Off-Grid Comms: 868MHz LoRa Mesh, PMR446, SDR & Family Signal Plans (EOD-CIT-201)
Build an unbreakable, encrypted family and neighbourhood communications network across 15–40km with zero reliance on mobile masts or broadband.
Option A: Self-Paced Online Course (£249)
16 Hours Video Engineering Labs + Chirp Files
- 5x HD Radio & Mesh Engineering Modules + downloadable UK 99-channel Chirp image
- Meshtastic EU_868 encryption configuration scripts & antenna coax loss calculator
- RSGB Foundation Licence exam preparation guide
Option B: Online Material + 3-Day / 3-Night Residential (£1395)
All-inclusive UK residential training (3 Days / 3 Nights)
- Full Online Learning Material access + 3 nights private accommodation & all meals
- 3 days live field RF engineering: flashing LoRa nodes, building mast repeaters & 25km valley range tests
- Take-home LILYGO T-Echo 868MHz Node + Quansheng UV-K5(8) Radio + Programming Cable (£115 value)
Module-by-Module Curriculum & Practical Labs
M1: Why UK Cellular Dies in 120 Minutes (RAN Architecture & 2027 PSTN Termination) (2.5 hrs)
- Anatomy of a UK 4G/5G macro-cell: battery cabinets, fibre backhaul dependencies, and congestion lockouts
- Why BT Digital Voice / FTTP ONTs kill legacy -48V exchange-powered emergency calls
- The PACE Comms Doctrine for UK families separated by 5 to 50 miles
Hands-On Lab: Measure local RSSI/SNR towers and map line-of-sight (LOS) elevation profiles using HeyWhatsThat & QRadioPredictor.
M2: Deploying 868MHz Meshtastic LoRa Networks (UK ISM Band) (4.0 hrs)
- UK Ofcom IR2030 regulations: Operating legally on 868.1MHz / 869.525MHz at 25mW–500mW ERP without a licence
- Flashing nRF52840 & ESP32 nodes, generating AES-256 private family channels, and disabling unwanted public MQTT leaks
- Chimney & attic solar repeater engineering: coax loss calculations (LMR-400 vs RG58), cavity filters, and colinear fibreglass antennas
Hands-On Lab: Configure a 3-node encrypted family mesh with offline ATAK/OsmAnd map waypoint sharing.
M3: PMR446, VHF/UHF Line-of-Sight & Amateur HF NVIS Skywave (3.5 hrs)
- Programming the Quansheng UV-K5(8) with custom firmware (Egzumer) for wideband AM Airband, Marine VHF, and PMR446 monitoring
- CTCSS/DCS privacy tones vs real encryption: avoiding eavesdropping during civil unrest
- Bridging 50–400 miles across Britain via 80m/40m HF Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS)
Hands-On Lab: Chirp programming lab: Load the standard EOD-UK 99-channel emergency frequency plan.
M4: Software Defined Radio (SDR) Intelligence & Spectrum Watch (3.0 hrs)
- Setting up RTL-SDR Blog V4 on Linux/Android with SDR++ and DragonOS
- Decoding NOAA/Meteor weather satellites, ADS-B emergency aircraft transponders, and POCSAG pager traffic during blackouts
- Faraday cage engineering: testing attenuation (dB) against geomagnetic (CME) and EMP transients
Hands-On Lab: Capture live off-air telemetry and verify Faraday bag shielding using an 868MHz LoRa beacon test.
M5: The Comms Sked: Brevity Codes, Authentication & Battery Discipline (3.0 hrs)
- Running top-of-the-hour 5-minute listening watches ("skeds") to extend transceiver battery life from 12 hours to 14 days
- Challenge-response authentication tables and duress codewords for family welfare checks
Hands-On Lab: Execute a 24-hour simulated "Phones Off" weekend exercise using only LoRa + VHF skeds.
Other Accredited UK Training Tracks
- EOD-CIT-101 — Beyond the 72-Hour Myth: UK Urban & Home Infrastructure Autonomy
- EOD-CIT-301 — Home Micro-Grids & Sovereign Compute: LiFePO4, Solar & Offline AI
- EOD-CIT-401 — Neighbourhood Telemetry, Water Systems, Trauma & Radiological Defence
- EOD-CIT-501 — Flagship "Full-Stack Sovereign Engineer" Complete Master Programme
- View All 9 UK Off-Grid Courses
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the delivery options and UK fees for Off-Grid Comms: 868MHz LoRa Mesh, PMR446, SDR & Family Signal Plans (EOD-CIT-201)?
Off-Grid Comms: 868MHz LoRa Mesh, PMR446, SDR & Family Signal Plans is available as a self-paced Online Digital Course (£249, 16 Hours Video Engineering Labs + Chirp Files) or as an all-inclusive Online Material + 3-Day / 3-Night Residential (£1395) at our Peak District, Welsh Borders, or Cotswolds centres.
What certification and practical lab skills will I complete in EOD-CIT-201?
Graduates earn the EOD Tactical Spectrum & Mesh Operator Certificate + RSGB Foundation Exam Prep after completing 5 practical engineering modules with Online: Optional LoRa/VHF radio • Residential: Full take-home RF hardware kit included.