If my own gateway is off I am not able to join the network over another gateway So you’re not alone in this.
closests GW is 3 km from here and also not reachable when laying on my desk, ( when I move to the other side off the house and under certain weather conditions it will)
these are the available TTN sketches
After first boot go to sleep and then join the network only after shaking, I haven’t seen, but I think now, with the new CH2I lib, it could be done.
Maybe its time to revive TTN NODE central with coding tips and tricks ?