>>2858610The end solution is that we usually end up using both mesh nodes and standard VHF/UHF radios. Coverage with the nodes when you have a bunch of them can end up better and you can have very frequent GPS updates with very little power. But with smaller numbers you can usually keep track of each other and not wander out of radio range. So pick the use case that works for you and roll with it. At a certain point it might just require trying it out.
At home I have a little ESP32 device plugged in on the desk and set up to the public LongFast channel, just a nerdy chat room really. In Philly there's like 500ish nodes with 100 visible at a time and I don't have the antenna in a particularly good spot. I do plan to build several others for Home Assistant purposes, mostly temp and humidity monitoring at the onset so I can tell if say my freezer loses power or the basement is flooding. I think I could probably use a CMOS sensor equipped one to do rudimentary motion detection.
>>2858305>>2858475You can also use 900MHz antennas to detect commercial wireless drones. But yeah this frequency is 100% getting jammed anyway if drones are in use. That is why Ukraine is covered in fiber optic cable.
>>2858474For a static location like that yeah better off with a one time investment of a decent repeater in a box, GMRS license, and just a stack of radios. The real time map is kind of neat but only if you have a use for it.
