Mesh++ S618 - Self-contained Solar Powered Mesh WiFi

[@meshplusplus]

Thanks so much for your review!! You really nailed the reason why we built this: to bring resilient internet access to difficult environments as quickly and simply as possible. Our goal is to enable anyone to deploy last-mile broadband. Besides these core features, we have updates dropping all the time, including remote passive+active PoE configuration, cable auto-orientation, and hopefully soon after that a more advanced mode. Great minds think alike! We're so grateful for your (and all commenters') feedback as we continue to improve. To answer the most common questions: -Pricing is on our site, every time I list it here my comment gets auto-deleted for some reason. -Warranty is 1 year (excludes battery degradation). -4G/5G cellular supports private LTE and global bands with Quectel modems. -This is not a great solution for extremely cold places such as Alaska in the winter but nodes have done great for many years here in Chicago where they're manufactured. They manage temperature by heating up the casing (just like an electric car does to its battery pack) and not charging when the temperature is very low. -The mesh runs a proactive distance-vector TDMA protocol. While throughput degrades it doesn't have the same hardcoded hop limit like a link-state network might have. -We're a startup, always improving :)

[@MooseTurder]

Opening the case reminds me of the VX gas canisters in The Rock. This alone makes me want to buy this product

[@kelemvor3333]

I just posted the exact same thing. Nice.

[@heimdallblows179]

This is an outstanding review. I attempted solar wifi many times in rural area setups but is was ALWAYS buggy and way more work that necessary. My head was spinning thinking about the places I could use it. Still a touch to expensive but that will come down. Thank you!

[@antoniosa]

Thanks man. We need mor contents like this

[@robertcantrell2887]

Been waiting a long time for a solution like this. Thank you for showcasing it! 😊

[@EzraChild]

Now I want to buy a bunch of these! Mesh++ should be paying you $

[@shananedwin7085]

Actually thinking of doing something like this for the beaches in my country. Can't wait for the vid

[@raymondstevenson902]

Add the important question ,what's the cost

[@dtrammell]

Slapped a like simply for the disc golf basket in the background!

[@IndianaDiy]

Very Nice. I would like to make a Omni directional set up using unifi but I need coverage over 3000 ft. I’m looking a for about 2 acres of coverage or more preferably as much as possible.

[@ssruiimxwaeeayezbbttirvorg9372]

"last for ages" XD how long till battery dies? 3 years? whats the range? whats the price?

[@philippemiller4740]

Love your videos Chris !

[@JonyLLama69]

Awesome thanks so much! I've made contact! We have schools in areas we just simply can't cost effectively assist. This is going to change the game!

[@HueMongus101]

These look like good stand-alone units. I worry about the number of mesh nodes that can be daisy-chained before it really affects the performance. 1-2 hops on home wireless mesh nodes really affects latency and speed. Are you able to view how the nodes connect to each other and can you override it? The nodes can connect to the stronger signal but increase the number of hops. You also have the additional issue of the people connected to the primary node along with the mesh nodes downgrading WiFi 6 to WiFi 5 or 4 for compatibility. Wi-Fi hopping. I did not see anything you can change in the management site to adjust the wireless strength. Hopefully a recommended minimum distance between nodes is given. There is no demonstration of throttling, queuing, or bandwidth management. 1 person P2P sharing on the node can clobber the throughput for everyone else. Is the USB-C port and cable weather proof? There doesn't appear to be any seals for the external ports when the cable is plugged in. The Ethernet control board housing has too many holes. Wasps and bugs will crawl all over that board and make a nice home. Ask any WISPs. I like the form-factor and the simplicity. It looks like a promising product.

[@IT10T]

you cant even see the ip address, this is a ten min install advertised product for events or public access use to basic media. like 25 max streaming on video and 500 single access, so im sure its basic and throttled to shit. seems to be a product that should of came out 5 years ago and be more advanced by now. just a little a53 so dont expect much. they advertise it as being more indestructible and quick set up than an effective solution to wifi mesh. also the cable is weatherproof, i think its like isp67

[@HueMongus101]

@@IT10T The IP67 rating is for the main unit. I highly doubt that test was with the USB cable installed. The N-type antenna connectors are more water resistant than a generic USB C female port. I don't think it is throttled but best-effort routing, which is shittier than setting maximum bandwidth limits per end-user. The primary function of a wireless hotspot is to provide wireless internet. The feature that makes it stand out is easy setup. That is why I will steer clear of this product until that priority is changed. But the form-factor is a promising solution for rural areas.

