Off-Grid Mesh Networks
Meshtastic and Meshcore
Off-Grid Mesh Networks
Meshtastic and MeshCore are open-source, off-grid mesh networking systems designed to run on affordable, low-power LoRa radios. They allow users to exchange text messages, location information, and other small packets of data without relying on cell towers, cellular service, Wi-Fi, or the internet.
Although Meshtastic and MeshCore use much of the same radio hardware and operate on the same unlicensed radio frequencies, they are separate systems and do not communicate with one another. Many devices can be loaded with either Meshtastic or MeshCore firmware, but a device normally participates in only one of the two networks at a time.
Each radio on the network is called a node. Meshtastic and MeshCore differ somewhat in how their nodes relay messages. In Meshtastic, many ordinary user nodes can retransmit packets according to their configured role and hop limit. In MeshCore, a personal radio normally operates as a companion node, while dedicated repeaters are placed in strategic locations to forward traffic. In either system, adding properly configured nodes in good locations can increase the network’s range, improve coverage, and provide additional paths around obstructions or failed nodes.
Most people use an app on their phone to compose and read messages. The phone sends the message to a nearby node through Bluetooth, USB, or, on some hardware and firmware combinations, Wi-Fi. The node then transmits the message by LoRa radio across the mesh. At the receiving end, the message can be displayed on the node itself or passed to another user’s phone.
Messages can be sent directly to an individual or shared through channels with groups of users. Both systems support encrypted messaging. Internet-connected maps, gateways, and other services may provide useful additional features, but neither cellular service nor an internet connection is required for the basic radio network to operate.
You can get started with either Meshtastic or MeshCore for under $25. This has become something of a joke within our club: you can get started for $25, but you probably will not be finished.
Choosing a Device
Before purchasing a node, first determine whether the people and repeaters in your area are using Meshtastic, MeshCore, or both. The two systems are not compatible over the air, even when they are running on identical hardware.
Hardware support changes frequently, so check the official Meshtastic and MeshCore flashers before purchasing a device. Make certain that the exact model and hardware revision are supported by the system you intend to use. In the United States, you will normally want the 915 MHz version.
Some devices arrive with Meshtastic or MeshCore already installed, while others must be flashed with the appropriate firmware before they can be used.
There are many good devices available and many valid reasons to choose something other than the models listed below. These are simply devices that I have used or that have been recommended to me. Before you purchase a device, do your own research and be sure the hardware will support the software (firmware) you intend to use. There are also devices listed on the Meshcore site and the Meshtastic site.
Complete Portable Nodes
LILYGO T-Echo — My favorite portable node. It is a complete unit with a case, battery, display, and GPS. It has excellent battery life but does not support Wi-Fi. Depending on how it is sold, you may need to install the appropriate Meshtastic or MeshCore firmware.
Seeed Studio SenseCAP Card Tracker T1000-E — I have not used this model, but many users like it. It is approximately the size of a credit card, has a built-in battery and GPS, and can easily be carried in a pocket or attached to other equipment.
Seeed Studio Wio Tracker L1 Pro — I have not used this one, but it has been recommended to me. It is a complete portable node with a battery, GPS, display, controls, and an external antenna connection.
ThinkNode M1 — I have not used this device, but it has also been recommended to me. Be sure to purchase the 915 MHz version for use in the United States.
Portable or Home Nodes Requiring Some Assembly
Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3 with a case — A convenient and inexpensive node with an OLED display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a maximum LoRa transmit power of approximately 21 dBm, or about 125 milliwatts. An optional plastic case is available, although many cases do not have enough room for a battery. I use one in my house without a battery and leave it connected to USB power. The board includes Wi-Fi hardware, but whether Wi-Fi can be used to connect to the node depends on the firmware installed.
Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V4 - The newer and more powerful version of the V3. The high-power 915 MHz model can transmit at approximately 28 dBm, or about 630 milliwatts—roughly five times the RF power of the V3. It also has slightly better receiver sensitivity, more memory, an improved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antenna, a solar-panel input, and a connection for an optional GPS receiver. Higher transmit power can improve coverage, but it also consumes considerably more battery power while transmitting. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and the display also add to its power consumption, making it less suitable than an nRF52840-based node for small solar or long-duration battery installations. The Bluetooth antenna is incorporated into the display so you cannot attach and external Bluetooth antenna. The standard board does not include a complete case, although it has a protective frame around the display. Heltec also sells lower-power V4 variants, so someone purchasing one for the United States should verify that it is the 863–928 MHz high-power version, rather than assuming every V4 produces 28 dBm.
