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Deployment Plan

Target: Functional mesh network covering Justin, TX by end of summer 2026.

Timeline Overview

Phase Duration Target Completion
Planning & Approvals 6 weeks Mid-March
Hardware Acquisition 6 weeks End of March
Infrastructure Deployment 10 weeks Mid-June
User Onboarding 12 weeks End of July
Testing & Optimization 6 weeks End of July
Web Integration Ongoing End of July

Buffer: 4-6 weeks before end of summer for contingencies.

Phase 1: Planning & Approvals

February - Mid-March 2026

Planning

  • [x] Complete site survey for 5-10 repeater locations
  • [x] Submit water tower installation request
  • [ ] Submit secondary site requests (2-3 locations)
  • [ ] Secure first 3 site approvals
  • [ ] Initiate CERT/emergency management outreach
  • [ ] Finalize infrastructure node placement map

Approvals Timeline

Approvals may extend beyond this phase. Deployment can begin as approvals come through.

Phase 2: Hardware Acquisition

February - End of March 2026

Hardware

  • [x] Procure 3-5 additional infrastructure nodes (Meshtastic)
  • [ ] Procure 2-3 MeshCore repeater nodes (1 of 2-3 acquired)
  • [x] Acquire solar panels and batteries for remote sites
  • [ ] Acquire weatherproof enclosures
  • [ ] Procure MQTT gateway hardware (1-2 units)
  • [ ] Build inventory of user nodes for distribution/sale

Parallel Phase

Runs parallel with Phase 1. Order early to account for shipping delays.

Phase 3: Infrastructure Deployment

March - Mid-June 2026

Infrastructure

  • [ ] Deploy water tower repeater (pending approval)
  • [ ] Deploy secondary site repeaters (2-3 sites)
  • [ ] Install solar power systems at remote sites
  • [ ] Deploy MQTT gateway nodes (1-2 locations)
  • [ ] Verify repeater-to-repeater connectivity
  • [ ] Establish NTXMesh overlap coverage

Staggered Deployment

Begin as soon as first approval + hardware arrives. Stagger deployments to validate each site.

Phase 4: User Onboarding

April - End of July 2026

Onboarding

  • [ ] Publish user node configuration guides
  • [ ] Create "Getting Started" onboarding page
  • [ ] Recruit 10 initial users
  • [ ] Recruit 20 additional users (total: 30)
  • [ ] Establish node distribution/sales process
  • [ ] Host community demo/training session

User Targets

Start recruiting once 2-3 repeaters are live. Target 10 users by May, 30 by end of July.

Phase 5: Testing & Optimization

May - End of July 2026

Testing

  • [ ] Verify coverage across Justin city limits
  • [ ] Test rural area coverage
  • [ ] Optimize channel settings based on traffic
  • [ ] Document dead zones and plan remediation
  • [ ] Stress test with increased traffic
  • [ ] Validate emergency message routing

Iterative Process

Begins once infrastructure is 50%+ deployed. Continuous refinement based on real-world usage.

Phase 6: Web Integration

Ongoing - End of July 2026

Web

  • [ ] Status dashboard showing live node count
  • [ ] Mesh map displaying coverage
  • [ ] Documentation for all deployed nodes
  • [ ] Public status page for network health

Existing Foundation

Core functionality already exists. Enhancements as network grows.

Future: MeshCore Expansion

Q4 2026+

  • Parallel deployment may begin once Meshtastic infrastructure stable
  • Separate planning document when ready
  • Will leverage same physical sites where possible

Progress Updates

Last updated: February 2026

Update this page as tasks complete. Adjust percentages to reflect actual progress.