Host a repeater

Have a high spot? Help extend the network.

IdahoMesh is Idaho's community-built text messaging network. It keeps working when the internet and cell service don't. Messages hop between small repeaters, and the best repeater sites are high: hilltops, ridges, towers, and tall buildings. If you own or manage a spot like that, we encourage you to set up a repeater to contribute to the community project.

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For high-value sites that would significantly increase mesh coverage or reliability, we will consider installing and maintaining an IdahoMesh repeater at your site at no cost.

How it works

You provide access.
We do the install.
The repeater runs on its own after that. It doesn't need your internet, power, or attention.

What makes a good site

Height and a clear view. A hilltop, ridge, tower, water tower, tall building or rooftop with a wide view of the valley around it. Height matters more than anything else.
A place to mount it. A pole, mast, railing, or tower that can hold a small weatherproof box and an antenna. Repeaters are in self-contained enclosures about the size of a shoebox.
Access. We need to reach the site to install the repeater and, from time to time, for upkeep. We schedule visits with you in advance.
No internet needed.

Common questions

What gets installed?

A small weatherproof box with the radio, a battery, an antenna, and usually a small solar panel.

Does it use my internet or WiFi?

No. A repeater only talks to other radios. It doesn't connect to your network and can't see anything on it.

Is it safe?

It transmits short bursts on the 915 MHz license-free band, at under 1 watt. That's similar to a WiFi router, and it sends only when there's a message to pass along.

Will it interfere with my other equipment?

That's very unlikely. It uses low power on a band shared with many everyday devices, and it's quiet most of the time. The core IdahoMesh group includes people with decades of experience in federal and commercial telecommunications, including systems engineering and management; we can discuss any specific concerns you have ahead of time.

Can I have it removed?

Yes. Ask us anytime, and we will remove our equipment within 30 days of your request.

Will people know it's on my property?

The repeater's approximate location shows on our map. We can use a nearby landmark instead of the exact spot, and give it a name that doesn't point to you.

Get in touch

Email us at connect@idahomesh.org. Please include:

Where the site is: a town or rough location is fine to start.
What it is: hilltop, tower, building, or roof, and roughly how tall.
How we'd get to it.
A photo of the view, if you have one.