Devices with Larger Screens and Keyboards
Many nodes include small displays, but I find most of them too small to be useful for composing or reading messages. I normally do everything through an app on my phone.
For users who want a standalone device with a larger screen and keyboard, the LILYGO T-Deck family is one option. The T-Deck Plus includes a case, battery, GPS, touchscreen, and keyboard. Rokland also sells a package called the T-Deck Complete, which adds a larger battery and an external antenna connection.
Other standalone devices are becoming available, including the T-Deck Pro and T-Pager. Because support and available features differ between Meshtastic and MeshCore, check the appropriate firmware flasher and documentation before purchasing.
Complete or Nearly Complete Solar Nodes
These devices are suitable for installation outside in a high location. Always verify whether batteries, antennas, mounting hardware, and weatherproofing are included.
Seeed Studio SenseCAP Solar Node P1 or P1 Pro — I have not personally used one, but it has been recommended to me. Different packages may or may not include batteries, so check the product description carefully.
Solar node built around a Heltec LoRa 32 V4 — Several vendors sell solar packages containing a Heltec V4, GPS, batteries, and an enclosure. I have not used one, but the design looks promising. The exact contents and firmware support vary by seller. An ESP32-based Heltec generally consumes more power than an nRF52840-based node, so it may require a larger solar panel or more sunlight.
RAKwireless WisMesh Repeater Mini — This is a solid, ready-made package containing a solar panel, battery, radio, antenna, and weather-resistant enclosure. You may need to add a suitable pole or wall mount. It is commonly sold with Meshtastic firmware, so confirm whether the exact version can be reflashed if you intend to use it with MeshCore.
Boards for Building Your Own Node
RAKwireless WisBlock Starter Kit with RAK4631 — This is my favorite platform for building a solar-powered node. It has very low power consumption and is well suited to solar installations. It does not include Wi-Fi. You must add a battery, enclosure, antenna, solar panel, and any required mounting hardware.
Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V4 without a display - The Heltec V4 is also available without a display, which can be a good option for a remote repeater where a screen is not needed. These versions may cost less and can potentially use slightly less power. More importantly, the standard V4 incorporates its Bluetooth antenna into the display assembly. On the displayless version, an IPEX connector is provided instead, allowing you to attach an external Bluetooth antenna if your installation requires one.
Where to Purchase Equipment
I recommend Rokland.com as a source for much of this equipment. Their prices are reasonable, and I have found their technical support to be excellent. When comparing prices with other vendors, remember to consider shipping costs; Rokland currently offers free standard shipping on U.S. orders.
I also frequently purchase equipment from Amazon and AliExpress. A newer Atlanta company, Muzi Works, has some interesting products, although I have not personally purchased anything from them.
Height and Node Placement
These networks operate with relatively low radio power, so height is might. Antenna height and a clear path between nodes are often more important than transmitter power. Trees, hills, buildings, and terrain can substantially reduce range.
Many people, including me, use two nodes at home: one outside and as high as practical, and another inside where it can connect reliably to a phone through Bluetooth, USB, or Wi-Fi. On MeshCore, the high outdoor node would normally run repeater firmware, while the indoor node would be a companion. Meshtastic uses different node roles, so follow the configuration recommendations for your local Meshtastic network.
A good antenna can also make a major difference. Keep coaxial cable as short as practical because signal loss becomes significant at frequencies near 900 MHz.
Meshtastic and Meshcore Comparison
While Meshtastic and MeshCore both run on identical low-cost LoRa hardware (like Heltec V3 or LilyGO) and use the same unlicensed radio frequencies, they approach off-grid networking with differing philosophies.
The primary difference lies in their routing behavior: Meshtastic relies on an ad-hoc, decentralized "managed flood" system where almost every node relays messages, while MeshCore utilizes a strict, infrastructure-driven "routed" model where only dedicated repeaters handle the heavy lifting.
Many of the users in the Athens, GA area have been switching their nodes from Meshtastic to MeshCore. If your Meshtastic node has suddenly lost connection with the mesh, it might be time to explore MeshCore.
