IS THIS CB RADIO 2.0!!!

[@Metal_seer]

Thanks for your videos. I am in Atlanta, GA, in the US. I just learned of Meshtastic yesterday. I'm watching every KZbin I can find about it. Having a backup comm system like thus is very important. You and others are doing a great service for all good people Worldwide. Cheers.

[@Jack_Move]

We have Almost no one here in the states it seems that uses this .. I'm in PA & the closest person is probably 50+ miles away & then from there it's not close at all.

[@PRODIGY5369]

Hi Andy, I'm licensed now and I used to CB back in the booming heyday. I thank you for these videos and informing me on these. I watched your 1st couple of videos and got quite excited about it. I love the idea of providing nodes locally with range that would connect to other towns/cities on the network. After I watched your video I went off and watched some others and there is a board called Wisblok by Raks which is superbly suited for solar power, put it up and forget situations. It has solar power charging connection on board and doesn't have GPS or Bluetooth which saves on power draw. Another channel did a great build video for it. Put it high with a good antenna and the right small inexpensive solar panel and it should be maintenance free, or almost. Fantastic LoRa node setup. I wish there was a UK supplier of all this stuff.

[@seancook4317]

i think it's because people have forgotten what it's like to just talk to someone without some huge company there listening to everything scheming and trying to find more ways to rip you off. i think people just miss being able to talk to a stranger without giving up half your personal info to a bunch of corporate demons, nobody is scamming you on CB/HAM/grms etc, no one is selling you anything, no one wants anything except to say hello. i think thats why it's coming back. people can talk freely again and they like it. i want a HAM radio phone.

[@vinny142]

"i think it's because people have forgotten what it's like to just talk to someone without some huge company" I know, but nobody really cares about that. When the internet became a 24/7 connection and phones became mainstream the CB band all but disappeared *because* there was no privacy on the radio waves at all. And unless you use some encrypition, neither does this. Any mesh or network that is not straight peer-to-peer will need routers and those have 100% access to all the dat that goes through them, so... what privacy?

[@MrKennykyle1]

this is encrypted by default brother @@vinny142 You can also private message and no one can see it unless it's some cracked MI6 agent

[@rudyinthesky4967]

Mesh networks by their nature don't require routers and they do have encrypted messaging,....,

[@pcblah]

I dunno, have you heard the stuff that goes down on CB? Seems like lots of sales to me.

[@lunarbluesmusic]

This is so much more important than most could understand. I've been on this a few years but you're helping to inform the curious on a macro level in minutes. Kudos Andy.

[@Ballentyne817]

I work doing maintenance on all types of comms towers around the whole UK, I fix/install/dismantle/relocate the towers them selfs and 90% of all telecoms kit are only installed 25-30m of the ground with the rest of the tower being empty apart from a normal lightning spike on top. Im wondering how big a network I could install across the nation with my access, the biggest problem is power but with a small lets say 3inch by 3inch solar panel I think its possible to attach the system to the very top and nobody would know, put a Home Office Securities sticker on it and it will never be touched at the top or seen without a drone. I spent 4 years working alongside General Dynamics when I was in the forces on the R&D and implementation of the Bowman system for the British forces this was back in 99/00 so a have a keen interest in comms and networking. That mesh network in London you brought up on screen I think is MI5 net, they have a system in place for their closed comms.

[@Swallabat]

Do it!!

[@S7EVE_P]

A 3inch by 3inch panel wouldn't be close to enough unfortunately.

[@GamingKing545]

@@S7EVE_P if it has a decent battery it should be good

[@burning4902]

put a 'google' sticker on it then the authorities def wont touch it

[@korkuiper9385]

Thanks, we are in the Netherlands and will be setting up this in our region in the North. Thanks for your tips and tricks.

[@DeputatKaktus]

Been getting into Meshtastic very recently. There is hardly anyone in my area that uses it. And those few that do, I know personally. I also live in a flat in a built up area so LOS is a bit of a challenge. At best I get a few hundred meters right now. Part of the issue for sure is the antenna that came with my particular Heltec board. Having measured it on a proper VNA, it turns out that this is a 915 MHz antenna. It does have some output on 868 but it’s certainly not great and leaves a lot to be desired. But this confirms what I have read elsewhere, namely that the antenna you get with your Heltec is a complete luck of the draw. Might go the DIY route here. That said: I have been considering getting a few more boards, small batteries, a few solar panels and some PVC piping and setting up a few Meshtastic repeaters / routers „guerilla style“, in watertight enclosures in some places to get the ball rolling here and to improve coverage. Problem of course is that some authorities (or nosy people) might take a dim view of some random bloke strapping electronicky looking contraptions with antennas to street lights and things. Anyone got any experience with that? Or is this just a dumb idea?