[@meshplusplus]

Hello! Thanks for your questions. Our background is actually in low-loss routing protocols- it runs a distributed TDMA protocol (i.e. timeslotting packet transfers) to keep losses down to 15-17% per hop. Not as good as you'd get with two back-to-back PTP links, for example, but different from a typical 802.11s mesh while keeping latency lower by alternating interfaces. All of these mesh links (bitrates, etc.) are visualized on the dashboard, but no, there's no ability to force or block links yet. Fortunately there is the ability to set an SSID-wide bandwidth limit to keep bandwidth hogs down, or a user-specific bandwidth limit with any RADIUS server. There's a custom-molded silicone ring around the USBC cable, it was part of the test. It's the little pink bit around the connector. The next cables we get will have it built in! Thanks for your feedback on the control board- it's the only bit that's not enclosed. We have a silicone shroud for it but it's still IP65, and you're right, it'll become a wasp's nest instead of a WISP's best.

[@IT10T]

@@HueMongus101 Yeah they got some patents on their mesh systems that they implement on the nodes with phasing several times using other technology like adaptive forwarding. Although, they dont seem too state of the art; just clustered synchronization within a distance-vector wireless network. the usb-c can be ip68 if they used the Amphenol LTW type c. The nodes are decent from what I see, I just think it has more potiential than what they are currently offering.

[@SKILLSPORTSPREP]

Good show! Any chance can share pricing info?

[@daphbobo]

great! I got a remote island where I can deploy this.

[@pcm1ke]

Any chance you may be able to throw it on a more suitable bridge so we can see if it’ll actually do better than a 100mbit?

[@Joseph-ko2kl]

Very cool video. Thank you. What does it cost though?

[@bradmbreer]

LMGTFY, ~$1600

[@notreal5311]

$1699 base price.

[@LordGooben]

For the design, It is sleek at the same time. It could be improved as other said you would be stopped by TSA if you tried to take this on a flight.

[@adrianteri]

Sorry directional/orientation for USB-C cables?

[@MinecraftIsLoveMinecraftIsLife]

I’m posting this here because it may get noticed by the channel and i really need help with this. This is for the pihole video. On my download list on terminal it says “FTL is not running”. That is where the paragraph block of text starts with “building tree”. On the next paragraph it says “FTL is listening on port”. On your one at 15:18 in the pihole video it says port 53. My one has no number. In the final block of text it says “FTL is not running”. I went to the pihole web interface by typing my ip address then /admin. On the dashboard instead of the bar chart it has the loading circle. On query log it says “X Error, something went wrong! FTL is not running”. On pi hole diagnosis it has one entry. The type is “DNSMASQ_CONFIG” and the message is “FTL failed to start due to cannot open or create lease file /var/lib/misc/dnsmasq.leases: Permission denied”. I went to /var/lib/dnsmasq.leases and the file is empty. I installed pihole while being a root user. Can you help me please?

[@lxs5771]

That’s a sleek design! 😮

[@brandonbeagle3741]

I was very intrigued by this as i have an immediate need for something like this. There is one major issue i see with the product and its that the company won't warranty it at all. not even a 1 year warranty. i combed the entire website before finally seeing in VERY VERY feint print on the bottom of the installation guide that they won't warranty or guarantee the product at all. As-Is only. for minimum 2000.00 price tag, without cellular capability, I can't justify buying or using these. Very neat idea though.

[@meshplusplus]

Thanks for noting this! The print at the end of the installation guide is boilerplate legal that we need to update. The S618 comes with a 1 year warranty (with the exception of battery degradation, same as a phone or car).

[@webluke]

Stuffing everything in a tube seems like more of a problem than if they just put it in a weather-tight box. What type of batteries are used? Lithium, when frozen, will get destroyed if charged below freezing. There are weatherproof ethernet connectors. Why add an external PCB and a none standard USB-C? The easy mode in the app is a good idea, but they need a pro mode with all the settings and data. If an outdoor venue has good enough cell service to run these, why are you providing WiFi off of it? If it was a remote location and you had a PtP connection or Starlink with a high-speed connection, then it makes sense to try and mesh network if you can get the mesh to work well enough to cover some distance.

[@shadow.banned]

I wonder what they do for wifi in the mountain slopes.

[@KeithTruesdell]

Where do you get the poles to anchor things to?

[@philmbu6741]

I have so many questions on the B2B application and monitoring and p2p configuration I have some experience with direct interne and this can fix some of the issues I observe

[@sNEAKYnIGHTmUPPET]

clearly lithium onboard. so my question is, how would this work in freezing climates? Also, that solar mount and snow load?

[@simonsimza275]

how many metres do they cover from one node to another if they are two for instance

[@notreal5311]

Specificstion sheet lists operating temperature range as -10 - 30C (14-86F), is that a typo or correct? Because if so, that drastically limits where these can be installed.