Key Differences
1. Network Philosophy & Scaling
Meshtastic: By default, when a user turns on a standard node, it acts as a client that automatically retransmits any message it hears. This makes it incredibly easy to "plug and play". However, in dense urban areas, hundreds of people flooding the airwaves with automated location data can cause the network to choke under its own weight.
MeshCore: Your personal handheld ("Companion" node) never repeats anyone else's packets. Only permanent, strategically placed, rooftop "Repeaters" or "Room Servers" handle traffic routing. This keeps the radio spectrum incredibly quiet and enables massive networks that span whole cities without crashing.
2. Hop Limits and Range
Meshtastic caps its relays at a default of 3 hops (maxing out at 7) to keep flooded loops from destroying the network. This means a message can only travel a few steps from its source.
MeshCore uses dynamic path discovery to route messages straight down a line of infrastructure. Because it is structured and efficient, it easily supports up to 64 hops, pushing text messages across immense, region-wide distances.
3. Battery Consumption
Because a Meshtastic node is constantly waking up to process, deduplicate, and rebroadcast neighbor traffic, it burns through power faster. [1]
A MeshCore companion node listens passively and only fires up its transmitter when you send a message, resulting in noticeably better battery life for handheld daily carry.
4. Message Delivery Receipts
Meshtastic utilizes an abstract cloud/checkmark system for delivery confirmation, which can sometimes be ambiguous over complex multi-hop grids.
MeshCore apps give meticulous feedback (showing exactly how many retries were attempted and absolute receipt confirmation). However, some aspects of MeshCore's mobile apps require a premium user license to unlock full functionality.
5. Software and Firmware Cost
Meshtastic: All firmware and apps are free.
MeshCore:
All radio firmware versions (e.g. for Heltec V3, RAK, T-1000E, etc.) are free.
The native Android and iOS client uses the freemium model. All features are available however, there is a 7-8 second delay logging into your repeaters unless you upgrade the app.
The T-Deck firmware is free to download and most features are available without cost. To support the firmware developer, you can pay for a registration key to unlock your T-Deck for deeper map zoom and remote server administration over RF using the T-Deck. You do not need to pay for the registration to use your T-Deck for direct messaging and connecting to repeaters and room servers.
Meshtastic
For more information see the PowerPoint on Meshtastic by Jesse, N4JAH, presented on February 4, 2025 and also this presentation done in Elberton on December 8, 2025.
Once you receive your device, before you use it, check out the Recommended Configuration Settings page to be sure everything is configured appropriately.
99% of the nodes should be set up as a Client, ClientMute, or ClientBase. The node you use around the house will be ClientMute. If you have a node in a high location, that you use to relay traffic from your home node out to the mesh, it should be set as Client or the new Client_Base. Read Choosing the Right Device Role to see what each role does.
Web Resources
A couple of the more active users in our area, Vid and Wehooper (so called because of the names they use on their nodes), have put together a number of resources that you may find useful:
Mesh Metrics from the MtnMesh
There are three maps available on the web, that will show you nodes in the area:
Meshcore Resources
Meshcore Firmware Flasher Website
Meshcore Analyzer - From letsmesh.net
MeshMapper Map - Click Insights - Visualize Live to get a live view of packet traffic.
Meshstat.com Map - Also has a Live View.
Meshcore Regions
One advantage MeshCore has over Meshtastic is its ability to implement Regions. Regions limit the range, or scope, of packets and prevent them from traveling to areas of the mesh where they are not needed.
For example, if someone in Tennessee sends a message, there is usually no reason for a node in Georgia to receive that packet. By limiting how far packets travel, we can prevent unnecessary traffic from congesting our networks.
Remember that Regions are used to keep traffic from leaving an area, rather than to route traffic to a particular area. Regions are filters, not routes.
Repeaters perform the actual work of limiting packets to a Region. When Companion nodes initiate a packet, they define the Region within which the packet should remain.
See the following documents for more information on Regions:
Georgia Meshcore Region Information - Deploying Regions on Georgia repeaters is an important next step in keeping the MeshCore network reliable. Repeater operators should plan to implement Regions according to the recommendations in this document.
Region Scoping - Why are Regions necessary? Region Scoping was designed into MeshCore to address airtime contention caused by unbounded packet flooding as network usage increases.
Airtime Contention & Congestion - Airtime is a shared, finite resource. Every repeater that rebroadcasts a packet consumes airtime that other nodes within range cannot use at that same moment. As repeater density increases, so does the risk of packet collisions, delayed delivery, and reduced effective throughput for everyone sharing the channel. Regions help mitigate these problems.