[@Meshtastic]

Your Meshtastic videos have been great! Looking forward to the next. 😀

[@andykirby]

Thanks! Keep up the great work!🙌🏻

[@dangruner5926]

I still have a high gain commercial grade fibreglass dipole for 868Mhz LoRa on the chimney of my house and at my business premises a few miles away. Used to host a LoRa to GSM gateway over a number of years for a company called Wireless Development Networks Ltd, which went bust during the pandemic. They basically installed the kit and paid monthly rent for the use of your site and electric. Since they have not collected the equipment, I plan to re-deploy the dipole for Meshtasic node at both locations. Should work very well - especially my home being very high up!

[@andykirby]

Yeah thats totally worth doing! It will work very well.

[@Sparks0001]

Exactly what I have done with my old WND kit - The SIM card was still working when I last tested it in the Routerboard GSM router too! I specifically asked the receivers if they wanted it back, and was told "The equipment is not wanted by the Company and the Company will not be paying to collect decommissioned units. Feel free to dispose of the aerial in the best way you see fit"

[@krisdouglas6536]

This is fascinating me at the moment. I’m up in Dundee Scotland there looks like 2 around me on meshtastic map. I love learning new things on KZbin but in your case you’re actually spending money and a lot of time for our benefit. Because g respect mate thank you.

[@mickgatz214]

Thanx Andy, got something to keep my brain going! 👍

[@riverbankjournal]

This tech is very intriguing! It would be wonderful to have a nationwide citizen's emergency comms network based on this

[@rEdf196]

I've been previously experimenting with 915 MHz (here in west Canada) using my RTL SDR with a 30 foot run LMR 400 grade cable including added cheap 8 foot RG 59 type I regularly used it for shortwave monitoring which worked fine but I did use it for my homemade precision cut 1/4 wave ground plane antenna 15 feet high from my porch. I did get occasional blips on my screen every minutes or so at 915 MHz . I thought it was a success at the time. however I saw your video and I brought the tiny 1/4 wave antenna indoors using just a short 8 inch LMR 400 and 6 inch SMA adapter to my RTL with an added 15 foot USB extension cord to the computer. I was blown away at the improvement, way, way more signal blips and the antenna's in my house only five feet off the floor. I am still working on acquiring my own Meshtastic devices and join in since demand has gone ballistic.

[@gregdavidd]

This is a really cool concept. I hope it catches on!

[@mrfust]

It seems that a lot of devices won’t/can’t handle the amount of traffic on the default long-fast channel, especially when used with MQTT. Also, you mentioned not changing the default settings for the 1st/default channel. This channel (the primary channel) is what any GPS/sensor data is sent over. If you don’t want to do that (and there’s plenty of obvious reasons why one wouldn’t want to do that), you can disable the primary channel or set it as a private channel. The default channel can be set using the same settings on one of the other 7 secondary channels without any data being transmitted. If someone wants to, they can manually add their node to the map.

[@matrixlockdown2975]

I am learning about this currently, still have to make the purchases but it seems very intriguing. Using it for backcountry camp/hiking/SAR comms is my main point of interest. This seems perfect for those types of local, mobile, comms network setups if needed.

[@thehurricane4047]

Save your money and wait until they get the bugs out. It's a hype now but there will be a lot of devices becoming available when people get fed up with al the current issues.

[@matrixlockdown2975]

@@thehurricane4047 what sort of bugs are you aware of? I am genuinely interested. I wouldn't mind seeing some better range tests from an emcomm standpoint but curious what else you have seen?

[@canidsong]

I too am very interested in meshtastic for such applications. I'm about to start playing with a couple nodes I bought and hope to integrate them with atak with a mind towards SAR. application

[@Buzzygirl63]

This is very cool! I am a US ham but not currently active OTA right now. There are four nodes near me, not nearly as many as in the UK though. I need to order one of these soon. I have a Raspberry Pi Pico just laying around but I am not sure what to pair it with to make it work via Meshtastic. I just learned about this project and it looks super fun and cheap to get into. 73!

[@will88mph29]

Yo Andy. I came online in your town last night great to be part of the network. Will be deploying ALOT more around that area soon! Certainly is CB radio 2.0 😂😂. Feels like the good old days.

