Node Maintenance Schedule

A simple maintenance schedule keeps your node reliable and avoids the surprise of a failed battery or corroded antenna during an emergency. Regular checks take 10-15 minutes per node and catch 90% of common failure modes before they impact the network.

Monthly Checks (5 minutes)

• App connection: Connect to your node and verify it responds. Check firmware version.
• Battery level: For solar nodes, verify battery is charging (should be near full by midday). For USB-powered nodes, verify power is stable.
• Neighbor count: Are you seeing the same neighbors as before? A suddenly empty neighbor list may indicate an antenna failure or a major change in the local network.
• Channel utilization: Should be under 25%. If consistently over 15%, investigate why.

Quarterly Checks (15 minutes)

• Visual inspection: For outdoor nodes — inspect the enclosure for water ingress, cracks, UV damage. Inspect antenna mount for rust or loosening. Check cable entry points for sealant integrity.
• Firmware update: Check meshtastic.org for new stable releases. Update if more than 2 versions behind. Back up config before updating.
• Configuration backup: Export config to file. Store in a cloud backup location.
• Range check: Verify RSSI to 2-3 reference nodes. Compare to your baseline. A 5+ dB drop indicates antenna or cable degradation.

Annual Checks (30-60 minutes)

• Battery capacity test: For solar systems, run the battery down deliberately and measure actual capacity vs. rated capacity. Lead-acid batteries lose 20-30% capacity per year; LiPo 5-10% per year. Replace when capacity drops below 70% of rated.
• Connector re-torque: Check all SMA/N connector connections and re-torque to specification. Hand-tight plus 1/4 turn is the standard for SMA; use a torque wrench for N connectors (1.5 Nm).
• Re-weatherproof connectors: Remove old self-amalgamating tape, inspect connector for corrosion, reapply fresh tape.
• Solar panel cleaning: Wipe panels with damp cloth. Bird droppings and dust accumulation can reduce output 5-15%.

Maintenance Log Template

Keep a simple maintenance log for each node:

Node: WH01-WestHillsRepeater
Node ID: !ab12cd34
Location: 3214 Hill Ave rooftop
Last firmware: 2.6.1 (updated 2026-03-15)
Battery: LiFePO4 20Ah (installed 2025-06)

Maintenance Log:
2026-05-01: Quarterly check. RSSI to Summit -87dBm (baseline -85), within normal.
            Enclosure dry. Antenna secure. FW up to date.
2026-02-01: Quarterly check. Updated FW from 2.5.9 to 2.6.1.
            Backed up config. Checked solar: 13.8V at noon, good.
2025-11-01: Annual check. Replaced self-amalgamating tape on N connector.
            Cleaned solar panel (bird droppings). Battery 98% capacity.