# Finding Volunteers and Repeater Sites

## Finding Volunteers and Repeater Sites

The practical limit on any mesh network's coverage is the number and location of repeaters. Growing a community mesh means finding both people willing to host hardware and locations with good RF exposure.

### Identifying Good Repeater Sites

The best repeater sites share these characteristics:

- **Elevation:** Hilltops, building rooftops, water towers - any location that has line-of-sight to a wide area
- **Permanent power:** AC power or solar with battery backup means no maintenance visits for power
- **Internet connectivity:** Enables MQTT gateway functionality and remote management
- **Willing host:** Someone at the location who can assist with initial install and occasional physical access

### Where to Find Volunteers

- **Amateur radio clubs:** Many hams are already interested in digital modes and emergency communications; LoRa mesh is a natural extension
- **Community preparedness groups:** CERT, neighborhood emergency response teams, and ARES/RACES members often see immediate value in mesh
- **Tech and maker communities:** Hackerspaces, makerspaces, and local tech meetups
- **Existing mesh Discord servers:** [RegionMesh](https://wiki.meshamerica.com/books/north-american-networks/page/regionmesh) and other communities often have "looking for volunteers in \[state\]" channels

### The Repeater Volunteer Pitch

The cost and effort for a volunteer are minimal. Emphasize:

- Hardware cost: ~$20 - $30 for a Heltec V3
- Power draw: under 1 watt continuous (negligible electricity cost)
- Maintenance: essentially zero once installed and configured
- Contribution: one rooftop repeater can cover an entire neighborhood

### RegionMesh Volunteer Process

If you're deploying under RegionMesh, the official 5-step volunteer repeater process is documented in the RegionMesh Discord at [meshcore.gg](https://meshcore.gg). Following this process ensures your repeater is registered and visible to the broader community.

### Tracking Your Network

As you grow, keep a simple inventory of deployed nodes: location, hardware, firmware version, radio settings, and host contact. This becomes critical for maintenance, upgrades, and troubleshooting.