TL;DR: A SenseCAP solar node must be quiet, predictable, and power efficient. Use long intervals, Smart Position, coarse or approximate location on public channels, conservative LoRa settings, and minimal telemetry. A well-configured solar node strengthens the mesh without wasting airtime or battery.
Purpose of a SenseCAP Solar Node
SenseCAP solar nodes are infrastructure nodes. Their job is not frequent updates or user interaction, but stable relay service over long periods on limited power.
- Remain online continuously
- Relay traffic reliably
- Minimize airtime usage
- Preserve battery during low-sun conditions
Every enabled feature has a cost. Solar nodes must be configured intentionally.
Device Configuration
- Device Role: Client
- Rebroadcast Mode: All
- Node Info Broadcast Interval: 3–6 Hours
This allows the node to participate in routing without frequent self-announcement.
Avoid:
Do not reduce Node Info Broadcast intervals on solar nodes. Frequent node info packets waste airtime and battery.
Position Configuration
Position reporting is one of the largest contributors to airtime usage and power draw.
- Smart Position: On
- Broadcast Interval (Fallback): 1–6 Hours
- Minimum Interval: 5–10 Minutes
- Minimum Distance: 250–500 meters
Smart Position ensures updates only occur when movement is meaningful.
GPS Behavior
- Device GPS: Enabled
- GPS Update Interval: 6 Hours or longer
Frequent GPS polling dramatically increases power draw. Long intervals are critical for solar nodes.
Position Flags (Keep Packets Small)
Each enabled position flag increases packet size, airtime, and collision risk.
- Altitude: Optional (fixed infrastructure only)
- Number of Satellites: Optional
- Vehicle Speed: Off
- Vehicle Heading: Off
- Timestamp: Off
Solar nodes are not trackers. Minimal packets are healthier packets.
Channel Configuration
Primary Channel: LongFast
LongFast is a public, shared infrastructure channel. It must remain low-noise.
- Channel Role: Primary
- Position Enabled: On
- Precise Location: Off
- Approximate Location: On (0.5–1 mile)
- Allow Position Requests: On
- MQTT Uplink: Off (channel level)
- MQTT Downlink: Off
This confirms node presence without exposing precise location or creating excessive updates.
Secondary / Private Channels
Private channels are optional and should be used sparingly on solar nodes.
- Position Precision: Precise only if required
- MQTT: Only enable if explicitly needed
- Traffic Expectations: Low
Private channels increase wake time and airtime. Avoid unnecessary usage.
LoRa Configuration
LoRa settings determine range, airtime, and congestion behavior.
- Region: United States
- Use Preset: Enabled
- Preset: Long Range – Fast (LongFast)
- Transmit Enabled: On
- Number of Hops: 3–5 (default preferred)
- Frequency Slot: 0 (auto)
Increasing hop count increases congestion and airtime. Use cautiously.
MQTT Interaction (Radio Level)
- OK to MQTT: On
- Ignore MQTT: Off
This allows other nodes to publish this node’s data to MQTT without the solar node maintaining an internet connection.
Do Not:
Do not run MQTT clients directly on solar nodes. MQTT requires persistent connectivity and increases power draw.
Telemetry Configuration
Telemetry is useful but expensive on solar power.
- Broadcast Device Metrics: On
- Device Metrics Interval: 2–6 Hours
- Environment Metrics: On only if sensors are present
- Environment Metrics Interval: 2–6 Hours
- Power Metrics: On
- Power Metrics Interval: 2–6 Hours
Important:
Never use 30-minute telemetry intervals on solar nodes. This rapidly drains batteries and inflates mesh traffic.
Bluetooth Configuration
- Bluetooth: Enabled (maintenance only)
- Pairing Mode: Fixed PIN
Bluetooth activity prevents deep sleep. Avoid routine connections after deployment.
Security & Admin Keys
- Set a Primary Admin Key
- Backup private keys
- Avoid regenerating keys unless necessary
Admin keys allow remote recovery without physical access.
Summary: Solar Node Best Practices
- Long intervals preserve battery
- Smart Position is mandatory
- Public channels should never use precise location
- Telemetry should be measured in hours, not minutes
- A quiet node is a healthy node