About this project
This is a skunkworks project to build a MeshCore community in the East Sooke region of Vancouver Island.
Our longer-term goal is reliable communication during deep-park rescue responses. Cell service doesn't exist there, and the mountainous terrain and dense forest cover sometimes block even our portable VHF radios.
The project is not sponsored by the East Sooke Volunteer Fire Department, but the group's founding members are active, responding members of the department.
Map data: Natural Earth.
Repeaters
Three repeaters currently in service, one more planned, plus the occasional drone launch:
- East Sooke CafferyCreek SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro · Repeater location online since August 2026
- East Sooke Martock D5L-H1 · Repeater location online since August 2026
- East Sooke Mt. Matheson SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro · Repeater location online since September 2026
- East Sooke Mt. Maguire (planned) ThinkNode M6 · Planned for November 2026
- East Sooke RptrDrone (intermittent) ThinkNode M1 (repeater firmware) strapped to a DJI Air 2S · Occasional Goes up from time to time, depending on what we are experimenting with.
Our terrain makes line of sight between locations very difficult, so repeaters need strategic placement. The minimal height gained from a pole on a house roof just doesn't work reliably enough. If you have a high spot with a clear view, see hosting a repeater.
Radio settings
All repeaters use the Canadian default radio preset:
| Frequency | 910.525 MHz |
|---|---|
| Bandwidth | 62.5 kHz |
| Spreading factor | 7 |
| Coding rate | 5 |
Room server
A room server is a shared message board on the mesh. It stores posts, so you can catch up on what you missed while your device was offline. To use it, find it in your Companion app's contacts once you've heard its advert, then log in with the password.
-
East Sooke Room Node #1
Password:
hello
Public means public: anyone with the room password can read the posts. Don't send anything sensitive.
Project links
-
meshcore-kiss-bot
Python command bot for a MeshCore radio running KISS modem firmware: hashtag-channel ! commands, opt-in heartbeat DMs, and a SQLite log of everything heard.
Try it on our
#eastsookebotchannel. Send!helpto see the commands.
Channels
We have created a couple of public channels. Hashtag channel keys are derived from the channel name, so to join, add the channel by name in the Companion app. No invite or contact exchange is needed. Set each one's region scope as shown.
#eastsooke |
General chat for the East Sooke mesh. Region scope: southisland |
|---|---|
#eastsookebot |
Bot commands and testing, to keep the main channel quiet. Bot: meshcore-kiss-bot (see Project links)
Region scope: southisland |
Public means public: anyone who knows a channel's name can read it. Don't send anything sensitive.
Regions
We follow the CascadiaMesh Pacific Northwest MeshCore Region Strategy. Region tags let a message travel only as far as it needs to: local chat stays local, and only genuinely region-wide traffic crosses the whole mesh. Unscoped traffic still floods everywhere as usual, so adopting regions doesn't cut anyone off.
Our repeaters carry the full tag ancestry from the proposed naming scheme for Victoria / South Vancouver Island:
west | The whole western mesh. Use only for mesh-wide announcements. |
|---|---|
pnw | Pacific Northwest-wide (region-wide nets) |
bc | British Columbia (province-wide) |
vanisle | Vancouver Island |
southisland | South Vancouver Island / Greater Victoria, including East Sooke: our local tag. |
Using regions on your companion device
Repeaters decide what they forward; your Companion app decides how far your messages travel. In the app, open a channel's ⋮ menu and choose Set Region Scope. Pick the narrowest tag that fits the conversation: southisland for local chat, broader tags only when the message really needs to go further.
Contact
Interested in joining or hosting a repeater? Email ve7eij [at] hermans [dot] ca. Property owners and building managers can find answers in our hosting FAQ.