HANDHELD
Portable, battery-powered, GPS-capable radios for hiking, neighborhood use, events, and field testing.
Best for: people learning the network.
06 / BUILD SHOP
BUILD THE
NODE.
Choose a deployment that matches the job. Start simple, test it in the field, and only scale into infrastructure when the evidence supports it.
VEHICLE
A roof-mounted or externally mounted antenna can turn a moving vehicle into a useful mobile node without pretending it is permanent infrastructure.
Best for: mountain roads and field operations.
HOME
Use a sensible antenna, reliable power, and a good physical location. Height and line of sight usually matter more than simply buying a bigger radio.
Best for: local coverage and testing.
SOLAR
Solar nodes trade convenience for engineering. Plan battery capacity, charging, weather protection, maintenance, and telemetry before deployment.
Best for: legitimate fixed infrastructure.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Router/repeater-style infrastructure should be coordinated. A mountain node is part of a network, not an isolated gadget.
Best for: agreed network expansion.
HOST A NODE
Have a roof, tower, barn, ridge, or other useful site? Offer the location privately. Never publish an exact residential location just to prove it exists.
Before spending money on more transmit power, understand the four things that determine whether a mountain installation will actually help.