# Temperate Mesh — Construction & Installation Services

**Document purpose:** Define the construction partner’s service offering, pricing, and operational requirements.  
**Partner role:** Licensed, bonded construction—outdoor mounts, solar repeaters, poles, weatherproofing.  
**Geography:** Ketchikan first; travel to other SE Alaska communities by quote.

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## Why construction is a core business pillar

Handheld Meshtastic devices work out of the box. **Regional mesh strength** comes from nodes placed **high, clear, and permanent**—roof peaks, masts, ridgelines, boat harbor overlooks. That work involves:

- Ladders, fall protection, and structural attachment
- Wind load and corrosion (salt air in Ketchikan)
- Solar panel orientation and battery maintenance access
- RF cable routing and grounding
- Property owner permissions and sometimes permits

Most customers will pay for **“install it once, correctly”** rather than climb a wet tree with a solar node. This is also the **highest revenue and margin per customer** line in the business.

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## Service catalog

### Package A — Roof or wall mount (small node)

**For:** RAK/Heltec in weatherproof enclosure, small external antenna, no solar.

| Line item | Description |
|-----------|-------------|
| Site survey | Signal path notes, mount location, cable route |
| Mount hardware | Brackets, sealant, stainless fasteners |
| Antenna install | RP-SMA pass-through or short outdoor run |
| Device mounting | Enclosure, strain relief, drip loops |
| Config handoff | Tech partner verifies mesh + optional MQTT |
| Customer walkthrough | 15–30 min |

**Flat price (planning):** **$350–550**  
**Estimated duration:** 2–4 hours (1 visit)

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### Package B — Mast / pole mount (medium)

**For:** Telescoping pole, non-penetrating roof mount, or existing structure; 5–8 dBi antenna; solar node optional.

| Line item | Description |
|-----------|-------------|
| Pole/mast supply | 10–20 ft composite or aluminum (non-conductive where needed) |
| Base / bracket | Roof tripod, fence mount, or ground screw |
| Antenna + cable | Outdoor-rated, UV-resistant |
| Grounding | Bond to structure per local practice; arrestor if budget allows |
| Solar node mount | Panel orientation toward southern exposure (adjusted for local terrain) |

**Flat price (planning):** **$550–950** (hardware + labor)  
**Estimated duration:** 4–8 hours (may be 2 visits)

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### Package C — Tree or high-point mount (advanced)

**For:** Maximum coverage over channel or valley; requires climbing plan or lift.

| Line item | Description |
|-----------|-------------|
| Arborist/climber assessment | Only if tree mount; partner safety call |
| Mounting | Tree strap + mast, or platform mount |
| Weatherproof enclosure | Solar P1/P1-Pro standard; cable management |
| Access plan | How owner maintains batteries (P1 non-Pro) |

**Flat price (planning):** **$800–1,500+** (highly site-specific)  
**Requires:** Signed property access, liability waiver, weather window

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### Package D — Solar repeater turnkey

**For:** Seeed Solar Node P1 or P1-Pro as fixed repeater.

| Included | Notes |
|----------|-------|
| Device + antenna upgrade | From catalog (`01-product-pricing-catalog.md`) |
| Package B or C mount | Based on site |
| Repeater role config | Tech: fixed position, no unnecessary GPS track, MQTT uplink if gateway |
| Map reporting guidance | Customer consent + privacy settings |
| 30-day check-in | Remote or visit: verify solar charge, mesh hears node |

**Flat price (planning):** **$650–1,800+** all-in (device + install)  
**Typical quote example:** P1-Pro ($169) + 8 dBi ($75) + Package B ($750) = **$994+ tax/fees**

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### À la carte / hourly

Use when scope is unclear or customer supplies hardware.

| Rate type | Planning range | Use when |
|-----------|----------------|----------|
| **Site survey only** | $75–125 | Customer deciding before commit |
| **Hourly labor** | $95–125/hr | Non-standard work, repairs |
| **Travel (outside Ketchikan)** | $150–400/day + freight | Wrangell, Petersburg, Metlakatla, etc. |
| **Revisit / troubleshooting** | $75 minimum | Storm shift, cable fault |

**Minimum billable:** 2 hours for any on-site visit.

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## Maintenance & inspection contracts

Recurring revenue + mesh reliability. Pitch after every Package B/C/D install.

