Festival guide
Everything to do before you leave home and once you're on the field.
Before you go
- Flash firmware and set your region at home, where Wi-Fi and USB are easy.
- Join the private channels and test with a friend.
- Check that your festival allows radio devices. Low-power LoRa is typically fine, but venues vary.
- Charge everything and pack a battery bank and a short USB cable.
Packing list
The node
Device, antenna (attached before powering on), and a case.
Power
Small battery bank, cable. Most nodes sip power.
Carry it
Carabiner, lanyard, or bag clip so the antenna stays upright and visible.
Weather
Dust and rain protection like a zip bag or small case.
Getting the best range
- Height matters most. Hang it on your bag strap, not in a pocket.
- Bodies block signal. Packed crowds and your own torso cut range, so expect hundreds of meters, not kilometers.
- Use the right antenna for your band, and never transmit without one attached.
- Line of sight wins. Hills, trailers, and stages block signal.
Etiquette
- Short messages only. The airwaves are shared and slow.
- No spamming or large file or image transfers.
- Respect people's privacy, and don't share others' location without consent.
- Don't rely on it for critical logistics. Pick a fallback meetup time and place.
Safety
Not an emergency system. Delivery isn't guaranteed. For medical or safety issues, go to festival staff or medical tents, or call local emergency services.
- Private channel keys on a public website are effectively public. Treat the channels as friendly community chat and don't share sensitive info.
- Location sharing shows where you are to everyone in the channel. You can turn it off.
Example meetups
- Everyone shares location at 6 p.m. and sees who's near the main stage.
- Send "Headed to camp, 10 min" so the group knows.
- If you can't find each other, fall back to the pre-agreed landmark at the agreed time.