Boston Field Log
Boston rollout deployment notes
A field log from the Boston-area rollout: where the lantern repeaters are being placed, why the single-cell and 1W builds diverged internally, and what the solar, maintenance, and fixed-geometry tradeoffs look like outside.
Placement Log
Where these lanterns are actually used.
The Boston rollout is not one perfect lab placement. It is a set of repeatable outdoor locations where power, RF geometry, and maintenance access all have to survive normal weather and normal ownership.
11+ Boston-area placements turned the field notes into a deployment checklist.
Neighborhood repeater points
Lanterns are used as fixed outdoor repeater points where handheld nodes need a stable hop between houses, yards, shared spaces, or streets with inconsistent line of sight.
Property and trail edges
The same hanging body works at trail entrances, fence lines, campsites, and property boundaries where a small solar repeater is easier to maintain than a custom weatherproof box.
Tested placement that stays put
The Boston rollout favors locations that can be checked, adjusted, and then left in a repeatable orientation instead of moving a portable node from test to test.
Build Changes
Same lantern language, different internal duty cycles.
The single-cell build remained the cleanest service path. The 1W build kept the same exterior placement assumptions, then spent internal volume on radio draw, pack reserve, and the charging path that higher duty requires.
Shared lantern shell, side access, four-panel solar face, and fixed outdoor suspension geometry.
Same exterior shell and solar face so mounting assumptions stay consistent across mixed deployments.
Lower-draw RAK4631 path for standard fixed repeater duty with the simplest service story.
Higher-draw RAK 1W path for sites that need more transmit headroom and a larger reserve.
1 x 26650, 6.8 Ah / 6800 mAh. Fewer interconnects and no multi-cell balancing problem.
4 x 21700, roughly 20 Ah total reserve. More stored energy, more pack complexity.
Simpler single-cell charging matched to the lower-draw RAK4631 build.
2A solar chargeboard sized around the higher-draw radio path and larger pack.
Fixed Geometry
Why the physical form matters after installation.
For a permanent outdoor repeater, geometry is part of the system. The enclosure, antenna orientation, access door, hanging point, and lower hardware all affect how repeatable the placement is over time.
Repeatable antenna position
A fixed repeater benefits from a known antenna orientation. The geometry is not a loose accessory decision; it is part of the installed system.
Less enclosure-dependent than a simple whip story
A whip monopole can work well, but it depends more on the surrounding ground plane and installation details. The fixed dipole story is about repeatable installed behavior, not a blanket range guarantee.
Orientation can be maintained
The hanging form and lower hardware make it easier to keep the repeater in the same physical attitude once a useful placement has been found.
Field Questions
Practical answers from the log.
What placements are these lantern repeaters used for?
They are used as fixed outdoor repeater points for neighborhood coverage, property boundaries, trail entrances, campsites, and other places where a solar-backed MeshCore repeater can stay in one known position.
What changed between the single-cell and 1W builds?
The exterior lantern shell, solar face, and service access remain shared. The single-cell version keeps a simpler RAK4631 and 26650 battery path, while the 1W version adds a higher-draw radio setup, a 4 x 21700 battery pack, and a 2A chargeboard.
How long does the 1W lantern run on battery alone?
Field testing on the 1W build has shown about 3-5 days of battery-only runtime. Actual runtime still depends on RF settings, message volume, weather, placement, and daily sun exposure.
Why does fixed geometry matter for a repeater node?
A fixed outdoor repeater works best when antenna orientation, enclosure position, and mounting behavior are repeatable. That makes placement decisions easier to reproduce and maintain than a loose handheld-style setup.