MeshCore Suggested Repeater Settings
The following settings are available in PDF format. If there is a descrpency between the PDF and what is listed below, the PDF is probably a better source.
The following commands are executed using the Command Prompt. Many of them can also be set through the graphical setup menu.
set path.hash.mode 2 # 3-byte Path Hash (21-hop limit)
set flood.max 21 # max hop for (Scoped) Flood packets
set flood.max.unscoped 16 # max hop for Un-scoped Flood packets
set flood.max.advert 12 # max hop for Adverts
set loop.detect strict # prevent looping routes
set multi.acks 1 # Repeater will send 2 Acks, instead of just 1, to ensure confirmation.
set flood.advert.interval 24 # Advert every 8-hours
set advert.interval 240 # Local Advert every 2-hours
set agc.reset.interval 240 # 240 seconds. Lower this to 4 if your are co-located near other mesh devices, especially meshtastic.
set dutycycle 75 # 75%
set int.thresh 0 # Interference threshold (dBm)
The following settings change based on the relative elevation of your repeater. High, Med, or Low.
High: A Backbone repeater is a critical, high-impact infrastructure hub that keeps major portions of a city or county mesh connected. Mounted on high-elevation structures like commercial cell towers, mountaintops, or multi-story downtown rooftops. Must consistently sees 30+ active neighbor nodes. Often uses full 1-Watt transmission hardware coupled with heavy-duty 5.8 dBi to 8 dBi fiberglass omnidirectional antennas.
Medium: A Regional repeater bridges the gap between various neighborhoods or helps carry packets along transit corridors. Usually mounted on high residential roofs, personal ham radio towers, or chimneys. Typically maintains stable connections with 10 to 30 neighbor nodes. Utilizes standard LoRa boards (like a RAK Wireless WisBlock or Heltec V3) pushing around 22 dBm of power, paired with a solid 3 dBi to 5 dBi whip or fiberglass antenna.
Low: A Community repeater is a highly localized, neighborhood-level node deployed to fill specific geographic blind spots. Placed on 1st or 2nd-story home windowsills, low balconies, or trees. Generally connects to fewer than 10 neighbor nodes. Basic low-cost DIY hardware, often utilizing standard low-gain 2 dBi rubber duck antennas. These do not route wide-area city traffic; instead, they exist purely to help an individual or immediate neighbors punch a signal out past nearby trees or hills to reach the nearest medium or high-tier repeater.
set txdelay
High=2
Med=1.6
Low=0.8
set direct.txdelay
High=2
Med=1
Low=0.4
set rxdelay
High=3
Med=3
Low=3
Other useful commands
ver # firmware version
get bootloader.ver # gives version of firmware. ‘should have OTAFIX in the name.’
board # hardware type
get role # should say repeater
reboot # wait about 5 seconds for reboot to complete
clock sync # synchronize clock on node to current date/time of your device.
get repeat # verify that repeater mode is “on”
advert # tells node to send out a flood advert
Meshcore Regions
MeshCore “regions,” sometimes called scopes, help organize traffic on large or overlapping MeshCore networks. Without regions, a message sent by flooding may be retransmitted by every participating repeater that receives it, allowing the packet to spread throughout the connected mesh until it reaches its forwarding limit. By using regions, a region name is included with the flood packet, and repeaters can be configured to forward traffic only for specified regions while ignoring flood traffic intended for other areas. This reduces unnecessary retransmissions, conserves airtime, and helps prevent activity from distant or busy networks from overwhelming the local mesh. A region is not a strict geographic boundary or a separate network; it is simply a traffic-filtering label. Users should select the region used by their local network so their advertisements, channel messages, and other flooded packets will be forwarded by participating repeaters.
For example, we have a channel named #georgia. Because messages on this channel are intended primarily for a Georgia audience, we set its region scope to us-ga. Repeaters configured to allow the us-ga region will forward these messages, while repeaters that do not have us-ga configured will ignore them. This generally keeps the messages within the Georgia regional network, although they may still be heard directly near state borders or forwarded by an out-of-state repeater configured for us-ga. Region scoping therefore reduces unnecessary traffic from spreading into neighboring networks and causing congestion.
