Meshtastic Solar Node Install Estcourt

A big thank you to Mohamed (ZS5MO), Tony (ZR5CAT) and Cale (ZR5CA) for installing a Meshtastic node at the residence of Mo.

The Elecrow ThinkNode M6 has an integrated solar panel but is completely sealed with no access to the batteries and has a flimsy plastic bracket not suited for the harsh African climate which broke off during installation.

Thanks to the expertise of Mo as a qualified fitter and turner they were able to create a strong metal bracket and got the job done.

The antennas were both tested and are decent in terms of SWR and have a decent LOGMAG dip but the node has painful RP SMA female connectors that make it hard to upgrade them without a pigtail or the specific rare antenna type.

Hot glue was used and extra white self fusing tape was placed over the hardened glue to hopefully keep those dinky antennas from flopping around in the breeze during high speed berg winds rushing over the mountains.

Time will tell if this particular model was a good investment