HOW TO INSTALL A LONG RANGE ANTENNA FOR MESHTASTIC!!!

[@eljuano28]

You have a lot of folks in the US following your meshtastic series closely, Andy. 👊 Knucks!

[@andykirby]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@ndguardian]

Yep, count me among them. Just wish there were more people nearby that were on the mesh. Seems I'm the only one in my area.

[@checkdigits]

I’m a British American living in Dallas, born in London. Following along Andy. Excellent stuff. Keep on going! 😁👍

[@electriceyeslide5959]

Sure do!

[@wpherigo1]

@@checkdigitsI live in North Garland, near N. Garland and Beltline….not getting much yet here. Found any local users from the forums?

[@Kd4stt.]

I live in southeast Tennessee, U.S.A. I'm impressed what meshtastic can do with unified neighbors who are working together. I'm just getting started with this meshtastic. I will be picking up my Node this Monday evening. Kevin from the Comms Channel has built me one, looking forward to giving it a go. Kevin and his neighboring areas are getting over 30 miles with line of sight. I will be over 50 miles away, but I have neighbors who have access to Mountain tops. These mountains' top locations are between 2200 and 2800 feet in elevations. They will connect me up with Kevin's and his friends's established network.

[@seymourpro6097]

The shed mounted unit simply begs for a small solar panel to keep some 18650s charged. I'd look at the antenna on the ridge end and the pcb just inside the same piece of wood, getting the cable run down to 100 - 150mm.

[@ThomasBryceKelly1]

The counterintuitive traceroute stems from the meshtastic repeater algorithm. When relaying a message through intermediate nodes, the node with the lowest rrs will transmit first with high rrs stations repeating last. This improves message broadcasting by getting messages further out quicker and hopefully leads to higher reliability for multi-node meshes.

[@vasiovasio]

With each new video, our good British fella Andy solidifies his position as the Meshtastic Evangelist! It's a very good idea to promote LoRa and build stations all over the world, preferably with autonomous solar power, so that in the event of a real disaster people can be allowed to communicate and deal with the challenge. :)

[@cassiofonte8172]

Awesome video! Thanks. Just a suggestion for a long lasting professional quality insulation ... Put some 3M Super 33 over the self-amalgamating tape. The Super 33 tape is UV resistant, the self-amalgamating is not, it tends to deteriorate much more rapidly. Cheers!

[@martinalan2199]

Spain I am here in Southern Spain (mountains) I am also in the valley so no phone lines here, everyone relies on microwave for the Internet, life is a big learning curve I am just starting off with a Creality K1 max 3d printer , after surfing the Tinterweb for 3d printables I stumbled across a printable case for Laura ! and then I was led on KZbin to your great informative videos ... ! Some people here have no access to Microwave Tinternet or a mobile phone signal ... ! So Laura network would be ideal I have just ordered my first 3 Laura radios also I have a warehouse and I lost one of my wind turbines (leccy) in a recent storm but the mast is still there and you have inspired me lots with your wonderful videos especially the one with the shed antena so now I am looking at aerials to mount on the top of the mast also I have lots of spare solar panels to power the system up so thank you again for your informative well made videos and you have now inspired me and I say let's all get MESHED UP 😂. Thank you again

[@mikedonovan4434]

Recommend Starlink service for your area. Hardware is currently priced $299USD and monthly service is now $120USD.

[@webluke]

I finally pole-mounted my 915Mhz antenna connected to a T-Echo. It was picking up a lot of messages from a few miles away inside, so I will have to see how it does now that it is outside.

[@jetskiwillywilly7970]

Life hack...install your unit on a commercial roof top that has receptacles that serve roof top HVAC units. In USA roof top HVAC units require a 120v receptacle by code...often they are attached to the outside of HVAC unit...with weather proof cover. No solar required. 24/7 power.

[@nzseagull]

I’m in New Zealand 🇳🇿 Today I tasted my devices a Station G1 at home and the TTGO Meshtastic T-Beam V1.1 ESP32 915 got easy 10 kilometres super impressive 😊

[@andykirby]

Amazing! Its crazy right?!

