DropLink
Work in ProgressA solar-powered outdoor mesh node. Mount it on a gate, fence post, or rooftop to monitor sensors and relay data back to the dashboard — no wiring or cell service needed.
Components
| LoRa Radio | Heltec V3 or RAK4631 |
| Solar Panel | 6V 1W polycrystalline |
| Battery | 3000mAh lipo |
| Charge Controller | TP4056 with protection |
| Enclosure | ABS junction box, ~200x120x75mm |
| Antenna | 915MHz whip or external |
Components may vary. These are typical parts used in prototypes.
How It Works
Solar Charging
6V panel charges 18650 battery via TP4056 controller. Runtime depends on sunlight and transmit interval.
Mesh Radio
Meshtastic firmware on Heltec or RAK radio. Joins mesh network, relays messages, reports telemetry.
Sensor GPIO
GPIO pins exposed for sensors. BsLatch for gate sensing, I2C for environmental sensors.
What You Can Do With It
Gate & Fence Monitoring
Attach a magnetic sensor to detect open/close. Get alerts on the dashboard instantly.
Remote Relay Control
Turn pumps, valves, or lights on and off via encrypted mesh commands from anywhere.
Environmental Sensing
Temperature, humidity, and soil moisture via I2C sensors. All logged and charted on the dashboard.
PKI Commands
Nodes running custom firmware respond to these direct message commands. Requires PKI authentication (your public key on the device).
⚡ Control
triggerStart charge + fire sequencetrigger offEmergency stopstatusShow device status + latch checkschedule [N] [unit]Schedule trigger (e.g., "schedule 5 minutes")🔧 Config & Test
config chargetime [ms]Set capacitor charge durationconfig firetime [ms]Set relay hold durationhelpShow all available commandsNotes
- Range: Varies significantly by terrain, antenna, and obstacles. LoRa can go several miles line-of-sight but much less in hilly or forested areas.
- Battery life: Depends on transmit interval and solar conditions. With a 1W panel and 3000mAh battery, nodes can run for extended periods in good sun.
- Weatherproofing: Generic ABS boxes with cable glands work for most conditions. Not tested in extreme weather.
- Firmware: Standard Meshtastic firmware plus custom command handling for relay control and sensor queries.
Questions?
This is an ongoing project. Check the dashboard to see live node data.