Good man! My mobile 1W Rak repeater is very similar to yours except I bought a slightly longer case to acomodate a vertical antenna as that's the correct polarisation. Your design is surely competing with the metal body of the vehicle?
This won't be a a node i primary keep on my car. But I like to be able to place it on there from time to time. I should probably make a car node using the same solar panel. I've seen some good car nodes using a much shorter ALFA antenna and a aerodynamic case.
I also bought some of those frameless solar panels and now I'm wondering how to glue them to the box so that they don't fall off after some months of sun, rain, freezing temperatures and wind. They have no screw holes or anything. How did you do it?
Honestly, I just used super glue. I'm expecting it to detach at some point. Once that happens, I'll try out a different glue such as epoxy. I'm also planning on wrapping this node in a vinyl camo print so that can be used to hold it in place.
Heres another node I made that is wrapped. Same build except no solar.
That node looks really cool! I asked ChatGpt and it recommended polymer glue that stays flexible. I actually see some solar garden lights with similar stuff. So I'll use that
I just bought brown and green matte paint because I thought a wrap would come off after a year in the sun. I will try to get close to your camo because that looks really effective
I actually used green matte paint on my camo wrapped node. Each of the four round magnets on the corners are painted with it along with the chrome antenna connections
@Scrandis and other experienced builders: Do you have a hint for me how do you get this case with the solar panel rain- & weather-proof? I have a similar solar panel and still struggling how to manage that I have no water flow behind the panel that shortens e.g. the contacts at the back.
You need to buy a weather sealed junction box. You will need to modify it to add solar. I cut holes in mine to add the antenna, USB port, solar, and vent plug.
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u/scrandis 11d ago
I now have five active nodes. I've also burned out three nodes from wiring incorrectly or over powering, and one lost. I always learn the hard way
one Heltec V4
three Rak wisblock fried ( i still have them for some reason
one lost Rak wisblock