Hosting a Liberty Hill Mesh node

What is Liberty Hill Mesh?

• A free, non-commercial text messaging network built on small, low-power LoRa radios and open source MeshCore software.
• Nobody owns it. Every node is hosted by a neighbor, a business, a church, or a ranch, and together those nodes are the network. There is no company behind it, no account, and nothing to subscribe to.
• The goal is a network that keeps working when cell service does not: after a storm, an ice event, a flood, or a grid outage. On an ordinary day, it is a way to reach friends and family across town without a phone plan.
• Liberty Hill Mesh is one part of a single, much larger mesh. Volunteers from Killeen to San Antonio, including Austin Mesh, put up nodes and carry radios on the same network, and a message can already travel that whole distance with no cell service in between. Every community that adds nodes improves coverage for everyone, and everyone with a radio is part of it.

Why does Liberty Hill need it?

• Liberty Hill is spread out. Ranch land, acreage lots, and the San Gabriel river bottoms have thin or no cell coverage on a good day. When the towers go down, everyone loses it.
• Every hosted node fills a gap and gives messages another path, so no single failure takes the network down.
• We are in the process of partnering with the City of Liberty Hill to add coverage across the city limits and the surrounding area, at no cost to taxpayers.

What does hosting a node mean for me?

• It costs you nothing, asks nothing of you, and quietly does good for your neighbors every day.
• You join a growing list of neighbors, ranches, churches, and local businesses making the area more resilient.
• Own a business? We will work with you to name the node something that benefits your business, so every message it relays carries your name.

What gets installed, and how is it powered?

• A small weatherproof box with a microcontroller radio and a battery, a lightweight antenna, and a small solar panel.
• Under 2 pounds and compact. About the size of your Wi-Fi router, with a longer antenna.
• Solar powered and self-sufficient. Nothing plugs into your house, barn, or well house, and there is no impact on your electric bill.

How is it mounted?

• The antenna and box mount to a mast, pole, or existing structure. No cabling runs into the building.
• We attach with magnets, u-bolts, or hose clamps. No drilling or screwing required.

What maintenance is required?

• Very low. Nodes run on their own for long periods.
• Once or twice a year we may visit for a firmware update or a hardware check.
• Access terms can be put in writing when helpful. We are flexible, plan visits weeks to months out, and always coordinate before coming out, especially on gated or working ranch property.

What range will the node cover?

• It depends on elevation. Anywhere from 2 to 10 miles or more.
• Liberty Hill sits on the edge of the Hill Country, so ridgetop and hilltop sites see a long way. Valley sites still matter, because they connect the neighborhoods the hilltops cannot reach directly.
• It uses the same frequencies as your garage door opener and baby monitor: the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band, 902 to 928 MHz.

Will it interfere with my existing systems?

• All radios are FCC-compliant and tested for interference.
• Interference is extremely unlikely. The network is ultra low power and uses different frequencies from Wi-Fi, cell, satellite TV, and broadcast TV.
• Some utility water meters use the same band, but are offset by more than 10 MHz.
• Spec sheets are available for engineering review.

Who is liable if something goes wrong?

• The property owner carries premises liability, as with anything on your land.
• The equipment is small, low voltage, solar powered, and well secured. The likelihood of an incident is not material.
• The node itself is our equipment and our risk. If it fails or goes missing, we replace it at our own expense.

Are there permits, HOA, zoning, or regulatory issues?

• No permit is needed for small antennas and non-commercial installations, in the City of Liberty Hill or unincorporated Williamson County.
• HOA or building rules may restrict roof modifications. Many Liberty Hill neighborhoods have an HOA, so check your covenants. Texas law limits how far an HOA can go on solar panels, but antenna rules vary.
• Get written permission if you are a tenant, lease the land, or share the property.

Will it attract lightning?

No.

How long does it stay, and who owns it?

• Two ways to host. We can own and manage the node, or we can donate it to you to run yourself. Either way it stays part of the mesh.
• We will work out a clear timeframe or agreement together, as needed.
• No long-term obligation. You may ask for removal, or remove it yourself, at any time.