silencegeneric / communitymesh

A neighborhood mesh Network for emergency communications

CommunityMesh

Overview:

CommunityMesh is a project aimed at creating a resilient and connected community through the utilization of solar-powered communication networks. It is designed to empower individuals to support each other during times of crisis and promote self-sustainability.

Features:

• Solar-Powered Communication Network: Utilizes solar energy to power a decentralized communication network, ensuring connectivity even in the event of power outages or disruptions.

Getting Started:

To set up the CommunityMesh project on your ESP32 microcontroller, follow these steps:

1. Hardware Requirements:

   • ESP32 microcontroller board
   • LoRa module (if not already integrated into the ESP32 board)
   • Solar panels and batteries for power supply

2. Software Requirements:

   • Arduino IDE installed on your computer

3. Installation:

   • Connect the LoRa module to the ESP32 microcontroller board if it's not already integrated.
   • Install the necessary libraries in the Arduino IDE:
     • LoRa library
     • WiFi library (if not using LoRa exclusively)
   • Download the CommunityMesh code from the repository.

4. Configuration:

   • Open the CommunityMesh code in the Arduino IDE.
   • If using WiFi, specify the SSID and password of your WiFi network in the code.
   • Configure any other settings as needed for your specific setup.

5. Upload:

   • Connect the ESP32 microcontroller board to your computer via USB.
   • Select the correct board and port in the Arduino IDE.
   • Click the "Upload" button to compile and upload the code to the ESP32 board.

6. Deployment:

   • Deploy the ESP32 microcontroller board in the desired location within your community.
   • Ensure that the solar panels are properly positioned to receive sunlight for power.

7. Testing:

   • Power on the ESP32 board and verify that it connects to the network (either LoRa or WiFi).
   • Test the communication functionality by sending and receiving messages using the CommunityMesh network.

Contributing:

CommunityMesh is an open-source project, and contributions from the community are welcome. If you're interested in contributing to the project, please feel free to fork the repository, make your changes, and submit a pull request.

License:

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.

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This README provides clear instructions on setting up the ESP32 microcontroller for the CommunityMesh project and getting it running.