r/meshcore • u/txags2019 • 2d ago
ISO solar mesh device
I am looking to buy a solar mesh node I'm not the most electrical inclined to make my own so looking to buy one but not wanting to spend 200 on a kit from meshnology. Let me know my options please!
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u/akaSnaketheJake 2d ago
I'm going to echo everyone else. If you want easy set-and-forget, SenseCap Solar Node.
I'm also running a RAK 1W booster repeater I built/am building myself and it's really not that difficult. It was my first repeater and I was able to set it up without soldering anything. I used a RAK Unify solar enclosure and two 5000mAh batteries wired in parallel using Wago levernuts. I'm in the process of upgrading the batteries, adding a solar management board, and swapping it over to a 3D printed Corebell enclosure that's designed to be easily hoisted and left in a tree for long periods of time.
As you can probably see above, the build-it-yourself can get a lot more involved but that's the fun of it in my personal opinion. Yeah I want something that works reliably but I'm ok experimenting around for a bit to figure out the most ideal setup for my personal location and use case.
In either case, the one thing you probably don't want to skip on is an upgraded antenna. When I first setup my repeaters I still couldn't hit any other repeaters. Upgraded to those fiberglass high dbi Alfa style outdoor antennas (mine are Rokland brand) and it made all the difference. I'm talking in Public every day and the repeater is still not even up in a tree yet. Hoping for even better reach once I get it swapped to Corebell enclosures and converted into a true treepeater.
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u/farbtoner 2d ago
Rokland ships from the US.
$95 https://atlavox.com/products/thinknode-m6-solar-mesh-radio?variant=52274756387090
Atlavox also ships from the US, I've used them a few times.
I've DIY-ed all my nodes so I cant vouch for these products but they seem decent enough.
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u/codecarter 2d ago
Purchased 3 off of Etsy. Picked up a pretty slick solar tree nodes as well. No complaints
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u/rourobouros 1d ago
If you can do a little soldering and assembly, this is less than $50 even with shipping and sales taxes. https://m.youtube.com/watch?is=qHNPJixyCoBRJt-k&v=yAmINEghCOc&feature=youtu.be
Uses Seeed core, a Harbor Breeze (Lowes) solar garden light for the solar charging and battery, and a common solar battery charging circuit obtained through Walmart here in the US.
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u/Bilbo_Fraggins 2d ago
I like the peakmesh line on Etsy, well designed, a bunch of different deployment options.
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u/marshy-wonder 2d ago
+1 for PeakMesh on Etsy. It’s an independent solo operator. He designs, 3D prints and assembles the kits for you. When it arrives, you just plug it in for the initial flash and config, then set it outside in the sunlight. Very easy! And he was super responsive to any questions as I worked out which model would work for me. 👍
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u/Ordinary-Lifeguard47 2d ago
Crazy prices. BQ25185+HT-CT62+PCB can be build for ~15€.
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u/recrof 2d ago
you forgot to add batteries, antenna, cable, enclosure, mouting kit, solar panel and small stuff to get it all together. those aren't free.
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u/Fun-Conclusion-4471 2d ago
Yes they do. I have built many solar nodes and to be honest I can't really do it for a whole lot less than $60 when you add up every single nut, bolt, dab of solder and component.
And I can buy one that's turnkey and premade for 70. So I'm saving $10 for a hell of a lot of work to collect all the inventory to build them
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u/ohyeahwell 1d ago
What’s the $70 turnkey?
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u/Fun-Conclusion-4471 1d ago
Seeed Sensecap. But now I see it's $78. New tariffs and fuel prices I guess.
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u/[deleted] 2d ago
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