| Plan | What's included | Price (planning) |
|------|-----------------|------------------|
| **Annual check** | Visual mount, torque check, clean solar panel, verify mesh hearable, firmware spot-check | **$125–175/visit** |
| **Seasonal (2×/yr)** | Pre-winter + spring; battery swap on P1 (non-Pro) if customer supplies cells | **$199–249/yr** |
| **Priority storm response** | Best-effort re-alignment after wind event | **$89/yr add-on** + hourly if major |

**Who performs what:**

- Construction partner: physical mount, weatherproofing, panel cleaning
- Tech partner: firmware, MQTT, config verification (may be remote)

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## Bonding, insurance, and permits

### Why bonding matters here

Customers hiring pole/roof work expect **licensed and bonded** contractors. Your partner’s construction license is a **trust signal** and may be required for certain commercial or borough work.

**Action items before first paid install:**

- [ ] Confirm license classes cover residential roof attachments and small structure mounts
- [ ] General liability insurance (both partners—tech on-site for config counts)
- [ ] Written contract template: scope, price, access, weather delays, warranty
- [ ] Waiver for RF equipment damage during acts of God (storm, tree fall)

### Permits (Ketchikan / SE Alaska)

| Work type | Permit likely? |
|-----------|----------------|
| Non-penetrating roof mount, small antenna | Often no—but verify borough |
| New pole embedded in ground | Sometimes yes |
| Commercial waterfront / harbor structures | Often yes + harbor master |
| Tree mount on USFS/State land | Special use—usually **no** without authorization |

**Policy:** Quote includes “permits by owner unless included.” If permit needed, add **admin fee $75–150** + pass-through costs.

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## Safety & quality standards

Non-negotiable practices for brand reputation:

1. **Fall protection** on roofs and ladders
2. **Stainless or coated hardware** in marine environment
3. **Drip loops** on all outdoor cable entries
4. **No penetrating roof** without flashing and sealant protocol
5. **Documented photos** before/after for every job (internal + customer packet)
6. **Grounding discussion** with customer—even if they decline optional arrestor, note in writing

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## Job workflow

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  inquiry[Customer inquiry] --> consult[Joint phone consult]
  consult --> survey[Site survey optional]
  survey --> quote[Written quote]
  quote --> schedule[Schedule install]
  schedule --> install[Construction install]
  install --> config[Tech config + MQTT]
  config --> manual[Deliver customer manual]
  manual --> followup[30-day follow-up]
  followup --> maintain[Offer maintenance plan]
```

### Quote template (sections)

1. Customer & site address
2. Goal (coverage direction, repeater vs gateway)
3. Hardware list (device, antenna, mount kit)
4. Labor package (A/B/C/D)
5. Exclusions (interior network wiring, permits, lift rental)
6. Timeline & weather contingency
7. Warranty: 90-day workmanship; manufacturer device warranty pass-through
8. Payment terms: 50% deposit on orders >$500, balance on completion

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## Division of labor & revenue split (placeholder)

Partners should formalize in operating agreement. Example split for planning discussions:

| Job component | Typical split idea |
|---------------|-------------------|
| Device sale margin | Shared or tech-heavy |
| Install labor | Construction-heavy (70–80%) |
| Config / MQTT | Tech-heavy (70–80%) |
| Maintenance visit | Split by task hours |

*Not legal advice—document actual split with accountant.*

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## Upsell opportunities on every install

- Antenna upgrade (+$30–50 margin)
- MQTT gateway config on customer Wi-Fi (+$125 setup)
- Second node for mobile family member (+device sale)
- Private channel for household (+$50)
- ATAK/iTAK workshop for SAR/hunting group (+$150–300 event)

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## Issues specific to SE Alaska installs

| Challenge | Mitigation |
|-----------|------------|
| Salt corrosion | Stainless, dielectric grease on RF connections, annual check plan |
| Wind / storms | Lower profile mounts, guy wires on tall masts, storm response add-on |
| Low winter sun | Solar repeater placement: maximize winter sun angle; set expectations on P1 battery-only winter nights |
| Dense forest | Height matters more than antenna gain alone—sell Package C when justified |
| Bear/wildlife at remote sites | Secure enclosures; no food storage near install |

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*Related: device pricing `01-product-pricing-catalog.md` · Financial impact `07-financial-projections.md` · Risks `08-risks-and-challenges.md`*