Issues using WisBlock - Hunting in Idahos Backcountry

Support
1

First, here’s the situation.

I have a remote node set to Router Mode on a tower at 5,800ft in N Idaho. I have 6 hunters that each carry a node in the nearby area while hunting elk. We have marginal or no cell coverage in our 125 sq mile area. We have a mix of Android and iPhones in use. Msgs bouncing off the nodes and router are working surprisingly well depicting msgs and position reports with somewhat reasonable reliability. Some msgs are lost and some position reports have froze. I have radios set to update positions every 100 yds.

Here are some issues we are experiencing:

1 - having the satellite map is outstanding for hunting and tracking purposes, but many times we are not getting the satellite map definition and detail we need (marginal or no cell coverage?) Is there a way to download detailed satellite map files for our op area into our phones and have our Mesh App use those detailed maps instead? This would be a huge improvement!

2 - we’re using “exchange positions” frequently to keep track of each other and to confirm positions. Could there be a confirmation that would indicate that the polling was successful (or unsuccessful) and positions have been updated when using the EP function? Or am I missing something?

3 - is there a way to set waypoints on the map that will stay permanently even if radios or the app is shut down? Currently we loose important waypoints even when we try to lock them in.

Those are our more challenging issues for now. There may be more as this thread and our hunt continues. BTW - I will be adding another Router on an adjacent ridge (about 8 mi away) to improve our mesh coverage. Think of this as a Mesh experiment in a 125 sq mi bubble. Thanks for your feedback and help.

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2 Likes
2

Very nice, appreciate the detailed feedback!

I am working on a notification on iOS that will take you to the mesh map for the node that sent you their position.

I don’t quite understand the waypoint request / issue.

3

Thanks Garth. That be very helpful if I select Exchange Position for a particular node and - upon getting a reply - it’d jump to the map with the replying node centered. Actually it’d save the requester a few steps and confirm the position update. I would also suggest that nothing happens on the replying node end. No need to change their map view or anything.

As for setting waypoints, after placing one, they do not remain on the map for long. It seems that after a certain amount of time, they disappear on their own. I’m still playing with them but they seem to have a squirrelly behavior.

1- Would be nice to have the ability to “hide” and “show” waypoints to declutter the map.

2 - allow the user to place their own waypoints in without having to “send” them to everyone. This would be a useful tool to the individual. Also the ability to “send” them at a later time.

I hope there’s a cure for the map detail issue. That’s our big problem at the moment