, I was also up in Mt Hood Meadows, for some reason the dates are all messed up

[idle trail]

Hello

[shadow quest]

@rich arch Weird. The 9eed is me saying what time I'm leaving and I sent that from Redmond. Where are you based out of Michael?

@idle trail how do I ping the !f9ff1d4 user? Only had a node for a week.

[idle trail]

i dont know ive only had mine for 3 days 💀

if you use the pc version you can see the ids

client.meshtastic.org

@rich arch can you show all the messages startinf rom the first one i sent on longfast?

like a screen recording

i was also using the stock anetnna btw

its shorter than my pinky finger

[shadow quest]

Ah. I'll link my mobile to my computer. Crazy Turtle. And here I spent money on a better one!

[idle trail]

yeah i was super surprised

[shadow quest]

My case isn't as pretty colored. It's 1.5" caps that press together. Ordering a bulkhead fitting to replace the coax and will direct mount the antenna to the cap.

[idle trail]

@dusky niche @turbid sequoia did you get this message ?

[shadow quest]

The USB out the top is power. Eventually I'll get a battery pack inside.

[idle trail]

way more advacned than my setup xD

[silk flare]

Oh that's nice and compact though too, super durable

[idle trail]

I got mine 3d printed from a teacher

[shadow quest]

Yeah. It's a 3 dB antenna and then I have a 5.8 on my base node. Will probably swap them for next adventure. But sounds like I may not need to if the stock one works.

[turbid sequoia]

Didn't make it to my home node.

[idle trail]

ask around

im in the car on my way back

did you just see my message?

[silk flare]

I saw your message

[turbid sequoia]

This is me, working on python scripts to send telemetry

[shadow quest]

@idle trail have an amazing local contact who got a box of antennas for cheap. Only reason why I have a fancy antenna.

Some sort of backdoor warehouse "sale".

[idle trail]

ah

[idle trail]

wait then how did i get your signal from mt hood lol

i was able to ping it

[turbid sequoia]

My router in the attic has LOS to hood. Node on my desk is broadcasting a fake location.

[idle trail]

Oh Amazing

so i did reach portland

your in portland right?

[turbid sequoia]

Yeah, K1PDX is my location

[idle trail]

Ah ok thats you

[cold horizon]

@idle trail, just saw your message on the Mesh. I’m 🌲 Koivu

[idle trail]

not seeing you

[rich arch]

Lol Michael is a colleague, but based out of Portland, but was at Mt Hood skiing this morning

[rich arch]

The dates are all messed up, I see two Hellos from you, are you talking about the one with the Howdy reply?

[idle trail]

no

[cold horizon]

I think you might be out of range. I tried DMing you and it gave me a an “Implicit acknowledgment from another node”

[idle trail]

ok

yeah im going in the tunnel right now

[shadow quest]

On the client.meshtastic.org it just has Mac address. I don't see a user id on Windows/Chrome

[idle trail]

oh

:?

:/

[shadow quest]

I checked my debug list and that user id is on there so it's some one local to me, but I don't know who.

Figured it out. They're NE Bend.

[idle trail]

ah nice

[shadow quest]

The last 4 is the short name 4. Luckily the user hasn't updated their name so it was easy.

[dusky niche]

I did not. Great to live the long dx life vicariously through you guys!

[idle trail]

dont question it

||not a snap circuit battery attached to a node and then melted plastic so i could solder to the terminals and thos are not rubber bands holding it all together||

[silk flare]

#notabomb haha hey it's a creative solution for figuring out how to power these things

[idle trail]

its still running

@silk flare its still running at the orignal volatage

and ivesent a few messages

[silk flare]

Nice! 3xAA batteries?

[idle trail]

they are rechargable and they claim they are 1000mah but i doubt it

and i didnt even charge the to the max

[silk flare]

It'll be interesting to see how long it runs on those

[idle trail]

it dips to around 4 when i tx but then goes back up

but ive seen that happening on other nodes

to 4.09

oh i also set the ping time to 15 min

and made myself a router so i get many messages

[silk flare]

Nice! Yeah I've got my ping times lowered down a bit too, I need to get one of my nodes mounted outside - currently it's just sitting in a window in my office and it works okay but I have a feeling if I get it mounted outside I'll start getting a lot more messages (and actually be able to send)

[idle trail]

whats your node name

[silk flare]

