Raccoon Tree Node Build (~$190)

The Raccoon Tree Node is a long-range forest repeater designed to be suspended from a tree branch atusing a throw line. In mature forest, hang heights of roughly 30-60 ft are typical, with up to ~100 feetft usingan aexceptional Kevlarmaximum that depends on tree height and throw line.skill. DevelopedThis bybuild is presented as an example design attributed to the CascadiaMesh community,community; it prioritizes antenna elevation and link distance over minimal cost, making it ideal for rural coverage gaps and forested terrain.

Safety

Install entirely from the ground using a throw line - do NOT climb the tree. Tree climbing to install or retrieve a node is fatal-fall work that requires an arborist's training and a proper rope/harness system. Working at height also triggers OSHA fall-protection requirements (4 ft general industry, 6 ft construction). When using a throw weight, keep bystanders clear of the launch and fall zone, wear eye protection, and never throw near overhead power lines - keep the line and weight well clear of the full fall radius of any line. Plan for retrieval and servicing before you deploy: a node 30-100 ft up is genuinely hard to recover. A line under tension and a falling node/throw-weight are real hazards. Use a UV-stable, low-stretch suspension line (UHMWPE/Dyneema or a UV-treated line) rated for the static load with a safety factor. Inspect and replace the suspension line periodically.

Parts List

Component	Approx. Cost	Source / Notes
Heltec V4.3.1 LoRa module	$26	Rokland (orprices as of 2026-06-08; verify current listing). An optional RAK 1W booster at (~$39 - $4949) foris higheravailable power)- see the FCC caution below before using it.
JMT 915 MHz bandpass filter	$14	CriticalOptional inline filter - cleans up out-of-band noise from the Heltec front end. Helpful in noisy/high-power outdoor use; not mandatory for every Heltec -build prevents(the noise/spuriousbeginner emissionHeltec issuespages flash without one). Price/part as of 2026-06-08, unverified.
PeakMesh solar charging board	$13	Etsy (David's shop)
Aluminum waterproof enclosure 4.7×3.1×2.1"	$15	Amazon
Rokland 10 dBi Backcountry antenna, 45"	$50	RoklandRokland. Note: 10 dBi exceeds 6 dBi, so conducted TX power must be reduced - see Antenna Elevation Strategy.
Zivif 6W 5V solar panels (qty 2)	$16 each / $32 total	-
Samsung 30Q 18650 3000 mAh cells (qty 3)	$4 each / $12 total	Wire as 3 in PARALLEL (~3.7V, ~9000 mAh, ~33 Wh) - see Power System for pack-safety notes.
KevlarThrow throwline line,(UV-stable UHMWPE/Dyneema), ~196 ft	-	For suspending node over a tree branchbranch. You need roughly 2x the hang height plus working slack for throwing and tie-off, so ~196 ft supports a ~60-90 ft hang with margin. Do NOT use bare aramid (Kevlar) - it is UV-sensitive outdoors.
Total		~$190 (as of 2026-06-08; line items are individually volatile and exclude pigtails/adapters and shipping)

Critical: Heltec RF Shielding & Filter

TheSome Heltec V4 isboards knownhave toreported producereceive-sensitivity limitations from front-end self-interference (the V4 added an LNA and the antenna/filter network was revised between revisions). A definitive "produces RF noise that can desensitize its own receiver and cause/ spurious emissions.emissions" claim is not confirmed by a primary manufacturer source, so treat the following as Tworecommended mitigationswhere areyou requiredobserve fora reliableproblem, not universally mandatory. Shielding is generally helpful; the inline bandpass filter is worth adding mainly in high-noise or high-power outdoor deployment:deployments:

1. RF shielding: WrapDo not wrap the Heltec PCB in electricalaluminum tape,foil. thenAn ungrounded foil wrap is not a layerFaraday ofshield aluminum- foil,it beforecan finaldetune assembly.the Thisantenna reducesmatch self-interference.and BLE antenna, short exposed pads, and couple noise back into the front end, and a foil-to-PCB short over a lithium cell is a fire hazard. If shielding is needed, use a proper grounded board-level shield can over the RF section.
2. JMT 915 MHz bandpass filter:filter (optional): Install inline between the SMA port and antenna feedline. ThisA prevents915 MHz BPF rejects out-of-band noiseRX frominterference enteringand attenuates TX harmonics, but it adds ~1-2 dB insertion loss (reducing both TX EIRP and RX sensitivity) and does not fix in-band FEM self-interference. Weigh the receiveloss pathagainst the interference benefit for your site, and reduces TX harmonics. Do not skip this step forcheck the Heltecspecific platform.filter's datasheet (passband, insertion loss, rejection).