If you are in Northeast Georgia, add the following regions to your repeaters (This can be done in the graphical Setup menu.):
us
us-ga
us-ga-ne
us-southeast
Setup Regions Using Command Prompt
(You must be on version 1.16.x or newer for the def command to work.)
region def us
region def us-southeast
region def us-ga
region def us-ga-ne # for NE Georgia repeaters only
region save # You must save any changes to regions or they will not persist after a reboot.
To Remove a Region Using the Command Prompt
region remove <name of region to remove>
To Verify Regions
region
Note: You should see the following output. (The order is not iimportant.):
*^F
us F
us-southeast F
us-ga F
us-ga-ne F
Parts
One of the fun aspects of playing with Meshtastic and Meshcore is creating your own node to fit your particular use case. In other words, make the node fit where you want to use it. Here is a list of extra stuff I, or someone I know, have used at one time or another.
Solar Panels with Batteries - It is possible to buy an enclosure, a solar panel, a battery, and a solar charge controller as a unit cheaper than you can buy the pieces.
Solar Light - There is only one battery in this but that is plenty for a RAK Wisblock. I have many of these running Wisblock nodes with no problem, in decent sunlight. I am moving away from this enclosure because I find it hard to mount a durable antenna on the enclosure.
Solar Panel for Outdoor Security Panel - This is a monster power source for a Wisblock. It has four batteries and lots of solar panel. I have seen one of these with a radio mounted inside and an antenna mounted on the side, but that is pretty tight. This has a 5 volt USB output and can plug directly into the USB port of a Wisblock. Probably better used as a power source attached to a separate enclosure for the radio and antenna.
Project Boxes and Mounts - Enclosures to use as a starting point for your project.
RAK Wireless Unify Enclosure - The cadillac of project boxes or maybe the iPhone of boxes. It just looks good. But you pay for it. Comes with its own solar panel. The solar panel is great during the summer but I found it was not enough during the winter they way I was using them. I have my panels facing up and when the angle of the sun went down, the batteries would die overnight. I think, if the boxes were mounted so the solar panel was on its side, facing south, they would probably work, but I had already mounted my antenna on the face with the solar panel. I mounted a smaller solar panel on the side and ran it in parallel with the original panel. Now they work. There is a cool board that goes inside the enclosure that has an integrated lora and Bluetooth antenna but I just leave it out so I have more room inside and can use better antennas. With its low profile, I would just mount this on top of something with 3M moulding tape.
RAK Wireless Unify Enclosure 4 x 3 x 1.5 inches - This is the big brother to the box above. Larger solar panel might keep it charged during the winter with it mounted solar panel face up. But, there is no place to mount an antenna on that face so I have never used this one. If you were willing to turn it on the side, you have lots of options. It costs a little more than gluing a solar panel onto a project box so I haven't tried it but it would make for an easy install. These Unify boxes have tons of options, for an added cost, of how to mount them to anything you can imagine.
Black ABS Plastic Box 6.3 x 6.3 x 3.54 - Waterproof. Other sizes available.
Black ABS Box 7.87 x 4.72 x 2.2 - Another one I have used. Waterproof. Other sizes available.
Junction Box ABS 7.87 x 4.72 x 2.95 - This one has ears for mounting. Waterproof. Other sizes available.
Zulkit Black ABS Plastic 5.91 x 3.94 x 1.73 with Ears - Just the right size to mount a nice solar panel on the front and a short N connector such as the ALFA AOA-915-5ACM on one end which will become the top. You can then easily zip tie it to something, screw it to a flat surface, or use one of the mounts listed below. Other sizes of boxes are available.
Pole Mount Bracket to Wall Mount - Used to mount your project box onto a pole. The angle can be adjusted to point your solar panel more at the sun.
Vertical Pole Mount - Mount your project box onto a vertical pole.
Solar Panels, Charge Controllers, and Battery Protection - Used to keep your batteries charged, so you don't have to keep visiting your node to recharge batteries.
6 Volt Solar Cells 110mm x 92mm - Fit nicely on the 6 inch by 4 inch project box. I have used a number of these.
SUNYIMA 5PC 6V 1W Mini Solar Cells 4.33 x 3.15 Inch ETFE Material - Very seldom in stock.
10pcs x 5VDC Solar Panel Power bank - Size 70 x 100 is what I purchased. You can pick the size to fit your project box.