[@Smash-n-Grab]

Brilliant Andy ..Love these videos

[@DistinguishedMenofCulture]

You really need to do a live episode where we can ask you questions because there’s really nobody out there showing any information for beginners

[@DonzLockz]

Brilliant range out of these tiny toys.😊 Another to-do in my endless journey of ham stuff to keep me occupied till the end.😵👍😄

[@jamess1787]

Don, did you get your extra privs yet? 🤜🤛. 🥳. If not, remember Im rooting for you, You can do it!

[@DonzLockz]

@@jamess1787 no, not yet but studying. thanks buddy. Much appreciated. ;)

[@ATomRileyA]

Cant wait for mine to arrive, such cool little devices.

[@GUVWAF]

I believe you're right about that the reliability of traceroute is due to RF. It needs a reliable two-way connection for it to work. Though there was a bug in the Android app where multi-hop traceroutes wouldn't be shown, but that is fixed in version 2.2.16.

[@andykirby]

Thanks mate, and thanks for all your hard work on Meshtastic 👌🏼👍🏼

[@richallcorn]

For a mounted node/repeater (basically), you need to have "power" on it. It gets really old having to replace batteries and charging them.

[@peterfairlie2296]

Congratulations on reaching 100K A shiny new Silver play Button is coming your way!

[@marshmellow377]

I am about to deploy my first solar node. I have a 5000mah battery bank, with a 3000mah 18650 connected to the node. With no sunlight I get about a week of power (Heltec V3 in low power mode etc set as a repeater) With a full day of sunlight, it will take the 5000mah battery bank from 0-50% (6w usb solar panel off amazon cost me around £15)

[@ddouglas3687]

Andy! So stoked! I have heard LoRa can be used over incredible line of sight distances. What say you boost the height of yours up as high as is feasible, go grab the sister in law and go for a ride across town into higher areas to gain line of sight? I'm in a rural countryside area and am def considering these more and more for back up and general off grid comms. I would love to see if they can connect out 30 miles line of sight! Excellent work sir and hello from the Virginia sticks!👍

[@chadbowcut3901]

I live in Utah, and I have a node at a mountain top site. I regularly see a guy at 51 miles away connected to it, and we communicate regularly. Pretty cool stuff.

[@corinbw]

@@chadbowcut3901 Super cool. I just got my first node running and havent seen anybody yet. I am rural though to I figured I wouldnt see anybody. I was hoping. I will try to get something on a hill or mountain as well and go from there.

[@sNEAKYnIGHTmUPPET]

Are you willing to create a video showing the programming and setup of abode to extend range and be a client at the same time? Store and forward? Mqtt?

[@stuartmccloud307]

Set up my first nodes this week down in Southampton. All your fault Andy :) Loving this series, seems like there is a lot of excitement about this and I can see why.

[@andykirby]

Nice! Yeah it's gaining momentum now!

[@philsanchez07]

Is your node Mac by any chance??? If so I messaged it yesterday!! I'm also in Southampton. FIL and FM nodes.

[@moojuiceuk]

In Southampton too. Running the ASTR, MUMN, JANN, PCKT & PCK2 nodes all on long-slow.

[@stuartmccloud307]

@@moojuiceuk I haven't spotted them yet, I need to get my rig up higher

[@baddster]

In Eastleigh and picked up a heltec but need some advice on antenna. should I go with a 6db mcgill omni-directional and for the lmr-400 cable what assembly + adapter am I looking for? Cheers in advance!

[@steve64464]

I figure this could be used to send bursts data much like how teletext used to work on the tv perhaps powering small forums/information based data and maybe even terminal stuff.

[@247SH]

Imagine other ways of extending the mesh - balloons, church spires & RC 73s

[@TheVeganarchism]

Birds…

[@suzyamerica4679]

A fixed wing drone that can loiter in a preset area.

[@suzyamerica4679]

Better yet .. loft the antenna up dangling from a tethered balloon. Probably needn't be much more than 1-2 cubic meters helium. Edit: did some reading. A few rules apply. Restrictions on balloon size. No more than 500 ft altitude. The tether must be marked or lit and visible somehow for at least a mile. Also requires a device that will automatically deflate it should the balloon come untethered.

[@edgarhume8184]

Go fly a kite.

[@cryptickcryptick2241]

How about putting them in every semi truck, mail truck, and or car. This would give coverage coast to coast wherever there is roads.

[@toddbarnes8712]

Texas here... Good work.