734c

[idle trail]

dont see u im M-MM

Murturtle - Message Me

im in the beaverton area

[silk flare]

Oh I have two nodes, 85b0 is the other one, I'm in the Lake Oswego area, on the west side near I-5

[idle trail]

i see that one

sent a message to 85b0

[silk flare]

I just tried sending to yours too - got the "implicit ACK" message, presumably because I need to get that 734c radio up higher and outside

[idle trail]

found 734c

same i got implicit ack

let me adjust me radio position

also i think you need 4 hops

[silk flare]

I just checked to make sure I was configured for 4 hops, and I am

[idle trail]

There is this one node that i always use to commuicate around, but i think it goes offline around 12 am because it runs out of power

[silk flare]

I'm trying to ping the Nansen node - which is up on a hill near by and helps get me out of the area that I'm in but it doesn't seem to be getting through to it

[idle trail]

yeah i can ping the nansen node during the day

moving my node again

[silk flare]

Yeah it was working for me earlier today but seems to be either down or just out of range right now

[idle trail]

a lot of nodes go down durning the night

ok i put a tiny parabolic reflector on my antenna (windsurfer)

[silk flare]

Nice! I'll give it another shot

[idle trail]

ok i hit sattelite repater

and k7eok

👍

works like a charm

tracerout me

[silk flare]

on it

[idle trail]

i cant get a message out to you :/

[silk flare]

did you get my message from 734c?

[idle trail]

you probably wont get a response back

[silk flare]

Yeah

[idle trail]

most of my snrs are -19

[turbid sequoia]

Nansen is up. Might have worse performance in the rain.

[idle trail]

oh not raining here

[turbid sequoia]

rain/wet/fog. all conductive.

[idle trail]

ah

[silk flare]

Yeah I think I just can't hit nansen consistently, conditions have to be just right

my goal for tomorrow is to get my 734c node out of the office and outside and up high

We'll see if the weather is reasonable enough haha

[idle trail]

i might go hiking tmr. if i do i will bring my node

the bend thing was funny today

[silk flare]

that was super cool haha

[idle trail]

ok going to point at sat II repeater

LOL

i turned the reflector and now i got signal

sending a message to your nodes

implicit ack

[silk flare]

yeah i'm timing out trying to hit anyhting it seems like

[idle trail]

:/

[silk flare]

Oooh that one actually came through!

[idle trail]

nice

734c?

[silk flare]

85b0

[idle trail]

sending more

ok i got it pointed in a good direction

[silk flare]

I just responded to test 3

[idle trail]

ok

if your message comes through ill do a traceroute

nope nothing

[silk flare]

haha well thanks for troubleshooting anyways, much appreciated

[idle trail]

im trying to find ways to commincate when one of the nodes that i use goes donw

i said "hello adam" on longfast

[silk flare]

nada on longfast for me

[idle trail]

oh the radio fell face down 🤦

ok it went out to satellite II repeater

[solar garnet]

@idle trail what device/antenna were you using on Mt Hood?

@shadow quest what device/antenna were you using in Central Oregon?

[shadow quest]

@solar garnet I had a Rak 4631 (Wisblock starter kit). With a Raigen 3 dB antenna.

[solar garnet]

Very cool

[shadow quest]

But also had contact before I left home. We recently added a router up Cline Butte and through screenshots confirmed Mt Hood was getting our traffic earlier in the day.

[solar garnet]

I do summits on the air (ham radio activity) and was wondering about using Meshtastic to make contacts. Now I know it’s a thing

[solar garnet]

That’s awesome. Hopefully the two repeaters I’m building will stretch Meshtastic down the Willamette Valley by connecting Salem to Portland

[shadow quest]

Very cool.

[idle trail]

LilyGo TTGO-LoRa v2.1-1.6

not one of the popular ones, but it was on amazon and it was on sale

it also has an sma connectnor not an annoying ipex

[idle trail]

it would be interesting if we could do portland longfast -> shortslow -> salem longfast

it would make messages go through faster

[solar garnet]

I don’t understand how that works but once all the parts arrive and they’re built Weill see how it goes

[solar garnet]

Willamette Valley Summit to Summit SOTA party is coming up in April for those of us in the area. Weekend of the 13/14. I’ll be on summit hf/vhf/uhf along with trying to make simplex Meshtastic contacts

[sharp pilot]

Guys I am testing in long fast from the mountains with my remote node

YamCo-Mesh5 is the node. It's in router/client mode

[silk flare]

Very nice! I

[idle trail]

nice im in portlad but nothing is ging through

[silk flare]

Yeah I haven't seen anything from it either

[sharp pilot]

I have sent a few

Anyone have a node I can DM?

