The LoRa SX1262 based modules are the latest offering with higher TX power, better RX sensitivity and lower RX current. There aren’t many devices being offered with them yet however. The TBeam SX1262 is one option. You will still have good success with the current offering though.
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At a minimum, you need to tune your antennas. 99% of antennas need tuning. Try to find someone who has a vector analyzer and can help you tune the antennas. this is key and try to raise the retanders as high as possible. use directional antennas where possible.
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In the topic of redundancy … from the feature length documentary about long range communication, “Contact”, staring Jodie Foster.
Hadden … First rule in government spending: why build one when you can have two at twice the price?
If you can pull it off and this is going to be critical infrastructure, build two.
Just did a test, placing a T-Beam on top of the hill where the main Libre Router node in our mesh sits.
This was the expected reach using the simulation. Unfortunately I didn’t have the map with me to check exactly where we’d could have signal in the closest town (Alto Paraíso de Goiás), so I drove to the wrong places to test.
But I was very surprised with these results, I was expecting to climb a hill to get a message through, but from inside the car messages were being sent no problem (using the maximum range/lowest speed settings). Within the village I got a connection everywhere.
Based on the simulation for the Krahô territory I’ve decided to change strategies, and go for the best spot on the whole territory, making possible for all villages to connect. The trick here is to either have a really good omni:
Or place two nodes at this hill, each one with a yagi, which might be more guarateed to work, but would require placing more nodes at the center in case villages in the other directions want join the network:
Probably worth testing the two options, by first placing nodes at the villages, then going up the hill and testing omni and yagis.
Almost decided on the kit I’ll be going for, based on simplicity (for less points of failure), price and national availability.
- 5x 5W pannel with 5V USB - R$ 110,00 (22.55 USD each)
- 5x TTGO LoRa - R$ 220,00 (41.00 USD each)
- 1x Omni antenna (still not ideal, but only one I could find) - R$ 325,00 (61.00 USD)
- 2x Yagi antenas (806-960mhz) - R$ 107,00 (20.00 USD each)
- 5 meters of copper tubing (to test making antennas) - R$ 127,00 (24.00 USD)
@skyde I don’t think I can find anyone with a vector analyzer around here 
Any other ways to tune antennas?
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I found this
This might be fine too
It’s cheap and could help you tune your antennas without breaking the bank 
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Thanks @TitanTronics, I’ll grab one of those, but since it’s coming from China I’m not counting it’ll arrive.
The best boards I’ve found with abundence were these TTGO LoRa + GPS, but I’m still not certain it’ll be compatible with Meshtastic existing firmware. How safe would it be to order them?
The only other option would be to order the Heltec boards, but would have to manually install battery cases and TP4056s, which I’d like to avoid for the sake of keeping the prototypes as minimal and integrated as possible.
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Check out his repeater setup
https://hackaday.io/project/166311/logs
900 Mhz DIY antenna examples including a kitchen mixing bowl cantenna!
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I’ve tested both of these Vector Analyzers. Only NanoVNA and its variations should be considered for purchase. Buy it after you tune the antennas and you can easily sell it for the same money in your country. You have quite a lot of radio amateurs, they will buy with great joy.
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The N1201SA SWR Antenna Analyzer is also nice too
But for its high cost, it is better to consider NanoVNA
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If using 915 mhz you may need v2 as v1 tops out at 900. Maybe v1 will still work.
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I changed the link with new NanoVNA can go up to 1.5Ghz
look at the link above
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Latest is the NanoVNA V2 I believe that will go up to 3GHz here. Mine can’t be too far off now and will report how it goes.
Also a version with N-Type connectors here
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That project is amazing @PA7John! Thanks for sharing that…
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Ok, so finishing up my cart list. Will wait a few hours for some feedback before pressing buy:
Brasil
- 5 x weatherproof cases
- 6 x 18650 batteries
- 5x TTGO Esp32 LoRa
- 5x 5w 5v panels
- 5m of copper tubing
- omni antenna
- 2x 820 to 960 MHz yagi antennas
Aliexpress
Wish they sell these down here!
That’s a good one @PA7John.
These TTGO boards say 868/915, so I guess I could use 868 instead of 915 and use those antennas huh? 
My Portugese is limited but I think, LARGURA DE FAIXA - 100 MHz Bandwith?!
They also have a 20dbi version
Best of both 868/915
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Amazing @PA7John! Great find!
Going with two of these 20dbi antenas. That should do the job.
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Order made!
There’s a strike on the national delivery service going on, so might take a while for stuff to arrive… Let’s wait.
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You should take note that the solar panels produce optimally only 3-4 hours a day (noontime) the rest of the time the voltage goes down, so make sure 3-4 hours is enough to charge or get a boost charger. A 5v panel might just be making sure it does not go up past 5v. Also depending on the weather in the winter you might have only 1 hour. You will probably want to tune the battery consumption to fit your needs.
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