RAKwireless WisBlock Meshtastic Starter Kit US915 Base RAK19007 + Core RAK4631

Love this kit, just ordered another.

Excelente manejo de energía. Fácil configuración y actualización de firmware para Meshtastic

I’ve been really impressed with the RAKwireless WisBlock Meshtastic Starter Kit. Setup was straightforward - even if you’re new to mesh networking, you’ll be up and running quickly. The documentation is clear and the modular WisBlock system makes everything intuitive. What really stands out is the battery life. The energy efficiency is excellent compared to other devices I’ve tried. I’m getting days of use on a single charge with regular messaging, which makes it perfect for hiking trips or emergency preparedness. The US915 frequency works great for my area, and the range has exceeded my expectations. For anyone looking to get started with Meshtastic without a lot of hassle, this kit is a solid choice. Highly recommend!

The default Bluetooth pin is: 123456 This modular kit is a fantastic way to get started with Meshtastic! Excellent value and the performance is top-tier. Owing to the lack of a provided screen (available as an option), I would classify this kit as an just slightly above a basic level level since you have limited feedback. These RAK4631 devices are FAR superior to ESP32 based LORA systems from a power-use perspective. Just be aware that you will not be able to connect this via WiFi for network access - Bluetooth or LORA-LORA only. Since a mesh is not a mesh with a node count of only 1, I would HIGHLY recommend that you pair this purchase with either another RAK4631 kit or another offering, allowing you to understand some of the differences and benefits of this purchase, as well as growing your own mesh size. Be sure to update your firmware to get the benefit of all the development work being done!

Had the urge to do some DIY radio stuff and decided to check out Meshtastic. There are basically two controllers used for those devices, ESP32 and nrf52. This board uses nrf52. ESP32 is a bit of a power hog whereas the nrf52 is the complete opposite. Excellent for mobile use where power is a key factor. The RAK 19007 board acts as a motherboard for IoT devices and then you snap on modules to add the functionality you want for your project. This kit includes the 4630 (Bluetooth 5 and SX1262 LoRa radio) and 4631 (nrf52840 MCU) core module and then you can add others as needed in various positions that snap into place. Certain modules need to go in certain positions so be sure to consult the RAK Wireless site for details on the modules you're planning to use for compatibility with each other space-wise. For my project I chose the 12500 GNSS (GPS) receiver and will probably add a couple more. The modules usually run around $15-25 each so pretty cheap to tinker with. Setting up for Meshtastic was easy, just attach the antennas (DO THIS BEFORE POWERING ON!!! You can damage the transceiver if you do not attach the antennas prior to power on!!!), plug into your computer via USB-C, go to the Meshtastic Flash site pick the device, image version and COM port it's connected to and drop the file you download into the drive that appears, boom! It'll reboot and you're up and running! The great appeal of this kit is in the nrf52 very low power draw and customization you get with the modules. Also these include an on-board solar charge controller to charge a 3.7v LiPo battery from a solar panel! There are other base boards you can choose that take up less room or have more base features on them for expansion capabilities (Browse the RAK website for more details). These are priced a bit over what you can get them directly from China for but not really that much and you'll get them a LOT faster. Once you consider the time delay and shipping charges from China it's a fair trade I think provided they're available. I'd like to see the modules offered on Amazon as it's a pain tracking things down from various vendors. Hopefully more sellers will consider stocking the modules. If you have an IoT project you want to try out or want to try Meshtastic or other projects that support this board and use LoRa I'd recommend these, very happy with mine so far!

Works perfectly well, as expected. Used it to build my first solar node using one 18650 battery and a 3W solar panel. Haven't had any trouble with it at all. Wish price the was lower, though.