We’ve experimented with some hardware, so this is not an all exclusive list. This is based on our experience in and around Lexington, KY. Lexington if lots of rolling hills, so the challenges we have encountered are not the same as mountainous or flat lands will encounter.
Indoor Repeater or Companion
Heltec v3 or v4. The v4 is the latest model and has more power and can get more range.
These may be used as a companion or a repeater. The Heltec devices are work well as a repeater when plugged in for power because they are rather power hungry in comparison to some of the others.
* If you go this route for a repeater, we recommend having a way to keep the device powered up or charged for a minimum of 5 days (the 3000mAH battery can typically keep the unit powered for 20-30 hours).
** You’ll want to upgrade your antenna when using this board as a repeater.
Repeater
The RAKwireless Wismesh Repeater Mini solar repeater works quite well and is energy efficient. By being solar powered, when an outage occurs, the MeshCore network won’t be impacted. This repeater may be installed on the side of a building or on a pole using the mounting kit that is available.
* You’ll want to position the panel facing South for optimal solar charging.
** You may want to upgrade your antenna. The antenna that comes with it is decent, but lower range. We have a section that goes into antennas. Please check it out before buying an upgrade antenna.
RAKwireless Wismesh Repeater Mini
A-Mount Versatile Wall & Pole mount system for RAKwireless WisMesh Repeater Mini