[@meshplusplus]

That is the Charging temperature range, where the batteries can be charged. The Operating temperature range for the radios is -20C (-4F) to 40C (104F). While this is not usually an issue on the high end - generally hotter temperatures carry lots of sun so it's not a big deal if the nodes can only charge for part of the day - there can be an additional risk of downtime in regularly cold (under -10C) temperatures.

[@notreal5311]

@Mesh++ Ah, might want to clarify that on the spec sheet. Used to dealing with gear that overheats in the high desert/overseas so in a places like the Middle East that could be an issue. Thanks for the clarification!

[@slickjim861]

Looks like the only thing they need to figure out Poe on this thing and then it should be absolutely everywhere outdoors. Even without the Poe looks perfect for a fiber run. Great vid thanks lots.

[@meshplusplus]

PoE is working, just not configurable on the fly yet, but that update gets pushed this week! Thanks for watching

[@gregliming6875]

Nice disc golf basket in the background.

[@BenKickert]

I've got the same disc golf basket in my back yard.

[@MrCommonSenze]

Can this mesh work with cloud keys for voucher? Like the unify?

[@maxrunge7599]

So how much is one of these? They don't list anything one their website

[@notreal5311]

Yes they do, $1699 base price (no LTE modem included)

[@kelemvor3333]

Now your qualified to work on the VX Gas canisters like they used in The Rock.

[@MooseTurder]

Hopefully he's carrying green smoke :)

[@JLeeHughesKCHWA]

can it do privet lte 5G++ beween nodes

[@outpostprime]

This could be an excellent addition to my network in dominican republic if it worked with their CAT bands.

[@meshplusplus]

The modems are Quectel EM06-A/E, EM160R-GL, and RM502Q-AE. I think they do!

[@nanfad]

Any reason why you don't make videos about Unifi Talk?

[@fatdollar]

In your testing did this unit support any kind of port forwarding? Is there a 48V PoE version?

[@meshplusplus]

Latest firmware supports port forwarding through an L2 bridged mode with third party equipment. There is a 48V PoE module but it is currently out of stock. Thanks!

[@twozaunt]

Great device but how much are they?

[@Yehan-xt7cw]

Interesting concept. I wonder if the wifi signal is influenced by the position of the solar panel in that direction. In your video the external antennas er mounted in a "V" shaped position. Any particular reason? (note I am not an antenna expert)

[@CrosstalkSolutions]

They’re actually supposed to be one up and one down - I had them in a V shape just because it was sitting on the ground. When mounted properly and in the up/down configuration the solar panels shouldn’t affect the signal.

[@sfa8uss]

Hey I keep emailing them and no one is responding and the only phone number I found no one answers . We have a 300 acre project and need this

[@Sir_Sway]

Great info!! thanks

[@rpvitiello]

I would think e sims would be good here too so you don’t need to open it up to add cell service.

[@CrosstalkSolutions]

Great suggestion!

[@meshplusplus]

it has one!

[@Slackware1995]

It definitely needs the option of multiple nodes with internet

[@davidgekler]

Is it capable of better speeds, I was not impressed with S618 to S618?

[@giles1962]

So, just to get this straight, the Mesh++ network is a mesh one, but only works between the Mesh++ repeaters. So, if you were then running your own WiFi User mesh network, this would then run on top of the Mesh++ network?

[@meshplusplus]

The nodes also act as WiFi APs, so they host both the backhaul and user access.

[@MikeHarris1984]

They should just do the USB-c properly and put a USB-C controller into their circuit. This way it doesn't matter how the cable goes. Also it allows the communications and power to follow the set standard and can accept any USBC cable, hook into a port for initial setup on a computer, or even connect to a USBC PD port to charging. From a cost perspective, it should only cost something like $1 more (if even that at their production level) of BOM to the PCB cost... But save that in having someone mark the special USBC cable that is worthless after the first use, or after its been up in the weather for awhile, lol... they could mold the cable ends to have one side black and one side blue or something... then its the plastic that's blue and it wont rub off.

[@CrosstalkSolutions]

Great suggestions!

[@meshplusplus]

You're 100% right, that update is near production! Fortunately the USB and charging is already bidirectional, but we send ethernet over the USB3 pairs which were not without some custom circuitry (USBC controllers can't do PoE).

[@Hossimo]

I setup networking for Festivals often in the middle of nowhere, this is interesting. no Pricing on their side though..

[@Walterz930]

Hi Chris have you ever looked into ubiquity sunmax equipment

[@CrosstalkSolutions]

Yes! I did a full video on it. I believe that product is now defunct though.

[@PazLeBon]

feels like it would be cheaper to install several different Starlink systems to a solar battery each

[@RogierYou]

Can you ad redundancy by connecting an additional WAN uplink to one of the other Mesh++ units?

