Building a Solar-Powered MeshCore Repeater
A well-placed solar repeater can extend mesh network coverage across entire mountain valleys. Here's how to build one for Colorado's challenging conditions.
Why Solar Repeaters?
Remote mountain locations lack power infrastructure but offer incredible line-of-sight coverage. A single repeater on a peak can connect communities separated by miles of terrain.
Components Needed
Power System
- Solar panel: 10-20W panel (oversized for Colorado's winter days)
- Battery: 12V 7-20Ah LiFePO4 (cold-tolerant chemistry)
- Charge controller: Basic PWM controller with low-voltage cutoff
- DC-DC converter: 12V to 5V for powering the node
Node Hardware
- RAK WisBlock or similar low-power board
- High-gain antenna: 5-8dBi omnidirectional or Yagi for directional
- Weatherproof enclosure: IP67 rated minimum
Mounting
- Mounting pole: Galvanized steel or aluminum
- Guy wires: For exposed ridgeline installations
- Ground rod: Lightning protection essential in Colorado
Power Calculations
Colorado averages 3-4 peak sun hours in winter. For a node drawing 50mA average:
- Daily consumption: 50mA × 24h = 1.2Ah
- Winter generation (15W panel): ~3-4Ah/day
- Battery reserve: 3-5 days minimum
This gives plenty of margin for cloudy periods and snow coverage.
Installation Tips
Site Selection
- Choose locations with clear line-of-sight to target areas
- Avoid areas prone to heavy snow accumulation
- Consider accessibility for maintenance
Weatherproofing
- Use silicone-filled cable glands for all wire entries
- Orient enclosure to minimize sun exposure
- Allow for thermal expansion in mounting
Testing
- Monitor remotely for the first month
- Check battery levels during winter storms
- Verify coverage matches predictions
Maintenance Schedule
- Monthly: Remote status check
- Quarterly: Physical inspection if accessible
- Annually: Battery health check, antenna inspection
Building repeaters is one of the most impactful ways to contribute to the Colorado MeshCore network. Visit the about page to coordinate placement with existing infrastructure.
Keep reading.
Before You Put a Node on the Map: Naming, Prefixes, and Radio Settings
A practical preflight checklist for Colorado MeshCore operators: pick a useful name, reserve a clean public-key prefix, match the Front Range radio settings, and verify your node before it goes live.
Our Repeater Setup and Naming Guides: Built on Lessons from the Global MeshCore Community
How the Australian MeshCore community's pioneering work on repeater tuning and network coordination shaped the guides we use in Denver today.
Network Health Deep Dive: What Our Dashboard Metrics Actually Mean
Ever wondered what that legacy network health score actually means? Here's the full breakdown of all seven components — and how you can help improve them.
Discuss this with the community.
Operators are happy to chat about anything in this post — or anything else Colorado Mesh-adjacent.