[@michaelstreeter3125]

*How did you get your elevation map for the radio path study?* I want to find out the same thing for 2 towns in Hertfordshire; I know the terrain and, whilst I'm basically going across a valley, there is a ridge inbetween me and a family member's house - pretty much like the situation here.

[@andykirby]

It's at www.scadacore.com/tools/rf-path/rf-line-of-sight/ Hertfordshire mesh coverage is pretty good now. You can see what's going on here: meshtastic.liamcottle.net/

[@andylondon2001]

Hi Andy, great videos! This is particularly interesting to me. Quick question, how do I connect the fibreglass antenna directly on the SMA that (sometimes) comes with the heltec, without using a cable. I guess I need a connector/adapter, but which one? Thank you

[@icurnet]

You may want to either change to longmoderate or change hops from 3 to 4, maybe 5 for 30 mile hops

[@damanivu]

Please make more videos! This is amazing.

[@DistinguishedMenofCulture]

It looks like it’s showing GPS coordinates for each station. Is there a way to disable that I don’t want people knowing where I live

[@nicolasalexandre8159]

ohh andy, i'm in france but imagine a signal crossing "la manche" and connecting france and england... It's maybe possible (or already done 😅) to connect countries and to create an international channel... But as far as i'm concerned, i have never heard an another compatriot talking about this "thing". Anyway, i was interested by electrical bicycles and now i wanna try this. I'm not survivalist (more an autonomist), but considering what france is now (a giant garbage), it can be useful to have such a system at home, to use it and to train myself.... I follow your videos with interest Peace andy Stay strong and "vive jeanne d'arc"🔥 😂

[@SamM-oh2cx]

Andy, why don't you put together a little kit of everything that someone needs to start and can buy from you? I would love to get involved in things like this but I am a complete dunce when it comes to things like this. I am your plug and play type of guy. I would happily buy one if all i had to do was take it out the box, plug it in and off it goes!

[@MistaTerps]

Installing a node over Buntingford ways at the highest point above sea level in Hertfordshire 📻📡👊

[@andykirby]

That's cool, you'll probably be able to join our mesh from there.👍🏼

[@RyanMercer]

I just wish someone here in the United States sold ready to go meshtastic stuff that doesn't have pcb exposed and isn't charging insnar amounts like on etsy. I have zero interest in having to put stuff together and mess around trying to get it to work. Especially when I live quite rural and will probably be the only person.

[@MakeDoAndMend1]

Hi Andy. I am in Corby Northamptonshire. 394ft asl. Thinking of setting one up. Not familiar with modern technology. George

[@Dednny]

Thanks for all those vids Andy, must aske she who must be obeyed for an additional radio budget

[@mandh14]

Its great fun, got 5 nodes myself. Realistically though if you're not in a mesh dense environment, and MQTT is off range is severely limited in most semi rural locations. MQTT gives a false sense of range and all mine are set to off as off the grid means off the grid 😂 1.4km direct to a buddy is fine with me, but may be underwhelming to new users expecting huge range contacts. Still a great hobby area for hams and enthusiasts alike.

[@Wildernessoutside]

Just ordered a heltec ,looking forward to getting it up and running ,any chance you could do a video on all the websites you use to track the mesh ? I see in your. Videos you always go on different websites that show different data and what not ,would be good to have one video with all the resources you use that would help any new user to get up to speed

[@andykirby]

There's not really any website to track the Mesh, just a map which is filled in by the users. canvis.app/meshtastic-map

[@Wildernessoutside]

@@andykirby ah ok thanks

[@Marks-Garage]

I live in cheshunt Andy and I'm not finding a single node, ordered a few different antennas and a few more meshtastic devices. Hopefully get a bit of a mesh going down this neck of the woods

[@Marks-Garage]

On a side note my heltec V3 has a really poor Bluetooth range. 4m at most. Anything obvious that you can recommend to fix it?

[@quantumenergysolutions9128]

I live in the mountains, can a node have more than one antenna? eg, 2 directional & one all directions? Or must have more than one node to do that? Also if out of town the net is using fast long, and inside town the net is using eg.Fast medium, does anything exist to act as a bridge(translator relay) to allow the 2 networks to communicate? They can connect to the internet to bridge distant networks correct? Do they too have to be on the same settings ? or does something do the translating?