[@marshmellow377]

Can you do a video on the Lilygo T-Deck? (saw your tube video and I am sold on that one) Just no idea what I need to get it up and running. For example, do you have a case for it? which battery do you have?

[@MatthewPherigo]

How fitting, I wrote a long comment trying to help people get it set up and KZbin instantly deleted it.

[@chargeriderepeat7024]

Oh they'll come for it. Drg dlrs and trrsts will be the headlines, great series of videos Andy, it hasnt been good for ebikes in this weather, heres to a crackin summer.

[@GalloPazzesco]

Bloody well done old chap. My interest is peaking. Subscribed, bell rung, commented, upvoted, liked, shared ... may the algorithm gods smile favorably upon your channel.

[@andykay479]

Andy, thanks for your invaluable guidance on this issue. There's a question I can't seem to find an answer to, so maybe you'll get time to address it in one of your videos. It concerns interference generated by harmonics at the LoRa transmitter, and whether there is a danger of being in breach of regulations. I can't imagine this is a problem given the accelerating roll-out of the IoT, but it would be great to learn why it isn't a problem.

[@CaptZenPetabyte]

There is no one within hundreds of kms where I am here in Australia, I think 2024 will be the year I get into this and maybe set up a decent East Coast of Australia mesh along the main M1 & A1 freeway/highway

[@TheCunneen]

Yeah there's plenty of elevated locations along the A1 . I was thinking about doing something similar. If you could get 20km per unit with a directional antenna dotted along the range you could get a decent mesh up and running fairly easily

[@247SH]

Loads of useful tips, many thanks!

[@ivosarak959]

That 900MHz or so is ISM=band in americas and last time I checked not so much in that side of the pond. Has anything changed recently? Also, I see only one mobile node in Estonia, so not much use here it seems.

[@PortugalCarp]

Hi Andy, this is a ruddy interesting subject, it's the first time I have heard about it (mind you I do live in Portugal lol). Thanks for posting and I hope you do some more videos regarding this. Happy New Year

[@M7BCN]

Very interesting stuff Andy, will have to pick one up and put it on the air.

[@ryank5tar]

Should connect the gateway to wireshark. Make sure we aren't placing Scada bugs for the mainland

[@Robotron-zg6mf]

solar powered on a hill top hidden high in a tree?

[@Robotron-zg6mf]

I can do the Chiltern hills, London to Oxford Link

[@jarthurs]

I saw an earlier video of yours and my first thought was, "This is CB radio all over again".

[@G7FQG]

Hiya... It reminds me of the old packet network from years ago... It definitely isn't like the CB days... Cheers. Mate... 😊

[@moonshotsilver]

Can you mine bitcoin with that thing 😊 nice one Andy. Keep pumping out the tunes young man 👍

[@bjpcorp]

So can we build an off-grid internet & social media network using these tools?

[@zerofox3d]

I had three Heltec V3s arrive from AliExpress over Christmas and a couple of RakWireless WisBlock kits from HK. The WisBlock hardware is very cool. Anyway, I’m looking at setting up a relay on a high point on the Wirral peninsula that will cover a large area 😁

[@andykirby]

Nice! Yeah the RAK is very cool!

[@bluenetmarketing]

What is the average line of sight range with the typical lora system?

[@wisteela]

Right, I'm definitely going to set up a node at my QTH here in Mansfield this year. 73 M7TUD

[@andykirby]

Do it!

[@TowerGMLtdInfo]

Hi Andy. I'm not sure if you have noticed or not, have a look the Meshtastic map how many new nodes pup up in the UK but since you have posted this LoRa videos. Every day 10-15 new nodes. Including me! I already got 2 node and I'm hoping we started something here in the North East of England (Sunderland) as well. Thank you for this inspiring video, 73. M7ATI

[@internet155]

Got 3 coming soon, seems like a fun hobby.

[@matthewt-ty33]

Do u have to have a license to use them

[@ournarrowboatadventure8458]

Just ordered 3 modules from amazon today, based in Yorkshire with not a great deal of activity around me, let’s see if i can change that! 😊

[@jethrobrowne2942]

How did you get all the other channels on you channel list please Andy?

[@markwilliams5654]

Thanks andy 👍

[@JeffRejent]

Is there a way to hide your location? Seems like stations showing up on a map is a security and privacy issue.

[@captainmark1]

Hi Andy, have you got a link were to buy a Lily go T echo for the uk please? Thank you

[@james-5560]

How do you know if you've discovered others, do they appear in the peers list?

