meshtastic site planner announcement - revised version. (#1667)

* added revised site planner announcement blog post and corrected screenshot images

Checked spelling, grammar in the .mdx blog post and removed repeated language.

Cropped screenshots and changed them so they now reflect the openstreetmap background instead of  the dark mode, which was removed.

* Create index.mdx

* Update meshtastic-site-planner-introduction.mdx

update PR to include author file, change author name

* Update authors.yml

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* Update authors.yml

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---------

Co-authored-by: rcarteraz <robert.l.carter2@gmail.com>

blog/2025/January/meshtastic-site-planner-introduction.mdx

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+---
+title: "Meshtastic Site Planner, an Open Source Tool to Optimize Your Mesh Deployments"
+description: "Learn to use the new Meshtastic Site Planner, a free and open-source utility that lets you run advanced physics models to quickly plan the best placements for your Meshtastic nodes."
+slug: meshtastic-site-planner-introduction
+authors: Starwatcher
+tags: ["meshtastic", "site planner", "deployments"]
+date: 2025-01-17T12:00
+hide_table_of_contents: false
+image: "/img/blog/meshplanner-demo.png"
+---
+
+A well-placed Meshtastic device can have incredible range, but planning the best deployment often requires software which is proprietary, expensive, and difficult to use. The Meshtastic Site Planner is a new, open-source tool that allows you to easily run accurate predictions of your device range in different locations. This tool builds on sophisticated and proven radio propagation models and creates a modern, intuitive application that everyone can freely use.
+
+{/* truncate */}
+
+## Predicting Range ⛰️📡 
+
+### Terrain and Why It Matters
+
+Terrain is the number one limitation for Meshtastic signals. Whether you're trying to chat with friends, plan radio deployments for disaster recovery, or even break records set from the edge of space ([range tests](https://meshtastic.org/docs/overview/range-tests/)), the terrain is ultimately the upper limit on range. The best way to increase it is to move your antenna higher, which can mean using the local terrain or placing nodes on towers. Some of the most impressive mesh networks use both approaches to transmit over long distances, but predicting the expected coverage can still be challenging. 
+
+The key is having software that knows the elevation of the terrain around your location and can also simulate effects like signal attenuation through air and scattering by obstacles. Before now, these calculations relied on hard to use software. The terrain datasets were also massive (terabytes of images) and not simple to interpret.
+
+The Meshtastic Site Planner solves these problems by building on SPLAT!, a program written by amateur radio operator John Magliacane (KD2BD). Terrain data is automatically streamed as needed, so you don't need to find and store datasets on your computer. The models, optional settings, and data processing are handled behind a modern web UI that produces beautiful simulation maps showing where your signals can be received. 
+
+### Radio Waves and Obstacles
+
+Besides terrain, obstructions like buildings, trees, and even weather can block or weaken radio signals. These obstacles scatter and absorb energy, reducing the strength of the signal before it reaches your receiver. How can you ensure your signal gets through without needing detailed maps of every obstacle? 
+
+Fortunately, the Site Planner solves this by allowing you to input the average height of obstructions (called "clutter"). These models use decades of research to forecast how far reliable signals can travel based on environmental conditions. By selecting a reliability threshold (e.g., 90 percent), you can ensure your node has a high likelihood of covering the predicted range.
+
+This approach is widely used in professional radio planning for cell towers, broadcast systems, and microwave internet links. The Meshtastic Site Planner brings this capability to your mesh network. Simply enter the average height of obstacles in your area—such as 10 meters for an urban environment—and the software handles the rest.
+
+By accounting for obstacles, the Site Planner creates realistic coverage maps, helping you optimize placement and ensure consistent connectivity in challenging environments.
+
+### Antennas and Sensitivity
+
+Terrain and obstacles aren't the only factors that limit range—signal strength also fades with distance. Once it becomes too faint, the receiver can't decode it. The Meshtastic Site Planner accounts for these limits, allowing you to create maps tailored to your hardware and channel.
+
+- **Receiver Sensitivity**: Simulate based on your radio’s threshold for decoding weak signals.
+- **Antenna Gain**: Adjust for different antenna types to see how they affect coverage and range.
+- **Cable Loss**: Account for real-world inefficiencies like signal loss in cables and connectors.
+
+By customizing these parameters, the Site Planner produces accurate, realistic predictions for your specific setup, whether it's a handheld node or a high-power base station.
+
+## Using the Link Planner
+
+The Meshtastic Site Planner is designed for simplicity, making it accessible even if you're not a radio engineer or amateur radio operator. The default settings were carefully chosen to provide accurate predictions for your Meshtastic network right out of the box.
+
+### Getting Started
+
+Using the Meshtastic Site Planner is as easy as:
+1. **Clicking on the Map**: Choose the location of your transmitter by simply clicking on the map.
+2. **Setting Key Parameters**: Enter your antenna height, select the appropriate frequency for your region (see the list here: [Meshtastic Radio Settings](https://meshtastic.org/docs/overview/radio-settings/)), and adjust any other settings if needed.
+3. **Running the Simulation**: Hit "Run Simulation," and within seconds, you'll see a color-coded map showing the predicted signal strength over distance.
+
+### Visualizing Coverage
+
+The output map uses colors to indicate signal strength, helping you quickly identify areas with strong or weak coverage. You can fine-tune the simulation by adjusting parameters like transmitter power, antenna gain, and clutter height to reflect your actual deployment conditions.
+
+### Simulating Multiple Radios
+
+One of the powerful new features of the Site Planner is the ability to add multiple radios to your simulation. This allows you to model overlapping coverage areas for larger networks. For example, you can simulate how two Meshtastic radios placed strategically in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, can cover the northern half of the city. By combining their coverage areas, you can ensure seamless connectivity for your mesh network.
+
+![Two node mesh covering Calgary, Alberta](/img/blog/siteplanner_two_sites.png)
+
+
+### Tailored to Your Needs
+
+Whether you're planning a small, localized deployment or a larger network spanning multiple locations, the Meshtastic Link Planner adapts to your requirements. Adjust settings, test configurations, and visualize the results—all with a few clicks.
+
+With the Site Planner, optimizing your mesh network has never been easier.
+
+
+## Contributions Welcome
+
+Future releases will include point-to-point link quality estimates, terrain visualization, and presets tailored to specific meshtastic devices. We're actively looking for contributors to help get these implemented, so feel free to send a pull request!

