LoRa (Meshtastic/Meshcore/APRS...) Resources for Ham Radio / Emergency Service (By VK3TWO)

Note the multiple tabs below

www.spooktech.net/ham-radio/lora

https://sites.google.com/view/vk3two/lora

Meshcore Australia (Resources section - Where latest spreadsheet lives)

Video comparing the technologies/modes.

Extensive Board Comparison Table Here (Outdated)

WARNING! - Do NOT connect power/USB to device unless an antenna is connected!!!!!!

If below links don't work, please disable any Browser/DNS/Firewall add-trackers etc.

MESHTASTIC or MESHCORE Hardware - 915Mhz (and LoRa APRS if it has a 433Mhz version)

For Solar/Battery powered Nodes nRF52840 based processors (Much lower power drain):

Low power consumption firmware for nRF (even lower than default)

(with low consumption nRF processor) - These are really good/reputable units! These are considered the "Go-To" companion node!

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7280772

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009580365375.html

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7280733

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009130689959.html

ThinkNode M1 Tracker (Companion)

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008707258616.html

Power Settings if your device can do above 22dBm

Seeed XIAO nRF52840 & Wio-SX1262

<$22ea + shipping (bulk option)

Seeed XIAO nRF52840 & Wio-SX1262 internal Bluetooth Ant. Note: No solar charging ckt. Need separate ckt (see further below)

Seeed XIAO nRF52840 & Wio-SX1262

Seeed XIAO nRF52840 & Wio-SX1262 internal Bluetooth Ant. Note: No solar charging ckt. Need separate ckt (see further below)

Seeed XIAO nRF52840 & Wio-SX1262

<$21ea + shipping (bulk option)

Seeed XIAO nRF52840 & Wio-SX1262 internal Bluetooth Ant. Note: No solar charging ckt. Need separate ckt (see further below)

Xiao C3 Feeder firmware

https://core-electronics.com.au/seeed-studio-xiao-nrf52840-and-sx1262-kit-for-meshtastic.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009210010654.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008708628792.html

https://ndoo.sg/projects:amateur_radio:meshtastic:components:gat562

Manufacturer's website

Has Solar panel input - Best for Solar node - for ~5v solar panel. Minimum input voltage to charge is 4.4v, maximum 5.5v (<6-6.5v).

https://www.digikey.com.au/en/products/detail/rakwireless-technology-limited/RAK4631-9-SM-MESH-STARTER/22536553

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001656418903.html

https://core-electronics.com.au/meshtastic-starter-kit-rak4631-wisblock-lora-antenna-offgrid-mesh-network-a.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006901039995.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008285698839.html

$52+ (Type 6) - Lots of info/options

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006901039995.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009121382721.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009828028772.html

https://store.rokland.com/products/lowmesh-pocket-s-portable-solar-node-compatible-withmeshtastic-915-mhz?_pos=1&_sid=e62ca1bc5&_ss=r&variant=42407375241299

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH_S5qqnqOU

https://store.rokland.com/products/lowmesh-pocket-m-portable-magnet-magsafe-connecting-meshtastic-node-us-915-mhz?_pos=2&_sid=3f9303200&_ss=r

Non-Solar/non-battery Powered (these units consume 4-5x more power than the nRF based nodes, so if running off solar, need larger solar panel and larger batteries)

Note: not really suitable for Solar/battery powerd nodes (See further below)

Using Telemetry Sensors on the V3

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007752194012.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007223737730.html

(check for specials, otherwise more expensive) - Note the internal antenna on these isn't as good as the full length spiral antenna

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008177147021.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010519538114.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006802372624.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007763201732.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006995974983.html

(ESP32 - WiFi or Bluetooth) - Will do up to 1W output (with a firmware hack - likely illegal output - ok if needing a longer coax run, or for a portable unit needing higher power)

RX -137dBm@SF12 BW=125KHz/28dBm TX(400/750mA)/1.25-2P Solar Input(4.7-6v)/1.25-2P Battery/1.25-8P GNSS/

Note: not really suitable for Solar/battery powerd nodes (See further below)

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010177636156.html

$25.59+(special) +post($7.49+)

V4 MQTT Packet Analyzer/EstMesh map direct via WiFi (Github - Thanks to xJARiD))

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010096152608.html

V4.3.1 updates/fixes scheduled….

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010168788998.html

$38+ (special) +post (with GPS)

Heltec's Firmware release for the v4.3

Heltec V4 Expansion Kit - 1W, GPS, 2800mAh, Accelerometer, Metal Case and Touch Screen - All In One.

Heltec Wireless Stick Lite

(ESP32 - can Manage over your WiFi network or Bluetooth)

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005443311259.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008447100070.html

(ESP32 - can Manage over your WiFi network or Bluetooth)

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005681504175.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007074175365.html

$13.09 + shipping (bulk option)

Seeed Xiao esp32 s3 and SX1262 repeater node. Use one of these and flash as a repeater with integrated WiFi packet sniffer/capture/feeder using xJARiD's firmware.

Mikrotik Scout Tracker

ThinkNode M1 Tracker (Companion)

ThinkNode M5 tracker (Companion)

ThinkNode M5 tracker (Companion)

T-Deck Launcher (Multi-Boot Loader)

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007568074083.html

Launcher WebFlasher

https://store.meshcore.co.uk/products/meshos-meshcore-t-deck-license

https://store.meshcore.co.uk/products/meshcore-t-deck-software-license

https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2024/realizing-meshtastics-promise-t-deck

You can see other Meshtastic supported hardware via the flashing tool (With images - https://flasher.meshtastic.org/)

https://lilygo.cc/products/t-deck-pro

https://github.com/pelgraine/Meck

RAK 1W Booster Starter kit

https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/Android-nRF-Connect