5 Watt Solar Panel for Security Camera - Nice solar panel but the mount is flimsy. Large - 6"L x 1"W x 5"H. I have one in use but I think I will make my own mount if I use this again.
6 Watt Solar Panel - Nice panel. I have one of these and it looks great but it is large, 10.66"L x 6.88"W x 0.1"H, and I havn't figured out a way to mount it and make it look good on one of my projects.
BMS Battery Protection Board - Used to keep the battery from overcharging or discharging too much.
Battery Protection Board - Plug and play version of the one above but you pay for the convenience.
MPPT Solar Charge Controller - This is the one I have been using. A little larger than a postage stamp.
MPPT Solar Charge Controller - I have not used this particular one but it has been recommended to me. A little larger than a postage stamp.
MPPT Solar Charge Controller - I did purchase this but have not tested it yet. I believe it is the same as the one above. A little larger than a postage stamp.
MPPT Solar Energy/Power Manager Module - 5v-24v solar input. Charges 18650 Li-Po batteries. Can hold one on the the board or you can connect external battery pack. Outputs 3.7v and/or 5v.
RAK Wireless RAK19004 - WisBlock Power module. 2V-36V input gives you 5V output.
Batteries
Must see video on what is inside a lithium-ion battery.
What does 18650 mean? It describes the size of the battery. 18 mm diameter and 65 mm in length. Note that this length is for the flat top versions. A button top battery is slightly longer. About 68mm or 69mm vs 65mm for the flat top.
Jesspow 18650 batteries -
many of us have used this brand and like it. I use the 18650 Flat Top version. These also come in a 2-pack. Others use the 18650 Button Top version.
There is also a larger version that claims 5000mAh vs. 3300mAh for the 18650. They won’t fit into a 18650 holder but if you are building your own packs it might be worth a try. They are actually 21700 batteries.
If Amazon is out of stock, you might be able to get the batteries from the Jesspow website.
3.7V 4400mAh ICR18650 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Pack with PH2.0 2P Plug - You get two packs for this price. Each pack has two 18650 batteries with a battery protection module. The plug is wired correctly for Wisblock.
3.7v Lithium Polymer Flat Battery 2000mAh - If you need a flat battery, this one works. Has the correct connector for Wisblock and has its own battery protection (BMS).
JST-PH 2.0mm 2 Pin Connectors, Male and Female Ends Reversed Polarity, 15 pairs 22AWG wire - This is the size you need to plug directly into the battery port on the Wisblock. Unfortunatly, the polarity is reversed on these plugs. You will need to either move the wires in the connector (recommended) or wire black to positive and red to negative (not recommended).
JST-PH 2.0mm 2 Pin Connectors, Male and Female Ends Reversed Polarity, 20 pairs 26AWG wire - This is the size you need to plug directly into the battery port on the Wisblock. Unfortunatly, the polarity is reversed on these plugs. You will need to either move the wires in the connector (recommended) or wire black to positive and red to negative (not recommended).
JST 2.0mm 2 Pin Connector with Correct Polarity - These are nice if you just want the end that plugs into the battery port of the Wisblock since the polarity is correct. However, if you need the other end, they use a little adapter that works but seems a little clunky depending on what you are doing.
JST 1.25mm 2 Pin Connector with Correct Polarity - These are used to plug into the solar input port on the Wisblock. The polarity is correct.
Antennas, Antenna Mounts, and Connectors - A good antenna can make a huge difference. The puny antennas supplied with most nodes are marginal performers at best. For most of these, you will need to purchase the correct mount/pigtail to connect the antenna to your device. Pay very close attention to the style of the ends on any connectors and/or antennas, to be sure you get the correct ones. Also think about how the antenna will physically attach to the node or a support pole.
ALFA AOA-915-5ACM 5 dBi Omni Outdoor - Short and fat. About 7 inches tall with an N Male connector. Does this really have the same gain as the antenna below that is 4 times longer? I wish I could tell you.
5.8 dBi Outdoor - 31 inches tall. N-Male connector.
6 dBi Outdoor - 22 inches tall. N-Female connector.
8 dBi Outdoor - 25 inches long. N-Female connector.
TX-868 TX915-BLG-26 LoRa Helium Miner Outdoor 915MHz - N male connector. Claims 3dBi gain. About 10 inches long.
