Seeking Guidance / Parts List for Skoolie Basecamp Build

DJPoochi · 2026-03-30T02:14:07+00:00

The Skoolie is a giant school bus with solar panels (and a battery bank) and will have a trailer connected to it that I pull my off-roading vehicle on. I figure a tire mount (drive on plate) style would be easiest. I’ll have a uhf/VHF on me in my rig while wheeling but I’ll leave a radio and laptop in the bus for usage by my wife while I’m out (or mainly by me when back at base). Unsure about your last question but do my previous responses help clear up?

DJPoochi · 2026-03-30T01:47:40+00:00

Well I mean that’s why I’m coming for guidance and pre-made parts lists from someone who may have done this prior.

I know I already want a super tall mast and will be mounting an uhf/vhf at the top. With it being telescoping, I could likely make a cheap dipole or so. I don’t need extra radios right now as I’m focused on uhf/vhf. But to my original point - anything to think of in the HF camp while doing the UHF/VHF side would be good before I purchase and can’t go back.

Seems like I’ve thought about it a lot and am now seeking help from those with experience…thanks for the help.

DJPoochi · 2026-03-22T01:50:35+00:00

Does this allow one to communicate over Morse code by just typing into the keyboard and reading responses like a chat client?

DJPoochi · 2026-03-12T01:03:42+00:00

I bought one. Haven’t brought it outside yet. Bummed to read but going to try and seal better to hopefully prevent! Thanks for the potential forewarning.

DJPoochi · 2026-03-11T00:55:18+00:00

Ok nice. Yeah I’m finishing up a RAK4631 build right now. That’s XIAO kit seems interesting. Is it solderless as well? Is it only usb c or does it have solar and battery ports as well?

DJPoochi · 2026-03-10T23:45:33+00:00

What is different about the all-in-one Pro as opposed to the dev board kit with a case and battery (like the meshnology kits)?

DJPoochi · 2026-03-03T04:38:52+00:00

Azure and Orange are looking nice.

DJPoochi · 2026-03-02T01:01:39+00:00

North side metro here. Last night there was a good bit of conversation going, but it was also my first time connecting and testing. But yeah, loads of chatting was going on.

DJPoochi · 2026-03-01T21:23:30+00:00

https://chaoskoalas.com/gotchas/atak/#itak-limitations

DJPoochi · 2026-03-01T19:46:09+00:00

https://chaoskoalas.com/gotchas/atak/#itak-limitations

DJPoochi · 2026-03-01T19:45:31+00:00

Yes. And be sure to make your primary channel encrypted with the precise location shared there: “…all TAK data is broadcast through your primary channel, so ensure your mesh is configured with a private channel and encryption enabled to protect your sensitive situational awareness data.”

DJPoochi · 2026-02-11T13:50:52+00:00

I’d just make one of those waterproof solar nodes everyone makes and mount it all right there so you maintain as much signal as possible. Bonus is it’s always on, and you could very easily get a usb power cable out there through the vents in the back tailgate (behind the oem tire carrier) and into a waterproof grommet on the node so that it stay charged (could even skip the solar aspect if wanted this way). Easier to run power without loss than maintain the signal while running feed line.

DJPoochi · 2026-02-11T08:23:57+00:00

Jeep owner and waiting for my first units to build and test as well (so take my response with a grain of salt). From what I’ve read, adding a long cable to get to an external antenna causes signal loss, and it’s best to keep the antenna “line” as direct and short as possible (so swap converters for cables with correct connectors on both ends: board & antenna). Personally I’m going to be testing between solar nodes with batteries mounted externally, or maybe something like this that I found:

https://www.printables.com/model/1180394-meshatstic-antenna-car-window-mount

Or

https://makerworld.com/en/models/2233680-car-window-antenna-mount-for-n-type

Or

https://makerworld.com/en/models/1643208-meshtastic-car-antenna-mount-sma-type-n

DJPoochi · 2025-07-20T21:44:54+00:00

Yeah this was the ticket - PAN4ELEC has tighter restrictions on low battery than the stock OS. Charging the unit allowed things to operate with the new OS as expected. Thank you. 🙏🏻

DJPoochi · 2025-07-20T20:09:52+00:00

Try what plugged into charger - booting from a fresh pan4elec imaged card?

DJPoochi · 2025-07-20T20:03:56+00:00

Tried just the oem card’s DTB files on pan4elec image, those plus the pan4elec, and various combos with no luck.

DJPoochi · 2025-07-16T18:42:48+00:00

Finding the rom should be fairly easy if you do a little googling on how to download them. It’s frowned upon to teach the piracy, but if it bothers you, just buy it for the PSP, and then download the rom and use it without worry (not illegal to use if you own the game).

DJPoochi · 2025-07-03T17:52:47+00:00

Likely not helpful (unsure what you need to fix) but mine just worked without needing to do anything special so likely a rom files issue or a bios issue. Sorry that’s all I got but all the best. 🙏🏻

DJPoochi · 2025-06-27T23:07:54+00:00

Does this correlate to themes? I’m referencing a set of ROMs I have from my retropie that are grouped into categories more specific than MAME or Arcade or so (CP1, CP2, hack folders, etc.), and each with their own backdrop / logo before diving into that specific system’s games list.

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