[@VidyaPuratana]

@andykirby You said the antenna company is “Parido”? Or Parideaux?

[@andykirby]

Paradar

[@tzrrsdave]

Got a amp yesterday and straight away got a contact in Turkey, it's probably sea level here in Cambridgeshire so I struggle and I got rtl sdr for Christmas but I'm struggling to set it up, first time I've used a laptop in 13 years but I will get there

[@Alice8000]

I turned on the mesh tastic device, but I didn't find any hot singles in my area. any suggestions?

[@b3l14l]

Great video Andy

[@andykirby]

Thanks 👍🏼

[@edwinvane70]

Hi Andy, now I want to try it to. Thanks 😂

[@z3r0c00l2]

Yes it's all cool and neat but where exactly this device can help ? Can you show examples of their usage ?

[@mrfust]

Oh, I forgot to ask… what were the settings for the ukwide channel..?

[@wildwoodways5812]

Any tips to get the lipo charging on the Heltec?

[@andykirby]

They do charge but there's no low voltage cutoff, I'm using small camera batteries on mine.

[@mryang3644]

Is this a Group talk with the world? Or can u gather your own group or talk to 1 person directly?

[@infertilepiggy5667]

is that a sneaky bugger in horncastle i see

[@DinsDale-tx4br]

2:36 Activity in Southampton, that's annoying ..... I laughed at that :-)

[@hum3505]

Generally how high do you have those antenna?

[@simonwilliams7497]

Andy, can you do a video on the best doomsday radio, one that you can fit to a car or mobile. If all the power went off, and Internet, what radio would or could you use to communicate with far away stations? Whole set up. Illegal or legal for Joe blogs who doesn't have a license.

[@bluenetmarketing]

Beautiful video. So what is the average range on these two devices assuming open line of sight?

[@londo776]

two feet

[@bluenetmarketing]

@@londo776 In other words, one foot in front of the other. Funny guy.

[@londo776]

@@bluenetmarketing 😀0.126m

[@andykirby]

Haha record is about 200km I think.

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

What about a dish antenna for 800-1.2Ghz

[@peterhume3474]

I doubled the reach and contacts by connecting it up to my Diamond X50 UHF/VHF antenna up on the roof.... suddenly I could reach friends 6 and 11 km away...

[@robputt]

Are you running your meshtastic nodes meshed by internet assistance (MQTT)? Maybe we could create a UK wide mesh with a mix of meshtastic nodes and meshtastic MQTT links over internet?

[@andykirby]

The mesh is RF but We have a gateway to our mesh operating from one of the guys basestation nodes. You can join the UKWide channel on the official meshtastic MQTT, I've put the details on our discord, are you on there?

[@andykirby]

discord.com/invite/qWq9wJA7

[@realliveradio447]

Would be handy if there was a cyber attack 🤔 Off grid is a good backup.

[@markifi]

wouldn't it be trivial to flood the channels of that one internet connected repeater that's at a high elevation?

[@TheBeardandTheBald]

Loving your work mate. Have bought some heltec v3 boards to play with and make videos about based on what you’ve done, would love try some other boards too.

[@andykirby]

Thanks guys! Keep up the vids!👍🏼💪🏼

[@Flippin_50]

Think I made a boo boo, saw Andy’s T-Echo video and not really knowing much about this but wanting to learn I bought one, only I missed the crucial bit about getting an 868mhz one and the one that’s arrived is 433, is this totally useless/illegal to use in the uk?

[@Dutcharmytent]

Please keep these videos coming

[@MakeDoAndMend1]

Where can I purchase one with firmware installed as I don't own a computer etc. Cheers from George

[@MrRourk]

I was all hyped to get some meshtastics and a pair of Rabit R1's and set up some AI's to talk to each other. But the Rabit is just a terminal and not the AI. It might still work for my needs.

[@timjinks3011]

I'm in a high location about 20 miles from the Midlands and have a mast on my workshop (and power). I'd like to fit a Meshtastic device on the mast to facilitate a node for others. Ideally IP65/6/7 but I can do that if necessary. I don't really have a use for this myself (at the moment anyway) but the location would be ideal as a bridge node for other traffic. Can you suggest suitable equipment/products that would fit the bill? Thanks. And a great video BTW. Tim (retired G8)

[@captainmcadams]

Hey Andy, what batteries are you using for your heltec v3s? Anything worth looking at on Amazon?

[@sjoer]

I need to update my node, it shows as mobile on your map but I taught I had set it as fixed... but it has been running for at least a year with old firmware now.

