Where the Central Texas mesh reaches
Coverage is not something we publish once a year in a PDF, it changes every time somebody mounts an antenna. Both of our tools are live, and both are open to anyone.
Two tools, two different questions
One answers “what is the network doing right now.” The other answers “where should the next node go.”
Network Analyzer
analyzer.comchan.net
A live picture of mesh health across the region, who is on air, how much traffic is moving, and how well links are actually performing.
- Nodes checking in, with last-heard times
- Packet volume and channel utilisation over time
- Per-link signal quality: RSSI, SNR, and hop counts
- Repeater uptime and battery telemetry where reported
Use it to diagnose a link that feels flaky, to confirm a new node is being heard, or to see whether the mesh is congested before you push a long message.
Open analyzer.comchan.net↗Mesh Explorer
explorer.comchan.net
Traffic and topology drawn on topographical maps, with the RF planning tools you need before committing to an install.
- Node and traffic visualisation on topographic terrain
- Line-of-sight checks between any two points
- Terrain profiles showing what is actually blocking a path
- Coverage planning for prospective repeater sites
Use it before you buy a mast. Check whether the ridge behind the property kills the path to the nearest repeater, and find the spot on the place that doesn't.
Open explorer.comchan.net↗Service status
Live availability of the site, the analyzer, and the explorer. If one of these tools isn't loading, check here before assuming the mesh is down, the network and the websites fail independently.
Both tools run on contributed data
Observer nodes report what they hear over WiFi, which is where the analyzer and explorer get their numbers. If you run a repeater on mains power and good WiFi, you can feed them.
Honest state of the network
A volunteer mesh has uneven coverage by nature. Here's roughly how Central Texas looks, check the explorer for the current picture.
Not seeing coverage where you are?
Austin metro
EstablishedThe densest part of the mesh. Several high repeaters give most of the urban core multi-hop redundancy.
Hill Country west
GrowingTerrain-limited and repeater-dependent. Good line of sight exists; it needs people willing to host nodes on high ground.
I-35 corridor
GrowingCoverage can be spotty outside the major metropolitan areas along the corridor and more gaps open quickly once you get a few miles east or west of it.
Rural south & east
GapsLong distances between participants. This is where a single well-placed solar repeater does the most good.
What makes up the network
Fixed repeaters
Roof, tower, or hilltop installs with mains or solar power. These define the shape of the network, a handful of good ones matter more than dozens of poor ones.
Room servers
Always-on nodes that hold channel messages so people out of range can catch up when they return. Useful for regional and interest channels.
Companion nodes
The handhelds and vehicle nodes people carry. They extend the mesh opportunistically wherever their owners happen to be.
Thinking about hosting a repeater?
This is the single most useful thing anyone can do for the network. A repeater does not need to be expensive or complicated, it needs height, a clear view, and power that will not quit.
Good candidate sites, roughly in order of usefulness:
- A hilltop or ridgeline with a view in several directions
- A water tower, grain leg, windmill, or existing mast
- A commercial rooftop, especially a tall one near a coverage gap
- A second-storey window or attic facing the direction of the gap
Before you buy hardware, run the path in the explorer. Then bring it up in the group, someone has almost certainly tried a similar site and can tell you what worked and what got shadowed by a ridge.
Before you install
- 1Check line of sight to the nearest known node in explorer
- 2Never attempt to place a node on a structure you do not own or have permission to use
- 3Confirm the site has access to adequate power or is capable of all-day sun if it's solar
- 4Plan for weather: sealed enclosure, waterproof air vents, and if solar powered, enough battery capacity to weather the cloudy days
- 5Advertise the node's location so others know where it is and the map stays accurate