[@Symbiiote]

Can you make a video on what settings you used on the node?

[@discovery1010]

Hello andy, You're super, I like your ideas.

[@timothypowell6298]

Hello I'm new to all this cb radio stuff etc but this might be a daft question. ....if you were to put a device on a flying drone or use a drone to lift up a certain piece of equipment which could relay your radio signal .you use the drone to go up to its max allowable hight would this be a way of increasing your radio range ? Look at it like a very basic network with relay stations :)

[@stantheoneandonly]

Hey, what other Americans are working on creating a mesh network in their towns? Chicagoland area here.

[@captainmcadams]

I'm in the UK but there's definitely Austin Mesh and I'm pretty sure they are also connecting to an mqtt server! May have seen them on instagram and yt!

[@aholstercompany5270]

We have a couple popping up in TN. I think things will start to go quickly now that the tech and support is growing.

[@josephrhodes2896]

Setting up in Ohio near Pittsburgh PA today! USA 🇺🇸

[@r188ops8]

Hi Andy, I hope this finds you well and feeling a little better? Thank you for giving me something to spend my money on! If I may ask, could you tell me which brand/mah 21700btys you are using in your XTAR? 👍

[@olokelo]

Another awesome meshtastic video :) I got a question which might be silly but when you show the list of stations picked up by your antenna, which speed-range preset is it actually showing? I mean, you were able to see a node that's 13km away but is it the LongFast or LongSlow preset? I believe it's not possible to communicate on different presets so will the scan recognize all nodes working on all presets?

[@andykirby]

No, the list will only show nodes using the same modem mode. One of the reasons is that longslow and longfast are also on different radio frequencies.

[@jakenavigate]

Do you have a link or a name of the adaptor for pigtail to coax? Thanks

[@ndguardian]

Hey Andy, appreciate the video! By chance do you happen to have any recommendations for an apartment-friendly antenna setup? In my case I have a balcony, but I don't know that the apartment complex would be too keen on my installing the antenna onto the exterior structure.

[@andykirby]

If you are up high then any antenna will work well you could just place a node in a waterproof box with a little SMA Whip fpr 868Mhz and it should work really well. No need for a big gain antenna :-)

[@TheVeganarchism]

You could follow the example of the mobile phone companies and disguise it as a palm tree 😂

[@DaveDriver]

Hi Andy. Thanks for the great videos. I have no experience with LORA or Meshtastic yes, I have a couple of Heltechs arriving any day now. I am quite curious about your comments regarding the T-echo. If it has the same LORA chipset as the Heltech, and you used them with the same antenna, why would the radio performance be any different? Do you think you could test them head to head and put the results in a video? I actually have a specific reason for getting into LORA, not just for using it as CB 2.0, so we'll see how I get on with that.

[@OH2023-cj9if]

Choose your antenna carefully! If you use a massive colinear then most of the signal fires up at 30degrees. For blanket coverage you are best using a slim Jim or J pole antenna. For distance a yagi. Height is everything at these frequencies. Never believe gain figures. You can have 12dBi with radiation angle of 30degrees performing worse than a 3dBi with 12degree angle. It really is down to design and location. For example, Isle of Man is 80miles away, on 2m using a Diamond v2000 I can't reach it on 25watts. I can hear it S1 on 70cm. With a cheap slim Jim on 2m I get straight in to the 2m repeater on 25watts. On a 70cm slim Jim I can't get a thing. Experiment. This is what is now open to people. My next buy is a nanoVNA to make some aerials.

[@Robotron-zg6mf]

we need lots of these on hill top locations?

[@sylar5373]

What website do you use to generate that elevation graph?

[@suzyamerica4679]

Scadacore RF line of sight.

[@lukebowers536]

I was seriously considering this as i live ontop of a hill in the far southwest with plymouth to my south & exeter to my north & the whole of the southhams below on one side & all of north cornwall on the other. I relay i suspect would be very benificial up here here & of great use as my place is a hilltop farm estate. But i cant find the devices, i wanted a T‑Echo 868MHZ Module to start me off, is 102 poundss really what they actually cost or is that a scam ? I was expecting 30 to 50 quid but not that much, i cant aford it if thats really what they cost.

