If you dont use the default LongFast meshtastic is really empty. I switched my node to MediumSlow, since it’s like 86% faster than LongFast. I knew there would not be any in my area, so I subscribed to the msh/US MQTT topic and theres still nobody else. I’m going to leave it like that for a while and see if I hear anything during any kind of band openings or catch any other MQTT nodes trying out that topic. And yes, both uplink and downlink are enabled. I do know that there are some nodes in the Bay Area on msh/US/mqtt-bayme-sh, but I am not near their.
To be frank I want to jump into it, set up a relay node in my shed with a decent antenna, I just can’t find the time to do it…
And there are so many options on how to build a node, I likely have choice paralysis/overload.
I don’t have any suggestion for the node itself, but you should use a 3dbi antenna so that you keep a circular radiation pattern. If you use a high-gain antenna, it will cause you to not be able to talk with nodes that have a significant elevation change from you, such as airplane flights.
Do you have a link with info on different antennas and pattern characteristics?
https://www.loraantenna.com/antenna-gain-explanation/
Thanks!
Thanks for the info :)