Haven Readiness Checklist

Before you buy parts or start the Haven build, use this checklist to make sure the project fits your region, skill level, budget, and use case.

Haven is for builders who want to run their own private mesh network using Wi-Fi HaLow, open-source software, and hardware they control. It is not a sealed consumer gadget. You should expect a real build, real configuration, and a little troubleshooting.

1. Confirm Your Region

Haven uses Wi-Fi HaLow, also known as 802.11ah. In the United States, this runs around 900 MHz in license-exempt spectrum. Other countries may use different frequency rules.

Before buying hardware, confirm:

  • Wi-Fi HaLow devices are legal in your country or region.
  • The radio module you buy matches your local regulatory band.
  • Your antenna and transmit-power settings stay within your local limits.

If you are outside the United States, do not assume U.S. 900 MHz hardware is legal where you live.

2. Understand the Minimum Useful Build

One Haven node is useful for setup and learning, but the real point is linking multiple places together.

For a practical test, plan on at least two compatible nodes or HaLow devices:

  • One node at the base location.
  • One node at the remote location.
  • Local devices, such as phones or laptops, connect to the node over normal Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
  • The HaLow radio handles the long-distance link between nodes.

If you want an inexpensive entry point before building a full Haven node, you can start with simpler Wi-Fi HaLow devices and use them to learn the basics of sub-GHz links. Good starter options include the GL.iNet HaLowLink 2 and the Heltec HT-HD01. These are useful for learning how HaLow behaves, testing house-to-shed or gate links, and understanding antennas before you build a more extensible Haven node.

Examples:

  • House to shed
  • Farmhouse to gate
  • Barn to camera
  • Vehicle to base station
  • Neighbor to neighbor
  • Temporary field relay

3. Know What You Are Building

Haven is a field node, not just a fixed HaLow bridge. Off-the-shelf Wi-Fi HaLow devices are great for simple point-to-point links, but most are built like normal routers: limited compute, limited memory, fixed I/O, fixed firmware expectations, and wired power.

Haven is different because it is built around a more extensible compute platform. Depending on the version and configuration, it can combine:

  • Raspberry Pi compute
  • More CPU and RAM than many small fixed-purpose HaLow routers
  • Wi-Fi HaLow long-haul radio
  • Standard Wi-Fi or Ethernet for local devices
  • OpenWrt/Linux networking
  • Mesh options such as 802.11s or batman-adv
  • Portable 21700 battery power
  • Optional sensors, GPS, SDRs, or other peripherals
  • USB expansion for additional radios, storage, or field hardware
  • A software surface you can SSH into, inspect, modify, and extend

The basic idea is simple: your normal devices connect locally, and Haven handles the longer-range network link. The difference is that Haven can also become the computer at the remote place, not just the pipe to reach it.

One other note: Haven is not built around a single mystery black-box vendor. Several of the core pieces come from English-speaking hardware and software ecosystems, including Raspberry Pi and Morse Micro. Not every accessory or commodity part will come from those countries, but the center of the build is more inspectable, documented, and builder-friendly than a sealed router with an unknown firmware stack.

4. Check Your Skill Comfort

You do not need to be a professional network engineer, but you should be willing to follow technical steps carefully.

  • You should be comfortable with, or willing to learn:
  • Flashing an image to a microSD card or drive.
  • Logging into a device over SSH.
  • Opening a web admin interface such as LuCI.
  • Changing Wi-Fi settings.
  • Reading an IP address.
  • Following a parts list exactly before customizing.
  • Troubleshooting one step at a time.

If those sound intimidating, start with the known-good parts list and avoid changing hardware until your first link works.

5. Budget for the Whole Node

Do not budget only for the guide or only for one radio module. A complete Haven build can include compute, radio, antennas, power, storage, cables, and an enclosure.

  • Before starting, make sure you are budgeting for:
  • Raspberry Pi or supported compute board
  • Wi-Fi HaLow module
  • Antennas
  • Battery HAT or other power supply
  • 21700 cells if building portable
  • Storage
  • Cables and adapters
  • Case or enclosure
  • Optional mounting hardware

The exact cost depends on your version, region, and parts availability.

6. Choose the Right Power Setup

Most Wi-Fi HaLow devices are built like fixed routers. They work well, but they usually expect wired power from a wall adapter, PoE, or USB-C supply.

Haven is designed to support portable builds using removable 21700 lithium-ion cells. You do not need a separate battery charger or battery expertise: plug power into the Waveshare battery HAT and it charges the cells for you.