[@jonjohnson2844]

Forgive my ignorance but are the meshes self-contained - ie is there a specific Hertford mesh that everyone configures for in the area or could, in theory, 'the' mesh expand hundreds of miles providing there are enough relay nodes?

[@djblairmix]

Andy video crash @13.13

[@Capitaine.Albator]

13:13 to 13:45

[@natedog8147]

Its shot in 0 fps

[@andykirby]

😂

[@rickymcdaniel6708]

i did range testing with my Lilygo t-deck and my heltec v3, i didn't even get 200 feet away. it was line of site, i don't get it. i live in the county setting. no hills flat open ground. Line of site not even a block away. what am i doing wrong. didn't hardly got out of the driveway. ant ideas ?

[@JohnBaxendale]

The fixed framerate is very welcome :)

[@quantumenergysolutions9128]

Nice! Why not put it on the chimney stack?

[@PortugalCarp]

Another ruddy great video Andy, thanks for the upload. Question: have you used the Wisblock boards yet? I and some friends over here in Portugal are thinking about getting into this Meshtastic system and are thinking about using Wisblock boards with just a GPS modules plugged in as "nodes"/"repeaters" (in weather proof contains with solar etc) and using the T-Echos as our "handhelds". We have heard that the Wisblocks are far better than the other systems, lower energy usage, incorporated solar power "charging" etc.

[@andykirby]

Thanks! I've not tried wisblock yet, they are very similar to the T-echo I believe. It is on my list of things to try! I like their enclosure system. Looks professional.

[@PortugalCarp]

@@andykirby By what I have heard and read, all those who have used the T-Beam and the likes are starting to use these Wisblock set-ups. All round improvements like lower power consumption, modable (GPS, Temp, Light sensor, even an earthquake sensor!). One of the big things they talk about is that ability to use a solar charger directly through the board. Hope you manage to get your hands on one soon and then do one of your videos about it.

[@digitalmediafan]

Seems the lilygo are inpossible to buy now 😢

[@mickgatz214]

Carn' Andy, you know how to make it go MUCH further. ;)

[@BennieKuip]

I am actually curious, did you tested the antenna including the coax cable with the NanoVNA? if so, could you share some results?

[@krimke881]

So, what happened to the Yagi you mention in the begnning?

[@DistinguishedMenofCulture]

You keep showing a display with a bunch of locations is that a cell phone? Does that mean we can use an old cell phone that we’re not using as a phone?

[@BillyNoMates1974]

dam, for a moment I thought andy had a new shed / man cave. at least we saw the Twizy again

[@dgalvin77]

Andy, great video. I was actually wondering about using an external antenna moments before i saw your video. Did you configure Heltec as a Router or just a regular node? I was under the impression that only t-beams are recommended as repeaters.

[@agentmith]

Are there US equivalent links for Amazon? They’re UK ones and they don’t work here. I’m looking for the antenna setup specifically.

[@t_h_visuals]

What’s the activity like on the 430mhz Andy? I have a 430 lora board which is flashed for something else, but I’m keen to setup a meshtastic node. I am a Ham

[@simoncrabb]

How do you do the radio path study?

[@williamingalls7473]

What app are you using for the path study? That looks great!

[@mrfust]

You need to update the software to 2.2.17 👍🏻

[@epikmeroッ]

i cant find the link to the antenna you used in this video in the description, did you already have the antenna laying around ? i would like to buy the same one to try on my set up.

[@WadeAbout]

Hi Andy. I hope you are setting these nodes as one of the non client roles so they are preferenced as higher reach devices ?

[@andykirby]

Not always...

[@deepakkapoor8202]

wow, looks like you live nearby , getting on Aliexpress to buy my unit.

[@Pops_607]

I’m so confused how do you communicate with other people? How do you type to them if your device does not have a keyboard do you need a phone? Just curious love your videos.

[@Voyajer.]

The ones without a keyboard you can use the app and Bluetooth to transmit. There are standalone ones now that have a keyboard and don't need a phone at all now too.

[@dingdongdaddy589]

Any possibility you can do a video on your meshtastic configuration? I have three devices running, can communicate, but my mesh map is not showing anything - not even my nodes. Do your heltec boards have GPS modules?

[@andykirby]

You can tick the box in the app that says " share phones location with mesh" it's in the part of the app where you setup the bluetooth connection to your node.

