@mpfundstein, it looks like you're using HopeRF transceiver-only modules, did I see that right? If so, what software are you using? Are you using the IBM LMIC stack, possibly the Arduino version ported by myself, Thomas and Popcorn? Or perhaps some other stack, or your own?
If you have any more info / designs on the Atmega-based board, I'd be happy to see them, since we were thinking about designing a board like that for our www.meetjestad.nl project as well.