[silk flare]

Sure thing, Meshtastic 734c and 85b0 are my nodes

[sharp pilot]

Don't see those ones

Only what's in the screen shots

[silk flare]

Meshtastic 734c is my node actually, is the 2nd one in your first screen shot

[sharp pilot]

Just sent a test

[silk flare]

Nothing received here, but it looks like my node has really bad SNR and RSSI in your screen shot.

I tried sending you a DM as well

[sharp pilot]

Going to get closer to the node

[silk flare]

my nodes aren't set up in an optimal position currently (they're both indoors) so they might not be the best case scenario for testing

[sharp pilot]

I just sent another test on long fast

[silk flare]

I was able to receive that one on LongFast

[sharp pilot]

Excellent

Soni don't have line of site to you but it's good through the mesh

[sonic plover]

Just saw your test on LongFast out in East Portland. My reply come through to you?

Would have come from Fuzz Solar Test

[sharp pilot]

Did you test on long fast or direct to the node?

[sonic plover]

LongFast

[sharp pilot]

nope

[sonic plover]

Dang. Just put a new setup on the roof. Definitely receiving more, but still not having a ton of success getting transmissions out.

[sharp pilot]

just set my node to router only mode from my house 8 miles away via CLI, this shit is great

[flat tulip]

Hey I noticed a node in @ CCC Oregon City (SOC 1) anyone here managing it?

[solar garnet]

Are any of you connected with MQTT? Msh/us/or?

[sharp pilot]

msh/US/2/e/LongFast

[solar garnet]

Ok. I’m popping in

Not seeing anything

Switching back to Oregon

[sharp pilot]

are you sending test msg on long fast?

can you see YCM5?

@solar garnet

[idle trail]

who is ycm4?

[idle trail]

oh hello i see your node

saw

[sharp pilot]

Thats me

[idle trail]

you still out?

[sharp pilot]

all the YCM4 is at my house. YCM5 is the one I just put in the hills

SO I can see the one in the hills from my house. barely

[idle trail]

oh let me put on my parabolic reflector and try to hit you

[sharp pilot]

ok

I am not near YCM5 though, I am on YCM4 right now

[idle trail]

im going outside to get a better signal

Hehe

[sharp pilot]

lulz

what node is yours?

[idle trail]

M-MM

Murturtle - Message Me

im still setting up give me 5 minutes

[sharp pilot]

I dont see your node. try aiming it towards the one in the hills

you are in laffayete correct?

[idle trail]

its on now

point towards nw hiehgts

[sharp pilot]

can you see YCM5?

[idle trail]

not yet

i tired to send something on longlfast

[sharp pilot]

is that the map from your phone?

[idle trail]

tablet

[sharp pilot]

ok

[idle trail]

yes

[sharp pilot]

interesting that you can see the node from my house

[idle trail]

let me move to the front yard

were i can see more

[sharp pilot]

you should be able to see YCM5, thats at 2000 feet in the hills

[solar garnet]

I left it on OR. Had to run errands

[idle trail]

Yeah I think it's a stretch

[sharp pilot]

once I get the node up at work you should be able to see that, and that will link you to teh PDX mesh. I hope to have it up this week sometime

[idle trail]

NICE

oops caps

[sharp pilot]

I sent you a DM

[idle trail]

yeah my node is struggling

point towards sattelite repater if thast possible

was that you on longfast

[sharp pilot]

not me

I can send a msg on long fast

just sent one

[idle trail]

can you point towards sattelite reapter?

[sharp pilot]

my antenna is omni

[idle trail]

oh ok

i can hit satelite repater

[sharp pilot]

I can see satellite II

[idle trail]

i see ycm5

nice

sent out on longfast

going direct to sattelite II

[sharp pilot]

I can see you on meshmap

[idle trail]

what if we both switch to longslow?

yes thats me

[sharp pilot]

just saw you on longfast

[idle trail]

nice

which one should i dm? 4 or 5

[sharp pilot]

4

[idle trail]

im anble to request your position

and then it goes to the top of the list

[sharp pilot]

nice

[idle trail]

most of the nodes near me went offline and my signal to sat II repater is very weak

[sharp pilot]

need some elevation

[idle trail]

yes i do

[sharp pilot]

or a Yagi

[idle trail]

i have a windsurfer on my node

like the little parabolic wifi thingy

[sharp pilot]

ok

DYI?

