LORA and mesh networks

I've been seeing more info about LORA and mesh networks.
I think it allows you to use your cell phone.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=LORA

Anyone have info on that?

Missed this thread entirely ... not exactly sure what requirement, if any, you are trying to fulfill. I just had a need for a mesh network for the 40 acres, explained below, so I've added on to this thread.

LongRange (LoRa) comms ... basically, devices used to tie IoT things to the internet, although many other uses as well. These folks touch the surface of it:
 https:  //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoRa

Mesh Networks ... basically, devices used to extend/connect a wireless network over distance. Again, as explained by these folks:
 https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesh_networking

With my 40 acres of pine woods, it's hard to know what's going on "over there" ... trees, hills, distance ... everything blocks a wireless signal. 40 acres is a quarter of a quarter section, in this area, so that's 1/4 mile on the sides ... longer depending on the diagonal or meandering routes thru the woods, on the inside. So, how do I put a cam at one end, and get pics at the other end (home base)?

What I've settled on is a series of game cams from Cuddeback, which include a proprietary *mesh network module* in each cam. Each cam can feed pics to the next cam, and ultimately, the home base cam. Just move cams around until they all see each other in the string via their mesh networking module, and you've conquered hills, trees, etc. Now I can get pics of what's happening at the other end of the property, with a lot less shoe leather.

While proprietary, it beats me having to do it with non-proprietary networking gear, which all seems to want an AC plug, and are mostly designed for "house coverage" anyway. The cams are low-power (battery, solar, spin your own power) devices. Not necessarily cheap, but beats an 1800' power extension cord ...

In addition, inflation has cured me of worrying about high prices ... every price is higher, the next day.

Hope this helps ...

I posted this in a topic where someone wanted to know about amateur radio.
He didn't think it belonged there so he made it a separate topic.
Thanks for your reply I didn't know it could be used for video this way.

I suspect that's just a Wifi proprietary network.

I don't think LoRa in the ISM bands can handle video. Potentially useful for alarms/watering system control
https://meshtastic.org/ Meshtastic is nice software

you can buy the boards pre-flashed https://store.rakwireless.com/products/wisblock-meshtastic-starter-kit

There are lots of POE-powered 802.11n mesh capable repeaters and extenders out there. You can match them up with a small PV panel and battery to deploy as self-contained units. My ISP has been doing this on a utility scale for over ten years now and they've brought 25 Mb/s internet into some pretty remote parts of the country.

Looked over the somewhat non-proprietary solutions ... meshtastic & lilygo hardware seem reasonable as "communicators", but don't seem to fit the bill for transmitting pics across the 40 acres, at least not without lots of work in power, hardware & software areas.

rakwireless is meshtastic like? also lots of work ...

So far, nothing seems to beat the Cuddeback solution, which just works out of the box to fill a homestead security need. Has a proprietary mesh network built in on the Cuddelink units, and acts as game cams (security cams in my case); weatherproof, multiple power solutions. Once positioned within range of each other, should stretch across the 40 acres, and then pics (video clips as well, but at more power cost) should flow back to the home unit (my desk).

So, a weatherproof security system where you just add batteries (or other power), and hang from a tree (which I have lots of).

But, will continue to investigate the mesh & LoRa items mentioned, to see where they could be used for a homesteading purpose ... comms where there is no cellular service, for example.

If you're doing it on the cheap and need to keep power consumption down, directional antennas are your best friend. Even the humble Pringles can is remarkably effective in getting a much longer reach from a low-power transceiver.