Yoooo I'm bluffs station! I got a g2 station with an alfa 915 antenna , i got it on a 13 foot tripod mast on my roof and it's killin it ! My elevations not too high but it's high enough just to see the other antennas . I will definatly see you on the mesh
You are killin it , I get you in Pinole a lot. Keep up the good work! I built a small yagi and was able to tune it but only two elements, I will build a 9 element soon.
I spent most of my time talking to myself, no one else in my area has it. I haven't checked since last year, but I have a nicer antenna I've been meaning to put up since then. I have 2way radios that can message out that's way more powerful than this tool making me not have motivation to return at this point. I get it has encryption and is license free, but I have a lot of noise, trees and valleys making it hard to get out a few blocks.
As much as I want to try Meshtastic, and as much as people sing it's praises, I think it's very overhyped for what's actually doable. Maybe as it grows more popular things might improve, but I just don't think it's there yet.
People tend to get overexcited about it after watching a bunch of videos and buying their first one (usually before they realize you absolutely have to have elevation advantage as low power as these things are). In my experience it's taken learning what the right hardware is and multiple people planning/working together to achieve reliable coverage for ground level/indoor nodes across a given area. I've probably blown around three hundred to date. I figured out from my mesh buddies how to build a node that does as much as I can expect it to when it's about 25-30' up for around $100. Without solar it lasts at least a month on a charge. I still haven't gotten the solar one positioned well enough to get much charge on it. Now I just let it sit and watch trends as the mesh grows. Very little communication occurs outside of my mesh buddies who are radio guys who just want it as a hurricane/cellular down backup comm.
Being Meshtashtic ignorant, if I struggle to get my friends on FRS or GMRS, how would I get them on Mesh? It seems, being ignorant, that unless I have a mesh of associates willing to Mesh, why should I Mesh? Thanks for the video and 73, Bill.
Well I can tell you it's different for everyone. With me, GMRS was the Foot in the door, and one year later I'm an Amateur Extra. Preparedness for preparedness sake was what did it for me. If you look at the newest Batch of Hams, they are allll from the Hurricane Disaster Zone. Just food for thought to spit ball towards your friends, The gist is "I'd rather Be Ready, Than Get Ready." I found the easiest thing to do is Throw my old Baofengs their way loaded with FRS/GMRS/MURS/ Local analog frequencies within their area. Out of the 6 I've Issued, only 1 has took the Jump into the rabbit hole. Perhaps someone else has better experience on how to rope in friends into the Hobby but from what it seems like, a Disaster may be needed to push the rest in. Good luck Boss
Meshtastic is like anything else ham radio, it's kind of boring if you don't have people to talk to. That's how I spent most of my beginning General and Extra life until I got into digital modes and CW. Meshtastic also sucks for road travel unless you land yourself into a high-concentration mesh area. I got a lot of my meshtastic gear because someone gave up with no success and sold me all of his stuff.
Remember 900 MHZ in low power. Height is might . Antenna gain helps a lot. Good short coax. And when hopping threw nodes ,each one has to reach each outher or the message will not make it. Getting more better nodes on the network will help a whole bunch. Andy Kirby has done a lot of Meshtastic videos . Just remember he is in UK and their band is slight different. Close enough that just adjust antenna for US band plain. And get the US version. We also have a 433 MHZ type as well. What you need is a few good high point nodes in the network and you will get great range. Look at where you are at . You have to see the outher node. line of sight. All them hills and valleys just get in the way . Keep trying with it. get some friends to join the network. 73
Yoooo I'm bluffs station! I got a g2 station with an alfa 915 antenna , i got it on a 13 foot tripod mast on my roof and it's killin it ! My elevations not too high but it's high enough just to see the other antennas . I will definatly see you on the mesh
You are killin it , I get you in Pinole a lot. Keep up the good work! I built a small yagi and was able to tune it but only two elements, I will build a 9 element soon.
