MeshCore Solar Repeater

What is MeshCore:
MeshCore is a multi platform system for enabling secure text based communications utilising LoRa radio hardware. It can be used for Off-Grid Communication, Emergency Response & Disaster Recovery, Outdoor Activities, Tactical Security including law enforcement and private security and also IoT sensor networks.

MeshCore is free and open source:
-MeshCore is the routing and firmware etc, available on GitHub under MIT license
-There are clients made by the community, such as the web clients, these are free to use, and some are open source too
-The cross platform mobile app developed by Liam Cottle for Android/iOS/PC etc is free to download and use
-The T-Deck firmware is developed by Scott at Ripple Radios, the creator of MeshCore, is also free to flash on your devices and use

Some more advanced, but optional features are available on T-Deck if you register your device for a key to unlock. On the MeshCore smartphone clients for Android and iOS/iPadOS, you can unlock the wait timer for repeater and room server remote management over RF feature.

These features are completely optional and aren't needed for the core messaging experience. They're like super bonus features and to help the developers continue to work on these amazing features.


Concept:
MeshCore allows the use of "Repeaters" extending the range of Node to Node contact and can be utilised to fill communication gaps.
This Solar Repeater is designed to be totally free standing (Off Grid), and required a few technical issues to be resolved:
-Low power consumption
       -It only uses 40mA RX and 130mA TX so it should last a few days without any sun
-Must shut down 'Safely' under low sun conditions
       - A battery protection circuit with shut down the node cleanly when the batteries drop to 2.4V
-Must power up 'Safely' once the batteries start to recharge
       - A 1 hour time delay module will allow the batteries to charge up before the node is switched back on cleanly
-A Real Time Clock module will keep time while the node is down