[idle trail]

yes

[sharp pilot]

cool

[idle trail]

and then i have multiple sketchy rechargable batteries

[sharp pilot]

this is cheap and easy
https://a.co/d/dKb44yf

[idle trail]

i would rather buy another node

but it is a good idea

[blazing mauve]

loving the NET net

I feel seen

[dusky niche]

I noticed several nodes that I don't remember seeing before show up this morning. Hello to i.LIKE.SOX, Raspjack and Ajax. Probably more new in my DB, but it's getting so large I can't remember them all! Awesome!

[sharp pilot]

Yes.!!!

From Mcminnville I can see nodes all the way past Vancouver

That's a pretty big net

We also picked up a repeater in Carlton

[solar garnet]

Phenomenal

Can’t wait to get these repeaters online and expand south

[shadow quest]

Has anyone reached out to Day Wireless (or other company) about putting a node on one of their towers? They have a lot in Oregon. I've reached out to our local office in Bend to inquire about it. Waiting for a call back from the Site Manager.

[solar garnet]

I’m working with a few amateur radio tower owners and a local fire station with a 100’ tower. I’m starting with 2 Meshtastic repeaters. One that will hopefully connect Salem to Portland and cover Salem. Another that will service Salem and shoot up the Santiam canyon.

[dusky niche]

How receptive have the fire stations been to the idea? There is station near me that might help me get a westward opening.

[bronze compass]

That's amazing

[idle trail]

yeah ive seen some new ones

[idle trail]

if you can cover santain canyon, that is a fairly popular travel route to central oregon

[solar garnet]

Part of the agreement is to provide an AREDN node with a VoIP phone and an rf path to the another station that already has a node and phone

[dusky niche]

Ahh, I see. I listened to the NET meeting last night and it sounds like the Washington County AREDN system is in a state of flux right now...

[solar garnet]

Not familiar with the Washington county aspect or why it’s in flux but the Willamette Valley Mesh Network has nodes all over.

[idle trail]

wow so many node

s

[silk flare]

Yeah there's quite a lot of them!

[blazing mauve]

Will those radio towers survive a cascadia full rip?

( seems like they would )

[solar garnet]

They would likely do back up much quicker than anything commercial if they come down

[little geyser]

Hey is whoever's running dawn patrol and sandlot around here on discord?

[idle trail]

hey can anyone get on verylongslow?

beaverton area

if you can, ping me

@dusky niche if you are avaible can you help me test on verylongslow?

[dusky niche]

Sorry, was making dinner. Just sent a test on VLongSlow. Never tried before. Do you need to turn off Modem Presets?

[idle trail]

@dusky niche you need to set it in the setings

[dusky niche]

Yeah, it's set to VLS. Just wondered about the modem preset selector. I suppose it should stay selected...

[idle trail]

i just switched to it

sent a message

your jdmo correct?

[dusky niche]

First try didn't go through. I think I need to hit a repeater usually to get out.

[idle trail]

thats why im trying vls

[idle trail]

see you on the node list

[dusky niche]

Hmm... still no go...

[idle trail]

oh hello

i saw you on longfast

i mean

alkfjlaksjdf

vlongfast

[idle trail]

i saw it

no ack i guess

your quite far and past many trees

[dusky niche]

Interesting!

[idle trail]

saw a second message

[dusky niche]

Last time I saw you was 44mins ago...

[idle trail]

oh really

my antenna is very bad

let me find the parabolic thingy

[idle trail]

sending agian

snr -14.5

whateve back to longfast

[dusky niche]

It's raining so hard here in Aloha that I don't think any radio frequencies are getting out!😄

[sharp pilot]

Need more power to burn through the rain

[solar garnet]

What MQTT topic is everyone here using?