@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures nice!! That's awesome!! Well I will be keeping an eye out for ya !
I use it for many miles have tested it out to 40 miles and it works fantastic!
That's awesome! I think my problem is the lack of line of site, I will be working on that. Thanks for sharing!
Also not many people want to talk to complete strangers on the mesh it's different to radio
I spent most of my time talking to myself, no one else in my area has it. I haven't checked since last year, but I have a nicer antenna I've been meaning to put up since then. I have 2way radios that can message out that's way more powerful than this tool making me not have motivation to return at this point. I get it has encryption and is license free, but I have a lot of noise, trees and valleys making it hard to get out a few blocks.
As much as I want to try Meshtastic, and as much as people sing it's praises, I think it's very overhyped for what's actually doable. Maybe as it grows more popular things might improve, but I just don't think it's there yet.
People tend to get overexcited about it after watching a bunch of videos and buying their first one (usually before they realize you absolutely have to have elevation advantage as low power as these things are). In my experience it's taken learning what the right hardware is and multiple people planning/working together to achieve reliable coverage for ground level/indoor nodes across a given area. I've probably blown around three hundred to date. I figured out from my mesh buddies how to build a node that does as much as I can expect it to when it's about 25-30' up for around $100. Without solar it lasts at least a month on a charge. I still haven't gotten the solar one positioned well enough to get much charge on it. Now I just let it sit and watch trends as the mesh grows. Very little communication occurs outside of my mesh buddies who are radio guys who just want it as a hurricane/cellular down backup comm.
High frequencys don't bounce of the ionosphere you need line of sight
Being Meshtashtic ignorant, if I struggle to get my friends on FRS or GMRS, how would I get them on Mesh? It seems, being ignorant, that unless I have a mesh of associates willing to Mesh, why should I Mesh? Thanks for the video and 73, Bill.
Well I can tell you it's different for everyone.
With me, GMRS was the Foot in the door, and one year later I'm an Amateur Extra.
Preparedness for preparedness sake was what did it for me.
If you look at the newest Batch of Hams, they are allll from the Hurricane Disaster Zone.
Just food for thought to spit ball towards your friends, The gist is "I'd rather Be Ready, Than Get Ready."
I found the easiest thing to do is Throw my old Baofengs their way loaded with FRS/GMRS/MURS/ Local analog frequencies within their area.
Out of the 6 I've Issued, only 1 has took the Jump into the rabbit hole. Perhaps someone else has better experience on how to rope in friends into the Hobby but from what it seems like, a Disaster may be needed to push the rest in.
Good luck Boss
To communicate 70miles you need to be very high off the ground
🎃👋🎃👋what’s up Chuck
You need line of sight use online tools
Meshtastic is like anything else ham radio, it's kind of boring if you don't have people to talk to. That's how I spent most of my beginning General and Extra life until I got into digital modes and CW. Meshtastic also sucks for road travel unless you land yourself into a high-concentration mesh area. I got a lot of my meshtastic gear because someone gave up with no success and sold me all of his stuff.
Thanks Dennis, I'm working on some antennas to see if they help
Remember 900 MHZ in low power. Height is might . Antenna gain helps a lot. Good short coax. And when hopping threw nodes ,each one has to reach each outher or the message will not make it. Getting more better nodes on the network will help a whole bunch. Andy Kirby has done a lot of Meshtastic videos . Just remember he is in UK and their band is slight different. Close enough that just adjust antenna for US band plain. And get the US version. We also have a 433 MHZ type as well. What you need is a few good high point nodes in the network and you will get great range. Look at where you are at . You have to see the outher node. line of sight. All them hills and valleys just get in the way . Keep trying with it. get some friends to join the network. 73
Yea been hitting a couple buddies that have better height at their places. Thanks for the info
To go 6 miles you need to be at least 25meters off the ground because the planet earth is in the way
I have well over 200 people in my area using it.
I thought mesh meant your transmissions were repeated.