Comms Nerve ← Map of areas

Host a WindBorne Comms Nerve

A Comms Nerve is a small, solar-powered ground station that receives weather data from our balloons as they pass overhead. It runs on its own over cellular, with no WiFi or internet connection needed.

Tell us about the spot you have in mind.

About 5 minutesPhotos or video welcomeSetup takes about an hour

01About you

02Where is the site?

Type an address or coordinates and press Enter to find it on the map, or drop a pin yourself.

Click the map to drop a pin.

Where we should mail the unit and mounting hardware.

Good: unit zip-tied upright with the antenna fully above the pole. Bad: unit tilted, or mounted too low on the pole.

How it gets mounted

  • It zip-ties to the top of a fence post, pole or mast. We send the hardware.
  • The whole unit has to stand straight up, above the top of the pole. Not tilted, not mounted low.
  • A small solar panel zip-ties to the pole just below it, so it needs no power outlet or internet.

03How open is the horizon?

Stand where the station would go and turn all the way around. How much of the horizon can you see without trees, hills or buildings in the way?

04Is there cell service?

Enough signal at the site to make a phone call. The unit sends its data over cellular.

05How many homes are nearby?

The station listens on the same frequency as WiFi, so fewer homes means better range. Ideally fewer than 10 within a few hundred metres.

06360° video or photos Optional

Not required, but if you can get a photo or video it would be great. It helps us judge the site much faster. The best option is a slow 360° video filmed from where the station would be mounted; photos facing north, east, south and west also work.

  • Turn slowly, about 20–30 seconds for a full circle
  • Hold the phone at mount height and level with the horizon
  • Film in daylight
  • Photos: one in each direction, plus the mount point
Drop videos or photos here
or click to choose. Large videos are fine.

07Anything else?