Hardware

15
Aug
M5Stack Cardputer with LoRa and GNSS radio module clipped onto the top edge, showing the full QWERTY keyboard and screen

M5Stack Cardputer Review: A Meshtastic Node Owner's Take

The Cardputer's pocketable form factor is a real strength, but the add-on LoRa module, poor charging documentation, and 6 to 8 hour battery life hold it back.
3 min read
30
Jul
Polar diagram comparing vertical radiation patterns of quarter-wave, half-wave, and 0.625-wavelength monopole antennas, showing longer elements flattening toward the horizon.

Antenna Gain vs. Takeoff Angle: Why Bigger Isn't Always Better in NEPA's Hills

A 9 dBi collinear sounds like a straight upgrade over a 2 dBi dipole, but in NEPAMesh's ridge-and-valley terrain it can make your node hear less, not more. Takeoff angle decides which antenna actually helps.
4 min read
25
Jul
Assortment of battery types on a workbench: lead-acid 12V 18Ah, 12V 7Ah, 18650 lithium cells, LiPo packs, and a small 3.7V LiPo

How Long Will Your Meshtastic Node Last on Battery?

The biggest factor in Meshtastic battery life isn't your battery size. It's your chip platform. Here's what the numbers actually look like.
4 min read
28
Jun
A hiker with a daypack walks down a forested trail.

The Go-Bag Meshtastic Node: Field-Ready, Low-Power, One Weekend Build

A Meshtastic node doesn’t have to sit on a shelf. Here’s how to pick hardware that survives a pack, configure it for battery life, recharge it from the sun, and put a real antenna on it when you need range.
6 min read
21
May
8x32 WS2812B LED matrix scrolling NEPAMesh messages in green

I Built a Glowing Sign That Scrolls the Mesh (Because I Had the Parts and a Free Saturday)

Boredom, spare parts, and the NEPAMesh MQTT broker. The result scrolls every mesh message across 256 WS2812B LEDs in real time. 3D printed case, open source firmware, full build guide on GitHub.
6 min read
20
May
Solar-powered Meshtastic node installed on a rooftop, running indefinitely off a small panel and battery

The Solar Node Build: Permanent, Off-Grid, and Surprisingly Boring to Maintain

Last January, a WisBlock-based node on our network went dark for about two weeks. Not because it failed, because
10 min read
17
May
Meshtastic node being assembled in a weatherproof enclosure for outdoor deployment

Putting a Node Outside: Enclosures, Weatherproofing, and Not Destroying Your Hardware

So you built an antenna. Now you need to put it somewhere useful, which means outside, which means the elements
15 min read
16
May
NanoVNA pocket-sized vector network analyzer

Testing Your Antenna with a NanoVNA: What the Numbers Mean and What to Do About Them

How to calibrate a NanoVNA, connect your 915 MHz antenna, and read what the SWR graph is telling you. Covers homebrew and purchased antennas, what good looks like, and what to do when it isn't.
5 min read
15
May
NanoVNA handheld vector network analyzer, the essential RF test tool for Meshtastic antenna builders

RF Test Equipment for the Meshtastic Builder: What's Worth It and What to Do With It

NanoVNA, SA6 spectrum analyzer, TinySA Ultra, RTL-SDR, and a dummy load. What each instrument is for, what to watch out for, and how to use them on a Meshtastic build. Contributed by Storm017.
5 min read
12
May
Meshtastic node based on the FakeTec board with OLED display, one of many hardware options for joining the mesh

Meshtastic Hardware Buyer's Guide: What to Buy, What to Skip, and Why It Depends

The question gets asked in the Discord at least twice a week: "What board should I get?" The
11 min read