[@meshplusplus]

Yes! They're able to aggregate WAN from multiple nodes. This is what we do to build ultra-resilient networks for disaster relief or defense applications.

[@gutrali]

I would like to inform the creator of this video that self-contained should not describe two devices that need to be connected together. For example, a desktop computer is not self-contained because it requires a keyboard and the monitor. A laptop is self-contained because it has all required parts and can therefore operate all on its own. I hope this example helps you understand what self-contained means for future videos

[@Gerrit-Max]

It looks quite promising but I think I'll stick to installing Ubiquiti AP's.

[@martinjjnoagenda5536]

The conceptual all in one idea isn't bad, but batteries and heat producing circuits in a closed tube probably isn't going to last very long in a heatwave sun or maybe even sub zero temperatures. Given the limited distances digging in some POE Ethernet cables is probably a lot cheaper also while most mesh devices basically usually set themselves up these days.

[@jeffclark5268]

Thank god you’re here. If it wasn’t for you the engineers that designed this probably would never have considered heat dissipation by using a large aluminum container.

[@meshplusplus]

@@jeffclark5268 You nailed it! The total power consumption is around 6-10W and so the big aluminum tube, shielded from the sun by the solar panel, is more than enough to dissipate.

[@bostonbroadband3020]

It’s a cool product

[@andrewshepherd3263]

I like the product very much But holy moly the price tag is $1,699.00 price for this product is not really the silver bullet for someone whos is on a budget.

[@tomferrin1148]

Did I hear right, the USB-C connector has to be plugged in in the "correct" orientation?!? This is fundamentally a lame design. Very disappointing and I'm pretty sure would be easy to correct with little engineering effort.

[@cdinnetz]

These look pretty cool. Wouldn't want to get pulled over with a couple in the back seat though... Someone might call in the bomb squad. ;-)

[@letterspace1letterspace266]

What we really need is just a solar and battery tube. Not another 3rd party wifi kit

[@yiannisevangelou6246]

Unrelated comment to this specific video. Could you PLEASE do an idiot's guide video on how to configur a VPN in the VPN settings of the UniFi iPhone app or on the UniFi web portal? Thank you

[@othoapproto9603]

I don't get it, if you can get cell why would you need shitty wifi?

[@jimporter]

Because maybe you are not on the cell network that is available or your device is not cell capable.

[@TheBurnsStuff]

I really don't like their site. I don't like having to give my information when I want to just design and see if its going to be practical for my use. I don't want someone contacting me if I'm just checking out their product. This may be a pass for me, at least for now.

[@meshplusplus]

Thanks for the feedback on our Network Design Tool! You can always use a fake email- it's only because there's a "schedule call" button at the end, but you're right, it's not necessary prior. All product information, spec sheets, exploded diagrams, etc. are directly available on the main site.

[@TheBurnsStuff]

@@meshplusplus I appreciate you recognizing the issue and your reply. For me, companies that hide their pricing behind a "request a quote", schedule a meeting", etc type of wall almost always result in a close, move on attitude from me. I'm a numbers guy and I like to see that up front, in the open. To me, that says "we have nothing to hide". I would really like to see costs without having to jump through hoops. It makes it more efficient for me to plan and build out my infrastructure. Thank you again, for the reply!

[@huckfin1100]

Dont sound like a good idea in the wrong hands, and it will be !

[@nickcallegari]

Try taking it on a plane 😂😅

[@ColeBlack2]

You can’t. Battery is wayyyy over the 100wh limit.

[@nickcallegari]

@@ColeBlack2 ….. 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@shareyou3155]

At this price, it shld be at least triband man.. It's just an upsized portable router.. I will be surprised no one attempts to steal it.. Lol..

[@col.johnson9938]

impressive unit, but not worth 2k, even an non IT guy like myself can learn to cover the property with a great deal less money. thanks for the review, hopefully some competition comes along to bring the prices down

[@cjhan47]

Nobody does anything for a good cause unless that good cause is money. It might be compatible with a good cause but unless they are giving these things away for free or at cost it's for the money.

[@emmanuelkolawole6720]

But it is too expensive

[@HMNNO]

1700.... Thats way too much lol

[@abecoulter8550]

yea sure at 2500 bucks

[@jasonluong3862]

If you need 5 or 6 days of battery power because there is no sunlight, you have other worldly problems to worry about than no wifi.

[@toddlittles2786]

@meshplusplus S618 Kit - now 25% off! Regular price $1,581.00 i see why you did a review! way to much money these days

[@blasmcarrillo3901]

Thanks much Chris. I gave you my email, so please HELP me, again thank you