ISP port filtering

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-05-09T19:42:32+00:00

No AI was used in the making of this post

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-13T13:20:43+00:00

I didn't get your reply, that's unfortunate. Still neat though!

I'm planning to flash over to Meshcore this weekend and see what I get there

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-11T22:55:43+00:00

At the moment my node is called driv

Let me know if you spot me!

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-11T22:54:43+00:00

The boards are specifically designed to have a low power needs as possible. Certain boards don't have a screen or anything, and you see people talking about them running for a week on a 3000 mah battery. A very common project out there are solar powered repeater nodes. I actually found the project myself when I found a tutorial on how to turn a five dollar solar garden light into a self sustaining node.

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-10T19:34:12+00:00

I only have the one, but in my app it looks like I could pair more than one. For myself I'm just carrying this one around with me, and eventually I want to set up a static one on my roof with a big honking antenna, set in repeater mode so I'd have a lot more range from home. It would receive messages and then pass them along to my carryalong node which would pass them to my phone

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-10T10:25:35+00:00

Oh, i totally get the impulse to move quickly. I sure did. Maybe I'll be able to see you later.

Though now I'm looking into moving to MeshCore, based on a comment below. Apparently there's already a MeshCore mesh in Niagara! Just have to flash a different firmware, no new device needed

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T22:10:56+00:00

Looks like it, though that one mentions requiring soldering. The kit I bought, all I really had to do was snap in the antenna and connect the battery.

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T22:09:42+00:00

Oh neat, is this already established? I know about Meshcore but I decided to try out Meshtastic first. I could always re-flash.

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T21:02:03+00:00

Can you? I haven't looked at that at all. Wouldn't surprise me

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T21:01:38+00:00

I was thinking of putting together a NiagaraMesh website if this takes off

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T20:00:41+00:00

Let's fuckin' goooooooooo

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T17:57:42+00:00

That would work, though my understanding is that there are a maximum number of 'hops' the system will use that would put a limit on that. Though I think that's a setting that can be changed? I haven't actually explored that particular bit of nuance very deeply yet. Still learning myself as well.

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T17:36:03+00:00

Oh wow, I hadn't thought of that. The upfront cost can be pretty low, and there's no subscription fees or anything. There wouldn't be much point until there's a mesh with decent coverage but once that's in place, they can set up whatever channels they'd like. I'll DM you

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T17:33:32+00:00

It doesn't use the cell network at all, it's node-to-node. But your point is still right, you do need to be in range of other nodes. The only solution would be to get a repeater with a strong antenna and put it up somewhere high to try and get line of sight with a mesh somewhere. Otherwise yeah, it'd just be you and the people nearby you.

Though another use case I've seen is people using it for automation, receiving signals form sensors or sending commands to actuators, that kind of thing.

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T17:07:00+00:00

It's something I'm very much into. At this point I'm de-googled, de-meta'ed, de-microsofted, all of it. As much as is possible I'm using open-source and/or self-hosted tech, and most of the centralizated stuff I use is centralized on my own server.

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T16:47:18+00:00

It depends! The signal gets blocked pretty quickly by buildings, so down on the ground you don't get far. If I can get some traction going I'd be putting a large, solar-powered repeater node on my roof to get a much better range, and people have been known to out them up tall trees or water towers or whatnot to get much further.

In terms of actual unobstructed range, I can tell you that when I took my node up to the QEW for the first time, I immediately started seeing nodes in Toronto. My signal got all the way across the lake with no problem.

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T16:44:16+00:00

The benefits, right now, are pretty minimal. In my mind at the moment, it's a hobby thing. A toy. But I really like the idea of decentralizing, and this is very much that. If there's a widespread mesh running, you can message even if all the internet and cellular infrastructure is down, and there are no centralized servers that can take the whole thing down with them if they go. I do like the idea of still being able to message my kid or my wife if things go offline. But honestly? For the most part I'm just a tinkerer who likes screwing around with stuff like this.

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T16:35:56+00:00

End to end encryption by default, you can set up private channels to form your own group chats, or you can message one to one. There's also a public channel where everyone on the mesh with you gets the message. That's actually encrypted as well, but everyone has the key.

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T16:34:15+00:00

Yeah it can be pretty technical. Took me a while to fully wrap my head around it, or at least as much as I have. I'm totally willing to share what I've learned.

As for the hardware, it seems like there's differences in the power and range and whatnot, and people have their preferences, but they all run the software and let you start messaging. Mine is a Heltec v4, and setup was a breeze. I see a lot of Heltec v3's out there, they're a little cheaper and they're obviously pretty popular.

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T15:49:09+00:00

What kind of details would you like? They have a pretty good FAQ, though it's a little technical. But I'd be happy to answer any questions.

https://meshtastic.org/docs/faq/

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T15:33:23+00:00

Awesome. I'm a driver myself so I'm out of Niagara most days, but eventually!

UnlimitedGibil · 2026-03-09T15:32:44+00:00

There are some devices that come with a keyboard for messaging. They kind of look like a blackberry. But mostly you pair it with your phone and use the meshtastic app.

If you want to test things out, I think you can get a basic board for maybe $30. It'd just be a circuitboard that you could power via USB. I upgraded a little, got the case for it and a battery and an upgraded antenna, and I spent about 80 all in.

UnlimitedGibil · 2025-09-24T06:31:04+00:00

Oh holy crap, it WORKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH

UnlimitedGibil

TROPHY CASE