MeshCore repeaters and CoreScope

A working note on my MeshCore repeaters and CoreScope installation. I’m filling in the setup, coverage, and lessons learned.

This is my working field note for the MeshCore repeaters I run and my CoreScope installation. I’m using this page to collect the setup details and observations as I fill them in.

Repeater setup: I have images down below of my most notable installs - I have 10 repeaters registered in MeshMap, that sounds about right. That's not counting Dronepeater I use for site surveys or for temporarily extending range in an area.

Network Observation

Groups

Shopping Lists

My Amazon List (no affiliate code!)

Configuration, Guides and Firmware

MichMesh Repeater Setup guide/standards
Official Firmware
Gessaman Standalone observer and repeater/observer combo software. If you want to feed various MQTT servers like corescope and MeshMapper and don't want a full computer running OpenHop
OpenHop Linux based repeater, virtual companion, and chat room server. Uses a KISS modem or a SX1262 based Pi Hat

My home meshcore repeater (Heltec v4) and my meshtastic repeater (Heltec v4). PoE powered with battery backup in the box. Heltecs are very power hungry so dual Heltec is no place for solar. lol. Especially with the duty cycle of the Meshtastic MQTT feed. (The picture predates the conversion to PoE - I converted it shortly after this one. :)

Clear Rate Office - This is a Raspberry Pi, PoE injector powered, with an ADSB reciever, SX1262 pi hat for Meshtastic, and a RAK 4630 using KISS firmware, with OpenHop as the Meshcore repeater sitting on a preconstructed tower that formerly held 5.8ghz WISP gear, on an 8th story penthouse in the middle of the metro area. The ADSB receiver sees planes as far as Sudbury, ON and Indianapolis, IN (at altitude at least)

RogueOne - KEEPTEEN D5L-R1 Mesh Solar node in the amazon list. It's a solar panel/lithium battery/RAK 4631 combo ready to go out of the box, with a tree spike mount. It's very discreetly mounted on a tree on the edge of the road between me and the Hazel Park node, our traffic bounces through this and it extends range all down Dequindre. :)

RogueTwo - A RAK4631 with a 12v/5v converter (see the amazon list) and a 12v solar panel and battery pack from a trail cam. Optimistically placed on one of the highest places in the county, it occasionally chirps up into the mesh but it's not always successful.

i3 Detroit Ferndale - Literally the same exact hardware set as RogueTwo except it uses a magmount antenna, and mounts to the rooftop air handler unit with two 40# magnets, making the entire set up non penetrative and easily removed later.

Paul - Boston Edison - Challenge - you can get a free spot for a MeshCore repeater in a heavily underserved location on the edge of signal but only if it can be put in a 3rd story attic south facing window to work and kind of blend with the vibe of the room. Heltec v4 + GPS + Gessaman firmware, battery and a cool cheap 3d printed case off amazon (there's a few times you can buy time, and this is one of those times), and that favor was cashed in.

Coming Soon - Seeed SenseCap Solar Node P1 Pro - this bad boy is going to be strapped to a piece of public infrastructure and will relay packets throughout Detroit's West Side.