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links:meshcore:part2 [2026/10/29 21:04] – [About Power] va7filinks:meshcore:part2 [2026/10/30 17:16] (current) – created - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
-This is the second part of the Meshcore Guide.  See the [[part1|first part]] to get started.+This is the second part of the Meshcore Guide.  See the [[part1|first part here]].
 ---- ----
  
-<WRAP group> 
-<WRAP half column> 
 ====== Repeaters ====== ====== Repeaters ======
-As mentioned in the [[#part1 |first part]], repeaters are used to extend the range of companions. With radios, the range roughly depends on three factors: +  * Install a repeater like the //SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro// from [[https://www.seeedstudio.com/SenseCAP-Solar-Node-P1-Pro-for-Meshtastic-LoRa-p-6412.html|Seeed Studio]] or [[https://ca.robotshop.com/products/sensecap-solar-node-p1-pro-for-meshtastic-w-gps-battery |RobotShop]] 
-</WRAP> +  * Use an antenna like:
-<WRAP half column> +
-{{ :links:meshcore:meshcore1.png|}} +
-</WRAP> +
-</WRAP> +
-  * The antenna characteristics of **both** radios, their heights above the ground, and the line of sight between them. +
-  * The transmitting power of **both** radios. +
-  * The frequency used. +
- +
-Let's highlight here that it doesn't make sense to talk about the range of //one// radio.  For example, I might be able to reach Bob at a maximum distance of 1 km, while reaching Alice 2 km away.  That's because Alice might have a better antenna or be higher up than Bob.  If one person improves their antenna, height, or line of sight, it helps everyone communicating with them. +
- +
-That's not so with power.  If Bob increases his power, everyone will hear him better, but that won't help him hear anyone else better.  It's like if two people on opposite sides of a football field tried to talk to each other: one with a megaphone, and one without. +
- +
-As a rule of thumb, everyone should use roughly the same power, and focus on improving their antenna, line of sight, and height. +
- +
-With that in mind, to be effective, a repeater should have a good antenna, be as high as possible, and have a clear line of sight to other repeaters and companions. +
- +
- +
-====== Equipment ====== +
- +
-  * A repeater like the //SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro// can be purchased from [[https://www.seeedstudio.com/SenseCAP-Solar-Node-P1-Pro-for-Meshtastic-LoRa-p-6412.html|Seeed Studio]] or [[https://ca.robotshop.com/products/sensecap-solar-node-p1-pro-for-meshtastic-w-gps-battery |RobotShop]] +
-  * The antenna can be upgraded with one like:+
     * [[https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08H8J6ZV6 |ALFA Network AOA-915-5ACM 5 dBi]]     * [[https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08H8J6ZV6 |ALFA Network AOA-915-5ACM 5 dBi]]
     * [[https://www.amazon.ca/Waterproof-Fiberglass-SenseCAP-EasyLinkIn-SyncroB/dp/B09N2H166D/|5.8dBi Meshtastic Lora 915MHz Fiberglass Antenna]]     * [[https://www.amazon.ca/Waterproof-Fiberglass-SenseCAP-EasyLinkIn-SyncroB/dp/B09N2H166D/|5.8dBi Meshtastic Lora 915MHz Fiberglass Antenna]]
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     * [[https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0FDB2BN1R/ |Superbat N Type Female to SMA Male RG316 Coaxial Cable 15cm]]     * [[https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0FDB2BN1R/ |Superbat N Type Female to SMA Male RG316 Coaxial Cable 15cm]]
  
-====== Flashing the Firmware ====== 
  
-===== Installing a Bootloader ===== +===== Installing the Bootloader for the First Time. ===== 
-This step is optional, but it allows future updates to be performed over-the-air (OTA) via Bluetooth instead of wired via USB.  <wrap important> It is **not** required for (or compatible with) ESP32 devices like the Heltec V or T beam.</wrap>+This step is required to be able to perform future updates over-the-air (OTA) via Bluetooth.  <wrap important> It is **not** required for (or compatible with) ESP32 devices like the Heltec V or T beam.</wrap>
  
 If you already have MeshCore installed (but not the bootloader), download your current settings: If you already have MeshCore installed (but not the bootloader), download your current settings:
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   * Locate the "''.uf2''" file (probably in your Downloads folder).   * Locate the "''.uf2''" file (probably in your Downloads folder).
  
 +<WRAP pagebreak />
  
 Copy the bootloader over to your device: Copy the bootloader over to your device:
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   * The drive may close on its own right away.  This is normal.   * The drive may close on its own right away.  This is normal.
  
- 
-===== Flashing the Firmware ===== 
 Flash the MeshCore Firmware: Flash the MeshCore Firmware:
   * Go to https://meshcore.io/flasher   * Go to https://meshcore.io/flasher
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   * Select "''Disconnect''"   * Select "''Disconnect''"
  
 +<WRAP pagebreak />
  
 ===== Updating the Firmware OTA ===== ===== Updating the Firmware OTA =====
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   * Install [[https://www.localmesh.nl/en/meshcore-telemetry-functions/|sensors]].   * Install [[https://www.localmesh.nl/en/meshcore-telemetry-functions/|sensors]].
  
