Trial Run: 9 Quarter Circle Ranch
Introduction
This summer, a coding project grew into an idea, and that idea became a reality. Jackalope Technologies was born and took its first steps at 9 Quarter Circle Ranch with a minimum viable product (MVP) trial run. This page is dedicated to that trial, showcasing the work completed and the vision ahead. We are deeply grateful to 9 Quarter Circle for the opportunity, and we look forward to building this idea into something even greater.
Early Analysis & Installation
Our job at 9 Quarter Circle Ranch began before we even arrived on site. The weeks leading up to installation were spent researching the property and configuring client nodes for individual staff. We arrived at the ranch on a Monday morning to meet with the owner and discuss our plan for the week. After that, we quickly placed two repeaters in the closest spots we had identified as optimal for coverage. One went up on a small mountain overlooking the ranch itself, while the second went up a few miles up the hill behind the ranch. This would immediately provide us with solid local coverage and allow us to start testing and distributing client nodes. Once this initial installation was complete, we met more staff including the wrangler crew, the primary personnel for the client nodes. After lunch with the staff, we distributed a few nodes and issued a brief training on how the system works. Our product was met with excitement and curiosity, with some wranglers even enquiring about investment opportunities. Although it may be a bit early for that, the buzz of positive energy was an encouraging start to what would be an extremely productive week.
Full installation & field testing
After this first day was complete, the system was live and we were getting a better understanding of the property as well as the needs of our clients. This meant that we could actively gather feedback from wranglers and other staff, while continuing to expand the network by installing more repeaters. For our third repeater, we decided to climb one of the taller mountains across the valley. The location we had in mind would complete a solid triangle of repeaters, covering the vast majority of the ranch property. This spot in particular required an overnight camping excursion, in which we hiked several miles off trail to reach the peak and position our repeater in the most optimal spot. Along this trek, we were able to test our product first hand as hikers deep in the woods with no connection to the outside world behind. Using Jackalope however, we were able to communicate with the ranch owner in places that previously were not possible. Had we faced an emergency or gotten lost, we could easily send out messages across the mesh or, if in serious danger, our GPS location would have lead responders right to us. Following this, two more repeaters were installed on the property to round out the network and ensure that every bit of land was covered.
Further documentation & notes
Once all the repeaters were installed, 9 Quarter Circle Ranch was fully connected by the mesh. Anyone carrying a client is now able to message both group & direct channels from anywhere on the property, while the owner can monitor live GPS tracking of all his riders. The previous limits of communication around cell service, radio range, and walkie-talkie line of sight are no longer relevant at 9 Quarter Circle. Below you can see a basic mapping of our five router placements, strategically mapped out to cover everything both high and low on the ranch. This simple network of small solar powered boxes are all it takes to provide connection across over 1,000 acres of the ranches land and beyond. Also featured below are some testimonials as well as a quick video briefly showcasing our journey through this trial. We hope that these visuals enhance understanding of our product and open up a transparent view into our process thus far.
Seeing our MVP have such a big impact right away inspires and excites us for what’s to come with Jackalope. Push to talk, custom features, and our own app are all on the horizon for the future. We are very grateful for the opportunity they gave us to come and test out our idea, providing us with priceless feedback and testing. During our time there, we were able to gain incredible experience that will help us optimize our product, operations, and overall strategy going forward. As we approach 2026, we can confidently start to build our business off of this trial, knowing that it has the full potential to take that leap.
Stay tuned
As 2026 approaches, we are committed to our app and business development to take those next steps towards growing this project. We look forward to building this service without shortcuts, determined to craft something perfectly tailored to the specific needs of our customers.