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CSRA MeshCore Network

The Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) MeshCore network covers Augusta, GA; North Augusta, SC; Aiken, SC; and surrounding communities across two states.

Coverage Area

The CSRA network is designed to serve the following communities:

  • Augusta, GA — city core and surrounding neighborhoods
  • North Augusta, SC — across the Savannah River
  • Aiken, SC — western Aiken County
  • Evans, GA / Columbia County — fastest-growing part of the region
  • Grovetown & Harlem, GA — Fort Eisenhower corridor
  • Martinez & Augusta South — Richmond County south

Coverage is a community effort — the more nodes deployed, the better it gets for everyone.

Network Topology

The CSRA network uses a combination of:

  • Portable/handheld nodes — carried by individuals, form the bulk of the network during events or emergencies
  • Fixed relay nodes — permanently deployed at elevated locations, provide backbone coverage 24/7
  • Home base nodes — connected to home power, always on, relay for neighbors
                 CSRA MeshCore Network

    [Fixed Relay]      [Fixed Relay]      [Fixed Relay]
  Downtown Augusta     North Augusta      Evans / CSRA
          |                  |                  |
    ------+------------------+------------------+------
          |                  |                  |
    [Home Nodes]        [Handhelds]       [Home Nodes]
    (always on)        (when active)      (always on)

Deploying a Fixed Relay Node

Fixed relay nodes are the backbone of the network. If you can deploy one, you make the network better for everyone in your area.

Ideal Locations

  • Rooftops — 1–2 story height gain dramatically increases range
  • Attic installations — protected from weather, still elevated
  • On existing structures — fence posts, flag poles, deck railings at height
  • High ground — the CSRA is relatively flat; any natural elevation helps

What You Need

  • Any MeshCore-compatible device (see Hardware)
  • Power source — USB wall adapter, power bank, or solar setup
  • Weatherproof enclosure if outdoors
  • Configured with Router role and CSRA settings

Node Role Configuration

Set your fixed node to Router role in the app settings. Router-role devices:

  • Aggressively rebroadcast messages (help messages travel farther)
  • Can be configured to skip the phone app entirely (headless mode)
  • Should have Position set to Fixed with your GPS coordinates entered manually

Community Guidelines

The CSRA MeshCore network is a shared resource. Please follow these guidelines to keep it working well for everyone:

  1. Use the correct channel settings — off-spec nodes cause confusion and don't help the network
  2. Keep hop limit at 3 — higher values cause network flooding
  3. Set your node role appropriately — handhelds should be Client, permanent nodes Router
  4. Share your location — position broadcasting helps others see network coverage
  5. Be neighborly — the public channel is for coordination, not spam
  6. Announce your node — let the community know you've deployed a fixed relay so we can track coverage

Getting Involved

The CSRA MeshCore community is volunteer-run and welcoming to newcomers at all technical levels. Ways to participate:

On the Network

  • Deploy a home base or fixed relay node to extend coverage
  • Be active on the public channel, especially during events or severe weather

In the Community

  • Introduce yourself on the CSRA-1 public channel with your location and node type
  • Report coverage gaps — tell us where you have trouble reaching the network
  • Help new users — if someone is struggling with settings, assist if you can

Technical Contributions

  • Help maintain this documentation site
  • Assist with node placement planning
  • Participate in net events to test coverage

Planned Coverage Expansion

The following areas are priorities for coverage improvement. If you live or work in these areas, deploying even a simple home node makes a real difference:

Area Current Status Notes
Fort Eisenhower / Grovetown Partial Need relay at elevation
Aiken, SC core Limited Distance from Augusta nodes
Augusta south (Windsor Spring) Sparse Residential expansion needed
Savannah River corridor Good Natural radio path along river
North Augusta hilltop areas Good Elevation helps significantly

Severe Weather & Emergency Use

The CSRA experiences significant severe weather seasons — late winter ice storms, summer thunderstorms, and occasional hurricane remnants. The MeshCore network is a valuable tool during these events when cell towers become overloaded or lose power.

During severe weather: - Keep your handheld node charged - Monitor the CSRA-1 public channel for community updates - If you have a solar-powered fixed node, it will likely remain operational through outages - Share road conditions, power status, and safety information on the public channel

MeshCore is not a substitute for 911

In a life-threatening emergency, always try 911 first. MeshCore is a community communication tool, not an emergency dispatch system.