Projects · off-grid communications
Build for the places
you want to reach.
Start with a small, testable project. Measure the power, document the radio path and make maintenance part of the design.
Project 01 · Solar node
From bench test
to outdoor deployment.
Choose a supported low-power board, a regional antenna, a weather-resistant enclosure, a protected battery and a charge controller compatible with the cell chemistry and solar panel. Specific hardware revisions and charging limits matter.
- Define the link. Identify who and where you want to reach. Get permission for the site and review the terrain path.
- Measure the whole node. Record average current at the battery terminals over representative radio traffic, including display, GPS and accessories. Use the power measurement log.
- Size winter power. Use the battery and solar planner with site-specific winter peak-sun hours, usable capacity and conversion efficiency. Its panel estimate includes a 50% margin; shaded sites need additional assessment.
- Check the energy balance. Daily energy is current in amperes × battery voltage × 24 hours. Battery energy for the desired autonomy is daily energy × days ÷ usable fraction. Verify the controller and panel can recover after cloudy days.
- Build and inspect. Plan cable strain relief, drip loops, condensation control and low-temperature charge protection. Follow the battery and charger manufacturers’ operating limits.
- Test before mounting. Run a charge/discharge test, confirm settings with nearby operators, and log an actual radio path. Document safe access, ownership and a maintenance schedule.
Project 02 · Portable kit
A simple kit you can
check before a trip.
Start with two compatible radios, suitable antennas, charged batteries, the required phone apps or standalone interfaces, spare cables and a written set of shared settings. Pack a protected power bank only after verifying the radio can charge from it reliably.
- Send a short message between the radios before leaving.
- Confirm region, modem preset and channel settings match your group.
- Save your route notes and offline tools while you still have internet access.
- Try the radios at realistic distances and terrain, then record what happened.
- Write down fallback arrangements with your group. A radio test does not guarantee later coverage.
Project 03 · Raspberry Pi lab
Explore a local host
or bulletin board.
A Raspberry Pi with a compatible radio interface can support local experiments and automation. Budget for the entire host, storage and radio; an always-on Pi is a different power load from a small standalone radio node.
Document dependencies on internet services separately from the local radio path, then test the functions you need with the internet connection disconnected.
Keep it repeatable
Record the build,
then record the result.
No field performance or battery life is claimed without a measurement.