blog/authors.yml

@@ -34,3 +34,10 @@ MeshtasticSolutions:
   name: Meshtastic Solutions
   url: https://meshtastic.com
   image_url: https://github.com/meshtastic-solutions.png
+Starwatcher:
+  name: Matthew Patrick
+  title: "Data Scientist"
+  url: https://github.com/mrpatrick1991
+  socials:
+    linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-patrick-97996528a/
+    github: mrpatrick1991

docs/software/site-planner/index.mdx

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+---
+id: siteplanner
+title: Meshtastic Site Planner
+sidebar_label: Meshtastic Site Planner
+sidebar_position: 5
+description: Overview of Meshtasticator Site Planner - for making predictions of radio range which account for physics and terrain
+---
+
+The Meshtastic Site Planner is a open-source web utility for predicting node range and coverage. It can be found on site.meshtastic.org, and the source code is maintained at https://github.com/meshtastic/meshtastic-site-planner.
+
+
+## Getting Started
+
+1. Go to the [official version](https://site.meshtastic.org) or run a development copy and open the tool in a web browser. 
+2. In `Site Parameters > Site / Transmitter`, enter a name for the site, the geographic coordinates, and the antenna height above ground. Refer to the Meshtastic regional parameters (https://meshtastic.org/docs/configuration/region-by-country/) and input the transmit power, frequency, and antenna gain for your device. 
+3. In `Site Parameters > Receiver`, enter the receiver sensitivity (`-130 dBm` for the default `LongFast` channel), the receiver height, and the receiver antenna gain.
+4. In `Site Parameters > Receiver`, enter the maximum range for the simulation in kilometers. Selecting long ranges (> 50 kilometers) will result in longer computation times.
+5. Press "Run Simulation." The coverage map will be displayed when the calculation completes. 
+
+Multiple radio sites can be added to the simulation by repeating these steps. The other adjustable parameters default to sensible choices for meshtastic radios, but you can change them if your project uses different hardware. 
+
+## Understanding Results
+
+The Meshtastic Site Planner creates a color-coded map of where your radio signal will reach, given the terrian and simulation parameters. The expected signal strength (RSSI) can be read from the colorbar. Regions with a strong signal (predicted RSSI > -110 dBm) have a stronger chance of sucessfully receiving and sending signals. In areas with a low RSSI (< 125 dBm), obstacles may limit communication reliability. You can adjust the signal cutoff threshold under `Receiver > Sensitivity Limit`. Minimum signal thresholds depend on the radio chipset and presets, and are approximately as follows:
+
+| **Preset**       | **Bandwidth (kHz)** | **Spreading Factor (SF)** | **Coding Rate** | **Sensitivity (dBm)** |
+|-------------------|---------------------|---------------------------|-----------------|-----------------------|
+| **ShortTurbo**    | 500                | 7                         | 4/5             | -117                  |
+| **ShortFast**     | 250                | 7                         | 4/5             | -121                  |
+| **ShortSlow**     | 250                | 8                         | 4/5             | -124                  |
+| **MediumFast**    | 250                | 9                         | 4/5             | -127                  |
+| **MediumSlow**    | 250                | 10                        | 4/5             | -130                  |
+| **LongFast**      | 125                | 11                        | 4/5             | -133                  |
+| **LongModerate**  | 125                | 11                        | 4/8             | -136                  |
+| **LongSlow**      | 125                | 12                        | 4/8             | -137                  |
+| **VeryLongSlow**  | 62.5               | 12                        | 4/8             | -141                  |
+
+
+## Limitations
+
+The Site Planner uses terrain data from the NASA SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography) mission. This elevation dataset is accurate to around 90 meters, and does not account for obstructions such as buildings or trees. You can estimate the effect of random obstructions by entering their average height in `Environment > Clutter Height`. It is a good idea to always verify predictions from this tool using real-world testing. 
+
+
+
+