Portable Power
Battery banks, solar panels, and power stations that keep radios, mesh nodes, and phones running when the grid is down.
Portable Battery Banks
Hours to days of radio and phone power. No fuel required.
Lithium-ion battery banks are the simplest tier of backup power. A 20,000 mAh / 74 Wh bank gives roughly 10–15 hours of mixed radio use (receiving + periodic transmit). High-wattage options (Anker 737, 140W output) can power laptops and small mesh nodes. Test annually — lithium cells lose 20–30% capacity after 300–500 cycles.
Portable Solar Panels
Indefinite power in good weather. No fuel supply chain.
A 20W foldable panel in full sun produces roughly 20 Wh/hr. A handheld radio draws ~2W average (20% TX at 10W, 80% RX at 0.5W) — meaning a 20W panel is net-positive in good sun. Pair with a battery bank or LiFePO4 station for overnight operation. BigBlue 28W (~$50) is a reliable foldable entry point.
Portable Power Stations
Large-capacity AC and DC power. No fuel, no fumes.
LiFePO4-based stations (EcoFlow, Jackery, Bluetti) provide clean AC power without fuel or exhaust — safe indoors. A 1 kWh unit running a 65W Starlink dish lasts ~15 hours. Pair with 100–200W solar for extended autonomous operation. Unlike generators, they require no maintenance and start silently.