We’re excited to announce a new addition to the BuffaLoRa community network: the deployment of a Meshtastic node — short name COLE — at the Buffalo Amateur Radio Repeater Association (BARRA) Boston Repeater Site. This marks a significant step forward in extending low-power, off-grid mesh communication to the Southtowns and beyond.
BARRA is a cornerstone of amateur radio in Western New York, and we’re incredibly proud to partner with them in this endeavor. To learn more about their extensive work supporting the region with amateur radio repeater infrastructure and volunteer services, visit buffalobarra.org.
About the Site
The BARRA Boston repeater site is perched at a high-elevation location (1,640 feet above sea level) in the Town of Boston, NY. Four and a half repeaters serve the amateur radio community from this location.
- 147.910 MHz
- 224.8 MHz
- 444.000
- 449.00 as part of 449.9625
- Receive site of 10m repeater 29.580 MHz as part of 29.680 repeater
About the Node
The BuffaLoRa node COLE was constructed using a RAKwireless Mini Meshtastic Starter Kit (US915 band) featuring:
- RAK19003 + RAK4631 Kit
- 6 feet of LMR-400 coax and a custom bracket (complements of Ted Ertle)
- An ALFA AOA-915-5ACM 5 dBi omni outdoor LoRa antenna with N to Ipex pigtail connector
- Waterproof Dustproof IP65 ABS Plastic Junction Box Universal Electric Project Enclosure
- Cable Gland from a weatherproof enclosure and Vent Plug
- USB-C to USB-A cable from RAk Kit and AC Adapter from an old phone
This ruggedized outdoor node brings LoRa-based messaging capabilities to mesh radio users across the Southtowns. Based on early field testing and our coverage map, users in the surrounding hills and valleys will see the biggest impact, with strong signal propagation expected throughout the area.
We’re working on expanding our network northward and strengthening connections into the City of Buffalo — stay tuned for updates!
Special Thanks to Our Partners
This deployment would not have been possible without the dedicated members of BARRA:
- Ted Ertl (WA2HKS) – Trustee of the 444.000 MHz repeater and BARRA member, who coordinated the collaboration and shared expert RF knowledge, plus gave us a guided tour of the facility’s impressive infrastructure.
- Jan Jarecki (WB2FXY) – Site manager who completed the outdoor antenna installation and RF cable routing, ensuring a clean and efficient setup.
- Bill Brown (KB2TOY) – On hand to lend technical assistance and support during the installation.
- Douglas A. Alderdice (KA2WFT) – BARRA President
We are deeply grateful for their time, knowledge, and commitment to the amateur radio and broader communications community.
Want to Get Involved?
The partnership between BuffaLoRa and BARRA showcases what’s possible when local organizations come together to build community-focused technology. If you’re a business, nonprofit, school, or community leader interested in hosting a node or supporting mesh expansion, we’d love to hear from you.
Help us grow the network and bring resilient, decentralized communication to every corner of Western New York.
📡 Contact us today at partnerships@snydermesh.com to learn more and get involved.
Let’s connect WNY — one node at a time.
BuffaLoRa 