[idle trail]

yeah that was ruining our tests

[sharp pilot]

@idle trail

[idle trail]

oh hi

i was eating

[idle trail]

do you want to try very long fast?

very long slow

what am i talking about 🤦

[sharp pilot]

I would have to change on my other nodes in order to send. And I can't because it's a router

[idle trail]

oh

[solar garnet]

I may have gotten on via MQTT

[idle trail]

i have mqtt blocked

[solar garnet]

Messages are now showing ack check mark

Maybe my mobile node will show up on the map soon.

[idle trail]

nt3s is you?

[solar garnet]

Yes

Do you see me?

Does this look right?

[idle trail]

oh hi

i made my hops 10 xD

[solar garnet]

Ok. I updated my topic based on what I was told in #mqtt

I turned on data over Bluetooth on my cellular tablet

We’ll see what happens

[idle trail]

enabled mqtt

[solar garnet]

Yes.

[idle trail]

traceroute me if possible

[solar garnet]

Ohh. You used lower case “or”. Maybe that’s my issue. I just capitalized it

[idle trail]

oh ok

i copied someelses

i made mine capital

[solar garnet]

I was told to leave off the 2e

[solar garnet]

I made mine lowercase 😂

Yours was working with other people before so let’s stick to lower case

[idle trail]

k

[idle trail]

that screenshot was not from mqtt, this is the first time ive turned it on

[solar garnet]

Ohh. I see

Need to figure out how to see who is acknowledging my messages

[idle trail]

you can see on debug console
three dots

just not a name :/

it gives you their id

[solar garnet]

Weird

[idle trail]

yeah thats what i look at

[solar garnet]

I only see my ID

[idle trail]

you should see other's ids

on the from

[solar garnet]

I don’t so far. I also don’t see myself on the map yet which MQTT was supposed to do

I’ve gone back to the basic OR topic

[idle trail]

try going on very long slow

i migjht be able to reach you

[solar garnet]

Got an ack

[idle trail]

ohhh

on verylongslow?

[solar garnet]

Yes

Almost immediately

[idle trail]

wasnt me

thats mqtt

i don't know how mcuh time you have, but i can go to a park and set up there

[solar garnet]

Ok. I appreciate you trying

[idle trail]

its los to aumsville

[solar garnet]

I have to go back to work

[idle trail]

ok, see you around

[solar garnet]

I appreciate your help

[idle trail]

no problem

[sharp pilot]

Looks like we have 8 nodes now in Yamhill Valley

The router I put in the hills has linked us to PDX

[shadow quest]

I haven't thrown in the towel yet, but I believe it will be cost prohibitive to use an FCC regulated tower for hosting node locations. But I did get a nifty list of all the tall points that have access roads to them for Oregon if anyone would like it. Not saying there is legal access on all of them.

[silk flare]

Oooh that's a neat list to have that I am certainly interested in

I wondered if it would be cost prohibitive to use FCC regulated towers - I assume because of having to lease tower space, or any other red tape type stuff

[shadow quest]

With the FCC ruling you have to have the owner apply for a change order request for the tower. There is also the monthly lease cost. Where as if you hide it in a tree near the top there are no regulations or fees.

[idle trail]

someone should make a meshtastic oregon discord server

it would be more orgnanized

[solar garnet]

Just use ham and gmrs repeater towers

Stay away from commercial towers

[shadow quest]

One of the other guys said he was. I haven't heard anything about it yet.

[solar garnet]

I am waiting on my order to be delivered from RAK and then I’ll have 2 repeaters setup. Both above 1000’ on ham towers

[shadow quest]

I forget how low it is on your side of the mountains. I'm aiming for 5000' and higher.

[solar garnet]

High desert life

[shadow quest]

Dry clean air. Don't want it any other way.

[solar garnet]

I just realized my node wasn’t on a current alpha FW update so it wasn’t communicating properly

[sharp pilot]

The one I put up is 2000 feet

[solar garnet]

Finally

[idle trail]

ohh nic

e

[sharp pilot]

so you can see my router in the hills from there. thats awesome

[solar garnet]

At the job site

My qth will be a different story

[sharp pilot]

I dont see you on my map 😦

can you send something on long fast?

[solar garnet]

Which map?

[sharp pilot]

the map on my app

your node is not showing up for me. I can see you on meshmap

[solar garnet]

I sent your router a direct message but it didn’t hear me on long fast

[sharp pilot]

ok

I can see you connected directly to my router

[solar garnet]

Yep. Traceroute shows direct to you

[sharp pilot]

whats the SNR?

