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Mesh Device Options (node hardware)

[last updated: 2026-10-17]
MeshCore
MeshTastic
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WARNING: DO NOT power the node without an ANTENNA attached !


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  • NOTE: In general nodes listed here can be used for EITHER Meshtastic or MeshCore.

  • Recall that a node is composed of a LoRa radio module and a microcontroller.
    So alternative hardware options means using different models of LoRa radios, and/or different microcontrollers.
    These things are almost always packaged/bundled into a single unit, so eg. when you buy a Heltec V3,
    you're getting a radio and a MCU in a single package.
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  • Radio options:
    • Heltec:
      • Heltec is a node that contains an ESP32 as its MCU
      • V1:
        My first node, JR01 (see my nodes page) is a Heltec V1
      • V3:
        I have two V3 nodes, JR02 and JR04 (see my nodes page)
      • V4:
        These have recently (2025) become available.
    • Meshnology:
      About $65 for two on Amazon
      Can be used for either Meshtastic or MeshCore
    • wisblock / RAK:
      • Cores:
          wisblock core MCU# and their respective MCU's:
          RAK4631: Uses the Nordic nRF52840 (ARM Cortex-M4F) for LoRa and Bluetooth.
          RAK4631-R: Uses RUI V3 (Rust/C APIs/AT Commands), offering more optimized firmware development.
          RAK11200: Uses the Espressif ESP32-WROVER for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
          RAK11310: Uses the Raspberry Pi RP2040 for LoRa.
          RAK3312: Uses the Espressif ESP32-S3 for LoRa, BLE, and Wi-Fi.
          RAK11162: Uses the STM32WLE5 for integrated LoRaWAN, often paired with an ESP32 for BLE/Wi-Fi.
      • Base modules:
          RAK19003 (Mini): Compact, 2 sensor slots, standard power options (USB, LiPo, Solar), good for basic projects.
          RAK19007 (2nd Gen): Larger, 2 IO + 6 Sensor slots, supports OLED screens, USB-C, better power management (charge controller), more versatile.
          RAK5005-O: Older version of the RAK19007, supports USB/LiPo/Solar power, has an e-switch.
      • Sensor/IO Modules (Add-ons):
          RAK12500 vs RAK12501 (GNSS): RAK12500 is versatile (I2C/UART, faster updates), RAK12501 is simpler (UART only, power-efficient sleep).
          RAK13002: Adds general purpose I/O to baseboards.
          RAK12005 (Rain), RAK12006 (PIR), RAK12007 (Ultrasonic): Specific sensor functionalities.
    • "native linux" options:
      rPi/pico

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  • MCU Options:

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