Solarpunk technology

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Technology for a Solar-Punk future.

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License Free, Encrypted, Off-Grid, Decentralized Mesh Network Comms: A full guide on how to get started with LoRa devices and Meshtastic (adrelien.com)

submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net to c/technology@slrpnk.net

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This seems like a great technology to build resiliency and redundancy in a community, especially for places where cell service is spotty, or in the odd event where normal lines of communication are blocked.

The LoRa boards can be easily powered with a small solar panel for continuous use, and if put in a high enough place with a good antenna, they can have a surprisingly long range!

In addition to being genuinely useful, they also seem like they'd be a lot of fun to experiment and play around with, printing cool 3D cases for them, or designing a better antenna or repeater setup.

If and of you already have experience with LoRa, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts! :D

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[–] McFarius@lemmy.world 10 points 5 months ago (7 children)

I have a question about how easy the signal is to block. I live in a somewhat mountains, densely forested area. Do devices need to have direct line or sight to communicate? Wanted to set this up as a potential back up communication source for grid outages and keep a device in each car.

[–] jared@mander.xyz 10 points 5 months ago (3 children)

You'd really have to test it, it's a lower frequency (915mhz in US) so it should go much further than WiFi. Many people are putting them on roofs and in trees to get better range and then there's a whole world of antennas.

[–] McFarius@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago (2 children)

But when we're talking antennas, do I need to get a big one that I need to try and get above the tree line, or does it boost signal penetration?

[–] toaster@slrpnk.net 4 points 5 months ago

You don't need to, though the higher up the better since you get better line of sight. You can get several kilometres with a cheap antenna that is better than stock.

[–] rob@mastodon.nz 3 points 5 months ago

@McFarius @jared So many innuendoes, I hardly know where to start.

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