Here is a build gallery of the two nodes I have based around RAK WisBlock?



Gallery link to more as I build:




73!! ?David (KG5EIU)?

Hey All - New to Mesh.? So new in fact my T-Echo won't ship for another 19 days.
In the mean time I'm sponging as much as possible.

Long time Ham in Arizona but born, raised and have family in Texas so I'm back and forth to Rockwall quite a bit.? Maybe I'll bump into one of you on the mesh next trip.

Been trying a good bit today to save settings in the Config>Module Config>MQTT and not having any success. I have used different browsers to attempt the save and nothing stays. I have been attempting to Enable MQTT. I make the change ?and then use the save button/icon. The Heltec V3 reboots. I then reload the browser and check the settings and they did not change. MQTT is still disabled.

Done many web searches ?and found no real help.
I know the group here is small, but most of you have had more experience than I have. Just thought I would post the issue here.

Les
WD5BYQ

Thanks for joining our new group dedicated to establishing a DallasMesh. It’s just a dream right now but it’s gotta start somewhere so hope this can help.

groups.io now requires a moderator approve the first posting for any new member. Please don’t take it personally… we’ll approve it quickly and from then on post at will.

73
Rich n5csu

Saw this on the Meshtastic Facebook group
73
Rich n5csu

Cold Weather Repeater: I live in Idaho and even though spring is coming, the entire winter is below 32 degrees F, so Lithium batteries will not work for outside use. I use a 12 volt 7.2 AH gel Lead Acid Battery with a 10 watt solar panel. Even with a week of overcast and snow, the battery has stayed charged enough to power the repeater. It has been up for over 6 weeks now and has worked perfectly. ?I use a Wisblock, charge controller for the panel and 12 v to 5 V USB buck converter. It has a 4db omni antenna. I know the Wisblock has a built in charge controller, but have read about failures with it. The panel came with the charge controller, so I use the supplied controller. This repeater at just 32 feet above my home covers my entire small town and a great deal of area outside of town (I'm amazed). If you are looking to get more Meshtastic users, put up a repeater. Giving new users the ability to have service in a wider area will help increase the numbers of users in your area. I have a pretty good hill on the North side of town. As soon as the snow clears, I have a place to put another repeater. This will greatly increase coverage area and even allow my city to connect with a neighboring city as soon as a repeater is put up high there, which is in the works. P.S., though not done yet in the photo, I like to hot glue the antenna pig tail to the board so that vibration will not have it come loose. Enjoy !

Received notices this week from Amazon and Rokland that my solar meshtastic project parts are shipping. I anticipate that they will arrive sometime next week. The last to arrive may be the waterproof enclosure. I'll post an update and maybe some pics of the assembly.

Les
WD5BYQ

Here is another node I built - LilyGo TTGO?

I got the starter kit using the RAK 4630. I cannot get the board to power up using the battery port. The USB and Solar ports work just fine.
With the USB port in use I can voltages on cables connected to the Solar and Battery ports (4. 76 volts - Solar - and 4.21 volts - Battery).
The batteries are charged fully. In my testing I used my bench power supply and slowly ran the voltage up to 5 volts, while connected to the battery port. No joy.
Am I missing a configuration? Ideas?

Les
WD5BYQ?

开云体育

Well, it might have just been operator error. I may not have allowed the LoRa time to boot and send out a signal.

Got the initial wiring done for the outdoor node. The non-connected wires are for the solar panel. I used a power supply to simulate the solar panel and showed the batteries charging. Just waiting for outdoor box to arrive. It will then be drill holes and mount the hardware. The small PCB is the battery protection circuit.

Just got mine in the mail today, son introduced me to them. Looking to build a node for my home and then a mobile unit for cars.

Two images show the wired board with battery power confirmed (though the batteries were not connected at time of photo).
Also showing hole cut in weather proof box ?for mounting of solar panel.

On Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 07:09 PM, Leslie Loftin WD5BYQ wrote:

Been trying a good bit today to save settings in the Config>Module Config>MQTT and not having any success. I have used different browsers to attempt the save and nothing stays. I have been attempting to Enable MQTT. I make the change ?and then use the save button/icon. The Heltec V3 reboots. I then reload the browser and check the settings and they did not change. MQTT is still disabled.

Done many web searches ?and found no real help.
I know the group here is small, but most of you have had more experience than I have. Just thought I would post the issue here.

Les
WD5BYQ

I was browsing the Reddit Mestastic forum and saw something about using Chromium and not Chrome for interfacing with the configurations.

Your outdoor node is looking good. ? By chance do you have the links to the case and battery protection board?
handy you could share here ??

I also finished up a T-Beam supreme - I have been using that in my Jeep when I drive around?
for work etc. to see what I see out there. ? ?Photos in the gallery: ???

Here is a short video on how to update/flash a RAK4631 WisBlock with Meshtastic starter kit

David,
Here is the link to an excellent assembly video, with links in the comments.



The video shows a tilt solar panel option that I disregarded, but now wonder if should have used!
We will see how the vertical mount I am using works.?

Les

The web based bootloader makes things easy.

I have had my node outside for over a week now. So far, the solar panel seems to be keeping the unit running and the batteries charged. May leave another week before trying to move it to a higher location. Right now it is only four feet off the ground. If you get near Eastfield College look for "aece." I doubt you would see me unless you were in front of the house or maybe on the Motley Drive bridge over I-30.

Traveling out soon and bringing Meshtastic.? Wondered if anyone had a Mesh Map of the area they could throw in here just to see what coverage is looking like?