GTel Networks, Inc.

GTel’s first offgrid Helium Hotspot

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GTel's first Offgrid Hotspot

We recently deployed our first Offgrid Helium Hotspot!

This particular offgrid unit happens to be installed on top of a 4 story building in a suburban area with plenty of Internet and power access… so why use an offgrid setup? Because the landlord wanted over $3K to have Ethernet run to the roof (New York real estate ain’t cheap). Instead of spending that much on a cable run, we spent less than half that to build an offgrid miner. 
 

Big shout out to Nik Hawks, a.ka. the GristleKing, for his guidance on our first offgrid setup. We hired him for a very excellent 1 hour call that gave us some great info on where to start! (love your new site and badass pic!) 

It was also a really cool experience learning how to swage ferrules on guy wires, hump cinder blocks to the roof, learn more about solar technology and especially to spend a day on the roof with my father and son, and one of the engineers from our office.

After a couple weeks of testing the setup at my house, we were ready to launch!

This particular setup uses the following:

  • RAK MNTD Goldspot
  • Renogy 100W 12V Monocrystalline Solar Panel Starter Kit with 20A Rover MPPT Charge Controller
  • JITA 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery (only 24lbs/11Kg)
  • Teltonika RUT240 4G LTE router
  • Gratury Junction Box
  • ROHN Non-Penetrating Roof Mount
  • 20′ mast
  • RAK 8dBi antenna
  • RAK lightening arrestor
  • Attwood ventilated battery box
  • 17 cinder blocks
We went with such a large battery for two reasons – we didn’t want cloudy NY winters to cause the battery to die and because we didn’t need to hike up a mountain for this deployment! The elevator was very convenient, especially for the cinder blocks. 
 

It’s been running for a few weeks now, earning from .4 to .5 HNT per day. It’s currently relayed and I might test VPN to see if that increases earnings, but with light hotspots around the corner, I may just leave it as is and focus our time on deploying more hotspots!

Would love to hear from you and feel free to ask questions.

Three generations of Tellone’s mining the day away

Renogy 100W Monocrystalline Solar Panel

ROHN Flat roof mount and guy wires

Good luck mining!
About the Author – GTel

3 Comments

  1. Nik Hawks

    Nice work, psyched to see the effort and outcome! Rock on!

    • GTel

      Thanks again, brother! Will let you know when I’m in Cali next. Would love to spend a day hiking out to see the view from one of your offgrids. They definitely look much more scenic!

  2. Dillon Esanbock

    Looks great!

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