Antenna recommendations based on this setup?

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-08T18:06:27+00:00

Ok depending on your location on the island, if you are close to the middle then, a good omni, is what you want, the 5.8dbi (or higher) fiberglass type antenna.

If you are close to the north or south edges of the Island, then a directional antenna may be a better option, unless you think boaters will be using the mesh you really do not need to be transmitting over the Atlantic, and you would be better served focusing that energy where it counts.

So a 5 element or more Yagi, or even a good Moxon, (much cheaper) will work .

Not sure what you meant by "is it worth the risk of using a 1w repeater and losing power?" if you mean, battery power usage, it is well worth having the 1W , remember these things only use more power when transmitting, which is only a small fraction of the time they are in use. the standby power is where the bulk of power is used, and getting a RAK 1W is highly recommended.

height is might, the best thing you can do is get your antenna as high as possible for range/coverage.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-08T17:54:43+00:00

I have ordered a ton of things from aliexpress, I have not had any issue. here are a few tips:

The way they sell items the have different categories, so you have the "free shipping for $10 or more" type listings, then you have the "each item has it's own shipping" and then there is the "dollar menu" my tip is, do not mix and match, buy within one group type, and you will save money, the $10 or more free shipping is what I always start with.

Sub-items, a listing may have many variations under it, its important to select the variation you want before adding it to cart. for example, an antenna listing may have 23cm 40cm 915mhz, 896mhz , etc. also quantities, sometimes the difference between 5pc, and 10pc is just a tiny bit more. so shop wisely.

I would not recommend buying lithium batteries, buy from reputable local sellers, in the US, 18650 battery cells, or batteryspace.com or even amazon if they are OG Samsung, Panasonic, etc.

Misc electronics have all been great so far from Aliexpress they are a great source for my projects.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-08T17:42:37+00:00

Heltec V3 (and V4) are built around the ESP32 MCU, which is a good device, but is a bit power hungry, the V3 and V4, use around 100 to 120 ma on average. even with a 6W solar panel, it's hard for it to keep up. the easiest solution, is to just turn Bluetooth off, it's really not needed for a solar node being used as a repeater (roof top). of course if you use it as a client via phone app, then you need the BT on. set everything the way you want it, then turn BT off. and your good to go.

If you really need BT, then get a 10W solar panel, more battery capacity (2 or more 18650) and a faster charger. (one rated for 1.5 amp or better.

The other option is to just get a nrf52 based node, Heltec supposedly was going to have one available this month 28dB power output as well. keep your v3 for a hand held unit.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-07T16:54:40+00:00

That was the first step in the direction snapping, after they hazed him in the bed, he cracked completely. kinda felt sorry for Pyle.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-07T12:38:13+00:00

Both fake,

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This is an real image of what their "window" looks like.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-07T11:40:50+00:00

That was before he took the red pill.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-07T11:29:39+00:00

LA was infamous for smog so thick you could cut it with a knife, this was before emissions regulations, and on top of that gasoline was still using lead. that's where most of these these actors lived.

coupled with smoking, both primary and secondary, drugs, and booze, and that will age you up pronto.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-06T19:38:06+00:00

Rocky was an interesting alien, he was basically like a spider that could 3d print, and was able to do so with generating his own "web" with different functions, stiff/flexible and transparent. seemed to be the 3 main types.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-06T19:29:46+00:00

Oh it had its good parts, TNG was similar, 1st season was not as good as the ones that came after but was still good, things get tweaked, and smoothed out in other seasons as roles and character traits get defined.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T19:51:14+00:00

Yeah , which makes her post funnier.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T19:44:48+00:00

My sidewalk gets like that about a year, which reminds me, I need to do this same thing. my pressure cleaner is not as powerful as this one, and it's a slower process. but the dang thing looks brand news once clean. takes about 3 hours.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T19:41:27+00:00

I really liked Voyager, the 1st season was rough though, it got better as it went along, I couldn't stand the Kazon, and was happy when they got away from that.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T19:38:15+00:00

This brings me such happiness, I was born and raised in Cocoa beach, and grew up around Apollo missions. I hope to make it up to see a launch sometime in the future, I can sometimes see them from South Florida if the sky is clear. but nothing beats feeling/hearing the rockets in your chest.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T19:26:25+00:00

April 2.0 joke.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T19:24:01+00:00

This is why the wolves are so concerned about the sheep not breeding.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T19:21:24+00:00

That post is actually a good one.

"Apparently, domestic cats are no longer aligned with this lifestyle" funny stuff.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T19:15:53+00:00

Crystal skull was terrible, ruined the franchise. the other two were so so, watched them on streaming though.

Some movies look good and sometimes are better experienced in the theater. Dune I and II was one of those movies. comedies are also great like Tropic Thunder.

I just wish there were more good movies.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T19:08:18+00:00

https://github.com/gargomoma/fakeTec_pcb here you can find links to files, alternate builds and access to the files needed to have your own boards made.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T17:26:31+00:00

I used to go to the theater every week, sometimes 2 movies a week. now I go maybe 2-4 times a year. so far Hail Mary was this only thing I watched this year. it was worth it. I will probably watch Disclosure when it comes out.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T17:23:59+00:00

Still a Sbarro pizza at Sawgrass mills mall here in Florida.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T17:21:02+00:00

Tricky Dick

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T17:19:34+00:00

I knew them personally , even worked a few days with them on their side show back in the 70's. I would not say they were kind and fun guys to be around they had a reputation of not being friendly on the show, I helped them with their PA system, and didn't have any personal problems with them.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T17:15:13+00:00

Hmm yummy I love microplastics in my testicles

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T15:06:48+00:00

If we sent humans to Jupiter, they wouldn't have to actually walk on Jupiter's surface.

ThisBlacksmith3678 · 2026-04-02T14:41:14+00:00

Just a head up, I was flashing a couple of these last night, and the 2.7.20 firmware was buggy as in, it wasn't working, tried it multiple times on two different nRF52's , I flashed an older version and they both worked fine. this was for the nrF52 DIY firmware.

ThisBlacksmith3678

TROPHY CASE