Power notes:

  • Haven 1 can use either the 2-cell or 4-cell Waveshare 21700 HAT.
  • Haven 2 should use the 4-cell Waveshare 21700 HAT for the higher power draw.
  • A 2-cell build is lighter.
  • A 4-cell build gives more runtime and headroom.

7. Pick Your First Use Case

Do not try to build every possible Haven feature on day one. Pick one clear first mission.

Good first missions:

  • Get two nodes to see each other on the bench.
  • Move internet from one building to another.
  • Connect a camera at a gate or shed.
  • Create a portable field relay.
  • Test range across a known route.
  • Build a private local network for phones or laptops.

Once the first link works, then experiment with antennas, mobility, mesh routing, battery runtime, and advanced services.

8. Understand What Haven Is Not

Haven is not Starlink, cellular service, or magic internet from nowhere. It creates and extends a local network using hardware you control.

If you want internet access at the far end of the link, one side still needs an upstream connection such as fiber, cable, Starlink, LTE/5G, or another internet source. Haven handles the local and long-haul network path between your nodes.

Think of Haven as the network layer you own:

  • It can move IP traffic between places.
  • It can create a private local network for your devices.
  • It can support mesh experiments, field relays, and off-grid services.
  • It does not create internet access unless you feed internet into the network somewhere.

9. Know What Affects Range

Range is not a single fixed number. RF performance depends on the environment and setup.

The biggest factors are:

  • Antenna height
  • Antenna type and gain
  • Line of sight
  • Trees, walls, brush, and terrain
  • Channel width
  • Transmit power and regulatory limits
  • Mounting location
  • Cable losses
  • Local noise and interference

If two people build the same node but deploy it in different terrain, they may get very different results. Start with a short controlled test, prove the link, then increase distance one variable at a time.

10. Use Batteries Safely

If you build a portable Haven, use quality 21700 lithium-ion cells from a reputable source. Do not use damaged cells, unknown cells, or a random mix of old and new batteries.

Basic battery rules:

  • Use matched cells when possible.
  • Do not use dented, torn, swollen, or damaged cells.
  • Do not short the cells.
  • Follow the Waveshare battery HAT documentation.
  • Charge on a safe surface.
  • Stop using the pack if anything gets unusually hot.

The battery HAT makes charging simple, but the cells still deserve respect.

11. Define Your First Success

For a first Haven build, do not measure success by maximum range. Measure success by a clean, repeatable baseline.

Your first success milestone:

  • Both nodes boot.
  • Both HaLow radios are visible.
  • Each node has the expected network interfaces.
  • One device can reach the other node.
  • A simple ping, web UI, or local service test works.
  • You can reproduce the link after rebooting.

Once that works, then start testing distance, antennas, mesh modes, battery runtime, and field deployment.

12. Start With Known-Good Parts

The fastest way to get stuck is to customize the build before you have a working baseline.

For your first Haven build:

  • Use the recommended parts list.
  • Use the recommended radio module.
  • Use the recommended power setup.
  • Use known-good antennas.
  • Keep the first test short-range and simple.
  • Change one variable at a time.

After your first successful link, customization gets much easier.

13. Expect a Real Build

Haven is built for people who want ownership, flexibility, and control. That comes with more responsibility than buying a sealed black-box router.

Expect:

  • Some configuration.
  • Some command-line work.
  • Some RF trial and error.
  • Antenna placement to matter.
  • Terrain and obstructions to matter.
  • Power and enclosure choices to matter.

That is also the point. You are not just buying a router. You are learning how to run your own network layer.

14. Which Path Fits You?

Beginner

Use the known-good parts list. Build the simplest version first. Your goal is one successful link, not every feature.

Builder

After the first link works, start experimenting with antennas, mounting, battery runtime, and deployment locations.

Advanced

Explore 802.11s, batman-adv, custom OpenWrt configuration, multicast forwarding, ATAK/Cursor-on-Target workflows, Reticulum, field relays, mobile nodes, and multi-hop network design.

Quick Decision

Haven is probably a good fit if:

  • You want to build and own your own network hardware.
  • You are comfortable following technical instructions.
  • You want long-range local networking without relying entirely on normal Wi-Fi.
  • You like open-source tools you can inspect, modify, and repair.
  • You are willing to troubleshoot carefully.

Haven is probably not a good fit yet if:

  • You want a one-click consumer product.
  • You do not want to buy and assemble hardware.
  • You are not willing to check regional radio rules.
  • You need guaranteed plug-and-play results in every environment.
  • You want someone else to manage the network for you.

If you are still in, start with the guide, follow the parts list, and build the first link before changing anything.

Ready to build? Start with the Haven guide: https://buildwithparallel.com/products/haven