If you have strong opinions about #Mesh networking, please let me know.

[jwildeboer@social.wildeboer.net]

@Edent Then my best guess is that the one repeater you can connect to is operated by a HAM operator who is allowed to send with higher power. Or has a better antenna with higher gain. One of those will be the reason your packets won't make it

[psfshr@mastodon.me.uk]

@Edent I had to get a repeater in the attic before I got any decent reliable connection.

With radio, height appears to be key

[edent@mastodon.social]

@psfshr I'm on the 3rd floor, which I thought would help.

I do wonder if the solar panels on the roof might block the signal if I put a repeater up there.

[catawu@mastodon.social]

@Edent either put it outside the window or further inside the room. To me, where it is, looks like it would block signal. It would literally “skip” — just a thought.

[psfshr@mastodon.me.uk]

@Edent That I don’t know. We’ve got panels too on both aspects and still got signals. Brick and block I feel is worse ‍️

Ideal seems to be outside in free air, but that’s not always feasible.

Also depends on the direction of what you’re trying to get to, and how much stuff you’re having to go through on the way. Could just try moving to a different window, might be a repeater in a different direction.

[edent@mastodon.social]

Discovered more #meshcore nodes overnight, but still only infrequently receiving messages. Will try moving the tiny antenna to the loft - although that will reduce my Bluetooth connection to it.

[james@expressional.social]

@Edent I have two companion nodes and, weirdly, they don't see the same contacts as each other despite being turned on at the same times.

[zipkid@gts.solfood.be]

@Edent Put a repeater in your attic and your companion with you downstairs

[edent@mastodon.social]

@falken 90° bend at the top as it loops over.

[edent@mastodon.social]

Stuck the #meshcore in my loft. Hasn't meaningfully changed the signal strength.
Might try some different equipment or switching to #meshtastic.

[box464@mastodon.social]

@Edent I live in “the hills” outside Austin, TX and meshtastic is basically worthless until I get into a city or go further west into the flatlands. I was very disappointed.

And, not sure what the channels are like for you but the chat for me was definitely not my preferred circle of people. I’m sure that varies greatly depending on your location.

[bekopharm@indieweb.social]

@Edent I can hear that poor thing screaming in agony trying to hang on.

[edent@mastodon.social]

@bekopharm damn straight. Electronics should be made to suffer.

[bekopharm@indieweb.social]

@Edent 27 mice and 1 marten near you liked that too.

[alec@perkins.pub]

@Edent better antenna could help. I’ve definitely seen a big difference between antennas. Also have you tried the medium range or narrow settings? I think narrow has really taken over as the preferred setting in a lot of places. https://analyzer.letsmesh.net/map?lat=52.82493&long=-1.27596&zoom=5

[edent@mastodon.social]

@alec Thanks. I'm on Narrow - as recommended by others.
Looks like I need a better antenna!

[alec@perkins.pub]

@Edent I have recs for the 915 band, alas I don’t know 868. Something else to mind is the narrow setting has a pretty sharp falloff. It really needs infrastructure relatively nearby to work reliably. If you can figure out the closest repeater you might be able to orient the antenna toward it. Also outside is much more effective, but of course challenging.

[m0rpk@mastodon.radio]

@Edent that ‘rubber duck’ vertical antenna will do better if it has a counterpoise or a ground plane to act against. A ‘rat tail’ counterpoise is just a bit of wire 1/4 wavelengths long, connected to the outer shield at the antenna base. They’re most common on handheld radios. Probably the cheapest and quickest thing to test.

[m0rpk@mastodon.radio]

@Edent For example, https://baofengtech.com/improve-the-performance-of-your-rubber-duck-with-a-rat-tail/

[edent@mastodon.social]

@m0rpk thanks, I'll investigate