Great to see everyone who came to the Meshtastic meetup at Pine Brook HOA. The presentation deck is available online for anyone who wants to review the material.
It was especially exciting to connect ERSN with TCARES and explore the potential to establish a Motherlode Mesh network across our region.
Resources Shared
Here are the key resources from the meetup:
- Mesh Monitor - Live monitor that watches MQTT traffic from nodes connected to our Motherlode topic
- ERSN Mesh Overview - Working group overview and instructions for joining our channels (will be updated soon)
- Getting Started With Meshtastic - YouTube video perfect for sharing with newcomers to Meshtastic technology
Next Steps
Primary Focus: Demonstrating Off-Grid Communications
Our main goal is to demonstrate consistent off-grid communications within the Ebbetts Pass area and potentially across the Motherlode counties.
- Solar Node Deployment: Procuring solar-powered nodes for installation at Rocky Ridge, Summit, and Red Hill using repeater configurations
- Target Timeline: Aiming for deployment during the 4th of July weekend
Secondary Focus: Emergency Services Connection
Building communication infrastructure to connect beyond our local community to emergency services like San Andreas.
- WinLink Research: Exploring WinLink 2000 integration and potential Meshtastic-based solutions
- Custom Solutions: Investigating what we might need to build ourselves
Future Considerations
Looking ahead, we discussed several potential initiatives to strengthen our emergency preparedness:
- ICS Training: Classes on Incident Command System and developing plans for how ERSN fits into the broader disaster response ecosystem
- Regular Training: Establishing training days and drills to help with onboarding new technologies and building operational readiness
The meetup was a great success in bringing together our community and identifying concrete steps forward. Stay tuned for updates on our progress with the solar node deployments and mesh expansion efforts.