For very high-noise urban deployments, a higher-Q bandpass / coaxial-resonator filter (e.g., the ~$90 Baymesh 910 MHz cavitypart - confirm the actual filter (~$90)topology isand availableinsertion asloss anon upgradeits overdatasheet) offers more rejection than the JMT filter.ceramic filter, but at higher insertion loss. A bandpass filter does not fix in-band noise.

Antenna Elevation Strategy

The defining feature of this build is antenna elevation via tree suspension:

• Use a 196UV-stable, ft Kevlar throwlow-stretch line such as UHMWPE/Dyneema (Kevlarnot bare aramid/Kevlar, which is UV-resistantsensitive and doesweakens notin stretch)sunlight) to throw over a high branch.
• The 45" Rokland 10 dBi Backcountry antenna is weatherproof and designed for outdoor permanent installation. A high-gain, narrow-beam omni needs stable vertical mounting; in a swaying tree it can point energy above or below the horizon.
• HeightsHang upheights toof 100~30-60 ft are achievabletypical in mature forest,forest; providing~100 ft is an exceptional maximum, not routinely achievable. Higher elevation provides significant line-of-sight improvement over ground-level deployments.deployments, but plan for the overhead-load, line-failure, and retrieval hazards noted in Safety.
• The 10 dBi gain antenna combined with elevation can dramatically extend link distance in forested Pacific Northwest terrain.terrain, though dense vegetation absorbs 915 MHz energy and can offset some gain. FCC Part 15 (47 CFR 15.247) note: a 10 dBi antenna is 4 dB over the 6 dBi reference, so conducted TX power must be reduced by 4 dB (to ~26 dBm) to keep EIRP at or below the 36 dBm ceiling. Set the node's TX power accordingly - do not run full power into a 10 dBi antenna on unlicensed 915 MHz.

If you use the optional RAK 1W booster: it raises conducted output to ~30 dBm. Combined with this build's 10 dBi antenna the EIRP exceeds the FCC Part 15 limit. With a 10 dBi antenna conducted power must be reduced to ~26 dBm. Do not use the 1W booster with a high-gain antenna on unlicensed 915 MHz.

Power System

• Two Zivif 6W 5V panels provide redundancy and increased harvest in partly-shaded forest environments.
• Three Samsung 30Q 18650 cells wired in parallel (~3.7V, ~9000 mAhmAh, total)~33 Wh) provide multi-day autonomy during cloudy periods common to the PNW. Actual runtime depends on the node's real average current. Use only matched cells of the same model and charge state, fuse the pack positive, and charge through a proper single-cell charger/BMS - do not put cells in series without a BMS.

Cold-charging warning: standard 18650 Li-ion cells must NOT be charged below 0 °C (32 °F) - charging below freezing causes lithium plating and a risk of internal short and fire. Discharge works fine at low temperatures, but in freezing PNW winters use a charge controller/BMS with a low-temperature charge cutoff. If you substitute LiFePO4 cells for cold weather, you must also use a LiFePO4-appropriate charger (3.6 V/cell, not the 4.2 V Li-ion profile) with its own low-temp charge cutoff. PeakMesh charging board handles MPPT and battery management.

Firmware

Flash with MeshCore Repeater firmware via the MeshCore Web Flasher. Configure for CascadiaMesh settings:settings (this US/Canada preset is a community/regional convention, not a universal standard):

• Frequency: 910.525 MHz / BW: 62.5 kHz / SF7 / CR 4/5
• Zero Hop Interval: 0 / Flood Advert Interval: 48 hours