Coverage Planning Tools Overview
Coverage Planning Tools Overview
Before deploying hardware, use these tools to estimate coverage, find line-of-sight paths, and identify gaps in your network. Most are free and browser-based.
MeshCore-Specific Tools
| Tool | URL | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| NoDakMesh Node Planner | nodakmesh.org/tools/node-planner | Satellite + topographic map with line-of-sight analysis and live MeshCore node visibility. Best starting point for North American planning. |
| MeshCore Live Map | map.meshcore.dev | Live worldwide visualization of MeshCore nodes that have reported their location. |
Meshtastic Tools
| Tool | URL | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Meshtastic Site Planner | site.meshtastic.org | Estimates theoretical RF coverage from a location using terrain data. Enter coordinates and antenna height. |
| Meshtastic World Map | meshmap.net | Real-time map of Meshtastic nodes worldwide that report to the public MQTT broker. |
General RF Planning Tools
| Tool | URL | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| HeyWhatsThat | heywhatsthat.com | Radio horizon visualization using terrain elevation data. Enter a location and see what is visible from that point. |
| Radio Mobile Online | radiomobile.pe1mew.nl | Advanced RF propagation modeling with configurable transmit power, antenna gain, and receiver sensitivity. Supports point-to-point and coverage area analysis. |
| SCADA Core RF LoS | scadacore.com | RF line-of-sight tool for quick path analysis between two coordinates. |
Planning Workflow
- Check existing nodes: Start with map.meshcore.dev or meshmap.net to see what already exists near your target area.
- Identify candidate sites: Use heywhatsthat.com to find hilltops, buildings, or towers with broad radio horizons.
- Model the path: Use Radio Mobile or the NoDakMesh node planner to estimate signal strength on key links.
- Validate with MeshMapper: After deployment, use MeshMapper wardriving to map actual measured coverage (see MeshMapper Wardriving
Guide)Guide).