-====== Appendix ====== 
-===== About Power ===== 
-The transmit power of radios is often measured in watts (W).  For example, in Canada FRS radios are limited to 0.5 W for channels 8--14, and 2 W for the channels 1--7 and 15--22.(([[https://www.fleetwooddp.com/pages/frs-gmrs-frequencies]])).  Handheld ham radios can typically transmit up to 5 W, mobile VHF/UHF radio up to 50 W, and HF radios can go up to 100 W without an amplifier, and 1000 W with an amplifier. 
  
-<WRAP group> +====== Sunshine Coast Repeater Project ======
-<WRAP half column> +
-The MeshCore app uses dBm instead of W as a unit of power.  Very briefly, a decibel (dB) is a logarithmic scale used to compare two quantities: +
-</WRAP> +
-<WRAP half column> +
-|  A is 10 dB over B  |  <=>  |  A is 10 times bigger than B  | +
-|  A is 20 dB over B  |  <=>  |  A is 100 times bigger than B  | +
-|  A is 30 dB over B  |  <=>  |  A is 1000 times bigger than B  | +
-</WRAP> +
-</WRAP> +
- +
-Do you see the pattern?  If not, you can read more about the dB scale [[hambasics/sections/mathbasics |here]]. +
- +
-A dB**m** is "dB over 1 mW (milliwatt)". In other words, it tells you how many times more powerful than 1 mW your power is?  Here are a few values: +
-|<15em>| +
-|  1 dBm  |  ≈  |  1.3 mW  | +
-|  2 dBm  |  ≈  |  1.6 mW  | +
-|  3 dBm  |  ≈  |  2 mW  | +
-|  4 dBm  |  ≈  |  2.5 mW  | +
-|  5 dBm  |  ≈  |  3.2 mW  | +
-|  6 dBm  |  ≈  |  4 mW  | +
-|  ...  ||| +
-|  10 dBm  |  =  |  10 mW  | +
-|  20 dBm  |  =  |  100 mW  | +
-|  30 dBm  |  =  |  1 W  | +
- +
-Here's how to convert from dBm to mW.  Let's use 22 dBm as an example (which is the maximum power of a Wio L1 Pro device): +
-  * Divide 22 dBm by 10 = 2.2 +
-  * Take 10 to the power of 2.2 = 10<sup>2.2</sup> ≈ 158 mW +
- +
-To convert from mW to dBm is a little harder because we need to use the <key>log</key> function.  Let's convert 2.5 W in dBm. +
-  * First, we need to convert 2.5 W into mW = 2500 mW +
-  * Then we take the log of that: <key>log</key>2500 ≈ 3.4 +
-  * Finally, we multiply that by 10 = 34 dBm +
- +
- +
-===== Sunshine Coast Repeater Project =====+
  
 {{  :links:meshcore:meshcore_repeaters.jpg?500  }} {{  :links:meshcore:meshcore_repeaters.jpg?500  }}
-The MeshCore app has a very handy Antenna Coverage tool to model line-of-sight coverage.  You can use it without having a device:+Here's how to use MeshCore's Antenna Coverage tool to model line-of-sight coverage:
   * Navigate to the [[https://app.meshcore.nz/ |web version of the MeshCore App]]   * Navigate to the [[https://app.meshcore.nz/ |web version of the MeshCore App]]
   * You don't need to connect to an actual MeshCore device.   * You don't need to connect to an actual MeshCore device.
   * Click on <key>**⋮**</key>  in the top right corner and then select "''Tools''"   * Click on <key>**⋮**</key>  in the top right corner and then select "''Tools''"
   * Enter the "''Antenna Coverage''" tool   * Enter the "''Antenna Coverage''" tool
- 
-To import the locations that we've modelled: 
   * Where it says "''0 Coverage Layers''", click on <key>**⋮**</key> and select "''Import JSON''"   * Where it says "''0 Coverage Layers''", click on <key>**⋮**</key> and select "''Import JSON''"
-  * Import this {{:links:meshcore:coverage_layers_2026-03-27-221828.json |json file}}+  * Import [[:links:meshcore:coverage_layers_2026-03-27-221828.json |this file]]
  
  
  
 +===== To Do =====
 +<WRAP round todo 30em>
 +  * Edit the whole document
 +  * Add more details to the [[#sunshine_coast_repeater_project]] section.
 + --- //[[[email protected]|Patrick, VA7FI]] 2026/10/25 12:12//
  
 +</WRAP>
  
- +===== Copyright and Attribution =====
- +
- +
-====== Copyright ======+
 This document is licensed under [[https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ |CC BY-SA 4.0 International]].  The original can be found at https://scarcs/links/meshcore/home This document is licensed under [[https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ |CC BY-SA 4.0 International]].  The original can be found at https://scarcs/links/meshcore/home
- 
-====== Footnotes ====== 
- 
links/meshcore/part2.1793333061.txt.gz · Last modified: by va7fi