[solar garnet]

Several other stations through you

-13.5

[sharp pilot]

SNR is pretty high

yeah, that router can see to Portlan

PDX

even saw a guy on Mt. Hood today

I can see clear to Mt. Hood from that location

[solar garnet]

Very cool

[sharp pilot]

the problem is that I have better view North than to the south towards Salem area

[solar garnet]

Message went through to your router

[sharp pilot]

sweet

next time I am up there I will check it

unless I can check msgs through the CLI....

[solar garnet]

Cool

[sharp pilot]

can you sned on long fast?

[solar garnet]

I have tried and gotten nothing

[sharp pilot]

ok

[solar garnet]

But signal is weak. I’ll try again in a few

[sharp pilot]

ok

you keep updating on meshmap, so thats a good thing

[solar garnet]

I moved my antenna and got a better SNR but no traffic yet on long fast

Sitting at a job site waiting for subs

Compromised antenna setup

[sharp pilot]

ha

[solar garnet]

Is the generic key for long fast AQ==?

[sharp pilot]

need to get the 8DB gain antenna and fix it up on yer rig

[sharp pilot]

yes

[sharp pilot]

that needs to go on your roof rack

[solar garnet]

It was delivered yesterday. It’s going on the repeaters

[sharp pilot]

nice

where is your repeater going?

[turbid sequoia]

Setting hops to anything over 7 will actually use the default (3).

[idle trail]

oh

ok

[solar garnet]

One above drakes crossing at 1900 feet hopefully. The other on eagle crest which is 1000 ft

[sharp pilot]

eagle crest off Zena Rd.?

[solar garnet]

Yes

[sharp pilot]

ok, I have relatives on eagle crest and was thinking about putting one up there too

right at the top where the gravel and pavement meet

nice clear view of the valley

[solar garnet]

I have a friend with a tower there

[sharp pilot]

oh sweet. git er dun

[solar garnet]

Hope so

[shadow rock]

Yes, strongly suspect that there are only 3 bits in the header for hopcount.

[idle trail]

aww man

[sharp pilot]

Do we have "NET's" on meshtastic?

[solar garnet]

Rubber duck and I’m still hearing your router

[sharp pilot]

very nice

just sent you a msg

direct

[solar garnet]

I’m also sitting at a high point no where near my house 😂

[sharp pilot]

have you on my node list now

[solar garnet]

Wow. Thats a strong signal on your end

[sharp pilot]

yes

did you get my DM?

[solar garnet]

No

[sharp pilot]

dang

[solar garnet]

No yamco 4 on my node list

[sharp pilot]

Hmm

I can see you

[solar garnet]

Gotta drive. I’ll set up again tomorrow at the job site

I only see yamco 3 and 5 on my list. No messages

[sharp pilot]

Yamco 3 is the one on my roof

[dusky niche]

Got one of the 10000mah batteries today. This thing is a beast! This will go in the solar node I'm gathering parts for. One word of caution for anyone using this battery with a WisBlock, check the polarity of the connector as I almost blew up my board before noticing the problem.🥺

[solar garnet]

Good to know. My batteries show up tomorrow. My wisblocks are on the slow boat

[idle trail]

anyone see me and @exotic anchor messages today?

[exotic anchor]

Me and @idle trail approved way of getting the node just a little higher

[shadow quest]

How big is your pole? #notadickjoke

[idle trail]

30'

[sharp pilot]

Haha

[shadow quest]

I felt like I needed to clarify that.

[sharp pilot]

@dusky niche I have one of those batteries on my router in the hills with the 6watt panel

[shadow quest]

@sharp pilot How cold do you get in the winter? Trying to decide between li ion and lifepo4 for my routers

[sharp pilot]

Yeah. This is a lipo and it's 2000 feet up in the coast range. It does snow up there. Sometimes a couple feet of snow up there.

I will have to figure out a way to winterize it

We will see how it does in the winter...

[dusky niche]

Is it running a WisBlock? I'm hoping that even with the gray days we have it'll run the thing for quite a while. I'll be using one of the solar panels that come on the Harbor Breeze lights from Lowes. Not sure what the wattage is...

[sharp pilot]

It's running a heltec v3

This the panel I have
Soshine Mini Solar Panel - USB... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B099RSLNZ4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share