Off-Grid DIY Radio Communicators
We had a fantastic time at Otherwise Summer Camp in Danville, VT building off-grid mesh radio communicators! Participants assembled custom "MeshBot" devices using LoRa radio modules, OLED displays, and mini keyboards - creating handheld text messengers that work without cell service or internet.
Workshop in full swing under the tent at Otherwise Summer Camp.
The soldering and assembly setup ...
The first radio placement ...
The second radio placement ...
First "Hello World" message on a freshly assembled board.
Learning the components: antenna, radio chip, GPS, battery, and display connections.
Laser-cut voltmeter panel - a handy tool for checking battery levels.
Custom laser-cut enclosures branded for Otherwise Summer Camp 2025.
A completed MeshBot with dual OLED displays and a mini QWERTY keyboard.
Adding some personality to the builds!
Testing the devices outdoors.
The rain didn't stop us!
Spontaneous post-workshop handstand session ...
Handstands became a thing ...