[@dingdongdaddy589]

@@andykirby - Thank you! Yes, I’ve tried every option in the configuration. I’m still figuring this out…

[@ehvway]

I love your videos mate!

[@michaelfogarty5894]

Hi Andy, long time viewer, first time commenter. I have set up two meshtastic devices this morning, and they are communicating great with each other. My question is, will they connect to someone that is near by or do i have to add them as a contact somehow? Im in southend on sea by the way of anyone wants to communicate

[@andykirby]

Hi mate, yes they will connect to each other automatically, no need to do anything!. Going our discord! discord.com/invite/U2BPxgay

[@ch716]

Do you use a specific channel, or the default of 0? I am the only Meshtastic user in my area so far, but maybe I need to stick to a specific channel.

[@garycallahan7867]

A section of hardline would help with your signal loss.

[@bluenetmarketing]

What is a "section of hard line?"

[@juliodefreitas157]

Thank you Andy ❤❤

[@paulsradiohacks]

really catching on now

[@bluenetmarketing]

What are the other antennas that work with lora besides this one and Yagi?

[@andykirby]

Any LoRa antenna or antenna for Helium mining will work.

[@bluenetmarketing]

@@andykirby Where do I find Helium radio antennas?

[@escillon1]

Hi Andy where do I purchase the antenna from or what make and model is it please.cheers from n wales

[@andykirby]

Check the video description.

[@djvdberg1010]

Hi Andy, how does you sister get the messages on her phone, assuming the bluetooth doesn’t reach the house from shed?

[@andykirby]

She's has another node inside the house.👍🏼

[@LoekBerkepies]

Have you ever tried the mqtt option? Don’t know why but with latest sw version I can’t get it to work. Won’t send any thing,because it keeps waiting for acknowledgment😢

[@andykirby]

Yes. The default MQTT is VERY busy now on longfast and it locks the node up . Use another channel. Or create your own.😁

[@lolzdatguy4987]

What website did you use to check for hills?

[@joshuab2453]

Hi Andy, what frequency lilygo t-echo did you purchase? I'm looking to join the meshtastic network

[@andykirby]

868 for UK and EU

[@Mrstilskin]

Any chance you could say Basically again?

[@andykirby]

I'm known for saying it 😂

[@user-kf5zw8uq7r]

Please add link for the tape you used to waterproof antenna.

[@andykirby]

It's called self amalgamating tape.

[@user-kf5zw8uq7r]

Thank you. @@andykirby

[@icantseethis]

meshtastic is just a ploy to get other people to also set up nodes so that you get more range. We're on to you. I have 3 nodes now.

[@over-engineered]

Don’t tell everybody about it or they’ll all want one, then it will be ruined like CB was in the UK in the 80’s

[@jasonpocklington9217]

Why not add a small solar panel to keep the battery pack charged

[@andykirby]

Next video

[@firedragonuk]

Does anyone have a working updated link for the discord, all the current links say they have expired

[@graphguy]

One problem…. They are all sold out.

[@yahalimu]

May be wrong, but ISM bands have an antenna gain maximum to be legal?

[@PunaJussi]

Yeah, nobody seems to care 😅

[@joemizer]

Hello, needed help with my ebike kit order. Not getting any emails back please help

[@andykirby]

Email was down for a day. It's working now.

[@HillTreks]

Hi Andy. I've set up a couple of nodes in Welwyn Garden City (G0VDT) but I'm not seeing any other nodes. I'm on 433 MHz. Are your modes on 868MHz?

[@bjorn2625]

My impression is most run at 868 due to interference on 433.

[@andykirby]

Yeah we are on 868 unfortunately. But I have got some 433 devices inbound so we can play! Are you using an outdoor antenna? I should be able to link a 433 mesh to our 868 net.

[@titankiller666]

Great video Andy as always, very educational but not practical I would definitely stick with radio but they do look like fun to play with, looking forward to the next video as always and for everybody out there that watches his videos try to remember to subscribe😎💯🇨🇦👍👍

[@907mrchris1]

hiya were is the best place to get a meshtastic from

[@andykirby]

amzn.to/41XHqNE

[@TonyLing]

I want to play with this shit Andy, I live on a Foxtrot Romeo Oscar hill