u/terra_linker

Just got back from a cruise and honestly… Meshtastic worked WAY better than I expected.

I brought a few of my custom MagSafe-compatible nodes onboard with the idea of testing communication around the ship and during shore excursions. Ended up using them constantly the entire trip.

Some things that worked surprisingly well:
- Messaging family around the cruise ship without relying on WiFi packages
- Keeping track of people during shore excursions
- Communication while split up in port areas/shopping
- Great battery life throughout the day

The funniest part was watching people go from:
“Wait… what is that thing on the back of your phone?”
to
“Okay that’s actually insanely useful.”

The compact MagSafe setup made it super easy because nobody wanted to carry another device around. Just snap it onto the phone and forget about it.

I’ve been designing/building these as a side project and I’m finally planning to start selling them on Etsy starting June 1st under the TerraLink name.

Current versions:
- TerraLink Standard → internal antenna + 2000mAh
- TerraLink Pro → external antenna + 3000mAh

If anyone wants to follow along, my Instagram is:
@terra_link

Would also love to hear other real-world Meshtastic use cases people are actually using regularly besides the typical “emergency communication” answer.

I designed a MagSafe enclosure for a Heltec V3 so it snaps directly onto the back of my iPhone. The goal was to make something compact and easy to carry without dealing with cables or separate pieces.

Current version is running a 2000mAh battery and keeps everything self-contained. I also made another version with a larger ~3000mAh battery and an external antenna, but that one ends up a bit bulkier.

I’m based in San Diego and have solid coverage across the city with my setup, so now I’m focused on refining the physical design.

I’m trying to get this as thin and clean as possible, so I’d love some feedback on:
- ways to reduce overall thickness without giving up too much battery
- internal layout ideas for tighter packaging
- MagSafe magnet recommendations (strength, ring layout, etc. that hold well but still feel clean)

Also curious on overall styling — I’ve been staring at this too long and can’t tell if it actually looks good anymore lol.

Posting a few photos here for context.

I might make a small batch if there’s some interest, but mostly focused on dialing in the design.