915MHz Antenna Rubber Rod IPEX-1 High Gain 3dBi - Looks like a nice surface mount antenna for a project box with a horizontal surface. Does not require an extra mount to be purchased. I have one but have not tested it yet. Plugs directly into a Wisblock node. The antenna is about 6 inches long.
Tactical Gooseneck Antenna 915MHz - I have not tried this one because I don't like the way it looks, however, I think it might appeal to some people. It was recommended by someone who usually makes good recommendations, so I am including it.
Soft Antenna from Amazon - Soft, flexible antenna. I doubt it really has 10dBi gain but it does work well.
Soft Antenna - It was recommended to me but I have not tried one.
Meshtastic Folding Antenna - Like the one above, it was recommended to me but I have not tried one. Make sure you consider shipping costs when comparing to the two below.
ALFA Network 2 dBi SMA Male - Looks like the one above but is sold by Rokland. I have not used one. SMA connector.
RAK Wireless 2.3 dBI Blade Antenna - Similar to the ones above. I have used many of these and they work well. They are also more expensive than the ones above. RP-SMA connector. Takes a different connector from the two above.
IPX to N Male Cable Pigtail with RG178 cable. - Pick the length you need.
IPX to N Female 12" /30CM RG178 Coaxial Pigtail Cable - This price includes 2 cables. 12 inches is just enough length to go from the radio inside a project box and connect to an antenna that is mounted independently of the box but still very close to the box. I use this for mounting antennas that I think would stress a plastic project box too much so I mount the antenna and the box seperately to something such as a metal pole. There is a lot of signal loss in coax at this frequency and since the power is so low we want to keep the coax as short as possible.
IPX to N Female 8" RG178 Pigtail Cable - Price for 2 cables. 8 inches is plenty if you are mounting this connector onto a project box with the antenna on the box.
SMA Male to N Female with RG316 Pigtail Cable -
IPX to SMA Male with 1.13mm Cable Pigtail - You will need this if you use one of the filters below.
Miscellaneous -
Cavity Filter - If you think you are getting interference from a nearby transmitter, this might cut it out.
Bandpass Filter - Poor man's version of the cavity filter above. Doesn't work nearly as well but probably better than nothing. Be sure to get the 915 MHz version.
Mounting Plate - Used to keep things secure inside your project box. Basically a perforated sheet of plastic almost like a mini peg board. I use small zip ties to attach things to the board. I cut these to fit inside the box. Usually not needed if you use the mounting tape below.
Mounting Plate - A different size option of the mounting plate above.
Mounting Plate ABS Plastic Sheet- This is just a sheet of black plastic. The options above seemed a little expensive so I thought I would try this. I will need to drill my own holes but that is not a big deal. I have purchased this but have not tested it yet. This stuff is also good for mounting as a faceplate when mounting your ham radios into "go boxes".
Self-Fusing Silicone Tape - Great for waterproofing antenna connections and many other uses. The tape on this link is not as thick as what you mike get at the hardware store but I find I like it better for this radio kind of stuff. I would use the better stuff to try and repair a broken pipe.
Double Sided Tape - I use this more often than the mounting plates above, to keep things in place inside the project box. I used to use 3M brand moulding tape (used to stick moulding to the side of cars) but I like this better and it is cheaper.
E6000 Adhesive - Used for attaching solar panel to project box. Can also be used to seal holes in project box. Similar to Shoe Goo below but is "self leveling" which means that it flows a little when you apply it. This is what I have been using on my projects. Stays flexible when it dries. Allow 24 hours to dry.
Shoe Goo Adhesive - I haven't used this on a project yet but I use it all the time on my shoes. Great stuff. Similar to E6000 but doesn't flow (move) once you apply it. Comes in clear and black. Stays flexible when it dries. Allow 24 hours to dry.
Clear Heat Shrink Tubing - I have fallen in love with the clear heat shrink tubing. You can get it in just about any size. I still use the black heat shrink, if I am just covering a joint on some wires, but I find that, often, I want to be able to see, or let someone else see, what is being protected. I often cover my solar controllers and even some of my Wisblocks with clear heat shrink so I don't have to worry about them shorting with any of the other components in the project box.
Low Profile Solar Meshtastic Car Node - This just looked so cool I had to incude it. It is a 3D printable part to create a sleek magnetic car mount node. I have not built one myself.
Repeater Showcase from Ottawa Mesh Canada
Repeater Showcase - Examples of repeater installations.