[@mediocreman2]

It only does text messages? As far as communicating with people? Seems really limited

[@wesleyooms]

13:00, Isn't it interesting that you do not need to take into account the earth curvature for this line of sight? I mean over the distance you are talking about (50 km or so) earth curvature really starts to play a role.

[@engineeringdisillusion]

1:30 they have a built-in battery THEREFORE i'm worrying about that battery, because it won't be any standard AA/AAA/18650, it will be a bogus taped-rectangular-bloating custom size which will be impractical to replace keeping the existing case.

[@Voyajer.]

Pouch lipos have standardized sizes

[@Kaimera23]

Very interested in joining the Meshtastic network. Is there anyway of powering and connecting to one of these over PoE? I have a PoE network and if the node was mounted high on a chimney in a waterproof enclosure, it would be very easy to provide PoE into the box but could I then see the device on my network to connect to it or could I still reach it over WiFi/BT?

[@andykirby]

You'd need a PoE to USB adapter for the power side, there's no ethernet onboard the device but yes you can use WiFi to connect to the node.

[@TinyDan87]

whats with the motion sickness inducing frame rate dude?

[@Woddy-bd7ns]

How do I get the ukwide channels aes key?

[@dennis8019]

same as that virtual cb .. neh

[@MotoNewsUK]

This could become for The internet what bitcoin is for finance. Peer to peer internet fully decentralised

[@andreh2251]

Is the liligo immediately ready for use or do you still have to program it on the computer after purchase?

[@andykirby]

The T-echo (white device) needs firmware but its literally like dragging a file to a USB drive, you could probably even do it from android smartphone I reckon.

[@panzerdawn]

could use a hackrf one portapack to get the signal

[@ShadyCrzy]

If you're going to order from China, put your order in before February because the country shuts down for Lunar New Year and your order will be delayed at least two weeks

[@andykirby]

This is true.

[@MegaBmwdude]

Is it worth using the 433mhz version over the 868mhz version.

[@andykirby]

I wouldn't most of the UK activity is on 868

[@christophersmith1155]

IM ON THE 22ND FLOOR IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN AND CANT FIND THE SIGNAL MAP. WHERE IS THE MAP ONLINE.

[@andykirby]

canvis.app/meshtastic-map

[@christophersmith1155]

THX

[@WindyJAMiller]

Have you got a link to the map please?

[@migalito1955]

Well Andy I like the idea. But, where I live there can be miles between homes and it is very sparsely populated. I am afraid it will never take off here.

[@andykirby]

Actually it works great in super rural areas, you can put a node on a hill close to you can it will relay massive distances. If there's no hills then that's good too. Ranges of 100km are pretty easy.

[@losttapes1705]

Next thing is being able to ping specific people...

[@virtualizeeverything]

is there something like this for the US

[@londo776]

just use pmr444 or CB h/h, or am i missing something?

[@andykirby]

This goes further than voice, on basic equipment at least.

[@philipmaude]

wish you were closer i am south coast but this looks fun... am i confused... yeah

[@andykirby]

There's some activity down your way canvis.app/meshtastic-map

[@moojuiceuk]

There's at least 4 of us in Southampton already!

[@Tore_Lund]

Maybe some bridges to messenger or your email headlines to the MQTT gateway, would increase the appeal of Meshtastic for the non ham audience? Or would that defeat the idea of an independent communication network, to tie it to the zombified social media sphere?

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Satellite cable should work.

[@pperrinuk]

You forgot the discord link!

[@asdreww]

Whats the power output/range of these things?

[@yamez69]

Maximum 160mW with the SX1262 chipset, though varies with country regulations. Depends on LOS, terrain and antenna. Current record is 254KM mountain top to mountain top.

[@asdreww]

@@yamez69 for such low power/small antenna that's pretty incredible

[@futures2247]

cannot get these anywhere

[@christophersmith1155]

I WANT TO SEE IF THIS EXISTS HERE IN NYC. LOOKING FOR A ACTIVITY MAP ON THE INTERNET. NO LUCK. :(

[@DollarJonny]

Is there an option not to show others your place, position and activity?

[@andykirby]

Yes of course.

[@StraightOuttaUrbex]

So is it voice or just text messages

[@londo776]

text

[@StraightOuttaUrbex]

@@londo776 ah not much good then

[@garfish307]

I wonder if u could make a 4 pill for this...

[@sUASNews]

Now try it with ATAK, you know that Meshtastic was created by an Ardupilot dev