Hosting a Node for Philly Radio & Mesh

What is Philly Radio & Mesh

Philly Radio & Mesh is a group of local tech enthusiasts who are interested in helping their communities through technology - chiefly Radio technology.

What is a Radio Mesh?

A Radio Mesh is a decentralized system of small, low-power radio stations communicating with one another to build a resilient communications system. It allows for local communication, as well as larger announcements and warnings, such as weather or other information to be shared without needing an expensive subscription.

Why should I place a node on my property?

Boosts Public Safety - when other services go down, the radio mesh still operates to get people help they need and share information
Builds Community - When one radio pops up, others inevitably join in your area

What is involved in hosting a node?

Small Equipment - The largest radio we use is about 1/2 the size of a shoebox, and go down to the size of a candy bar.
Low Power usage at most our radios 3 watts of power - about the same as your home wifi router, and they decrease in power from there. We also can solar power our nodes, to avoid the concern, or place nodes where power isn’t available.
No Maintenance needed - Philly Radio and Mesh will be happy to maintain the radio, keeping it updated, and part of a healthy mesh in the Philly area.

Am I exposing myself?

Absolutely not. Our radios can work completely off-grid, but we would love to be able to use a local internet connection if one is available. We gather no personal data, no details about your internet, or other devices. You are welcome to see everything the radio does, as we publish the information on our website. We do ask if we can publish a rough location of the node, which appears on the mesh itself. This helps other users know which way to orient an antenna for a better signal.

Who is responsible?

We are! Philly Radio & Mesh will install the node, maintain it, and even take it down if you decide you don’t want to do this anymore. We’re all local users, so you probably know some of us already.