No secrets, no lock-in
The radios we install run Meshtastic, free and open-source firmware maintained by a worldwide community. The hardware is sold by several manufacturers. Nothing we install depends on us: if we disappeared tomorrow, your network would keep working and anyone could maintain it.
What a do-it-yourself build takes
People
- One or two volunteers comfortable flashing firmware, configuring radios and climbing a ladder.
- Host homes or businesses willing to mount a relay.
- Someone to keep an eye on the network after launch.
Equipment
- Solar relay nodes, roughly $100–$250 each depending on model, antenna and battery.
- Mounts, cable and weatherproofing.
- Radios for residents and staff, from about $30 for a basic board to a few hundred for a finished handheld.
- Optionally, a small computer for a hub and dashboard.
Time
Plan on several weekends for testing, siting and installing, and an hour or two a month afterward to check batteries and links.
Steps
- Read the Meshtastic documentation and join a local or online Meshtastic group.
- Pick your region (US), a channel name and a staff channel key.
- Test from the highest points you can get to and map where signal reaches.
- Place relays so every part of town hears at least two.
- Set relays to the router or repeater role so they forward traffic reliably.
- Tell residents how to join, what the town channel is for, and that it isn’t private.
When to call us instead
Most towns don’t have the volunteer time, or want one accountable party. That’s where we come in: we run the coverage drive, recruit hosts, install, train staff, and watch every site afterward. You can also start yourself and bring us in to monitor or expand.
Either way, the consultation is free. We’re happy to point a do-it-yourself town in the right direction.