LoRa Mesh Atlas

Solar node and repeater hardware

A node on a roof, mast, or hilltop relays messages for everyone around it. Pick hardware that sips power, then set the right role, which matters as much as the hardware does.

Ready-made fixed nodes

Built to sit in one place. Least assembly, highest price.

  1. Seeed SenseCAP Solar Node P1 / P1-Pro

    Seeed Studio · P$1–Pro: $100.99 / P$1–Pro for MeshCore: $93.90

    Turnkey solar repeater/router node for a rooftop or mast.

    The P1 has slots for four 18650 cells that are not included; the P1-Pro includes them and adds GPS.

    Screen
    None
    GPS
    Optional
    Battery
    P1: slots for four 18650 (not included); P1-Pro: four 3350 mAh 18650 included
    Water resistance
    Not listed
    MeshCore
    Supported

  2. B&Q Station G3

    B&Q Consulting (UnitEng / BQ Voyage) · $139.00

    High-power powered base station or tower node; can host a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W running meshtasticd.

    Needs a power supply of at least 25 W and no more than 19 V, so it suits mains-powered sites better than small solar setups.

    Screen
    OLED 1.3 in
    GPS
    Optional
    Battery
    None; USB-C 15 V PD or DC5521 9-19 V (min 25 W)
    Water resistance
    Not listed
    MeshCore
    Supported

Low-power boards with a solar input

These nRF52840 boards have a solar or charging input according to their makers. You add the panel, battery, antenna, and a weatherproof enclosure.

  1. Heltec Mesh Node T114

    Heltec Automation · $17.90–$33.70

    Low-power nRF52 board for battery or solar nodes; Meshtastic community favorite.

    Screen
    Optional TFT 1.14 in (135x240)
    GPS
    Optional
    Battery
    None included; SH1.25x2 lithium battery connector
    Water resistance
    Not listed
    MeshCore
    Supported

  2. RAK WisBlock Meshtastic Starter Kit (RAK19007 + RAK4631)

    RAKwireless · $29.99

    Low-power modular base for solar/battery nodes; Meshtastic community favorite.

    Screen
    None by default (optional RAK1921 0.96 in OLED)
    GPS
    Optional
    Battery
    None included; JST PHR-2 connector for 3.7 V LiPo (RAK19007)
    Water resistance
    Not listed
    MeshCore
    Supported

  3. Seeed Wio Tracker L1 (OLED; Lite and E-Ink variants)

    Seeed Studio · Not listed

    Low-power GPS board with solar input; Meshtastic community favorite.

    Screen
    OLED 1.3 in (L1); E-ink 2.13 in (L1 E-Ink); none (L1 Lite)
    GPS
    Yes
    Battery
    Battery connector for 3.7 V Li-ion (none integrated on bare L1)
    Water resistance
    Not listed
    MeshCore
    Supported

Set the right role

Meshtastic's guidance is blunt: the ROUTER role is "ONLY suitable for stationary devices placed in extremely strategic locations", and too many routers near each other cause delivery failures. For a node on your own roof or in your attic, Meshtastic recommends CLIENT_BASE. Read Meshtastic device roles explained before you deploy.

On MeshCore, a relay node runs the separate Repeater firmware, chosen when you flash it. See the MeshCore guide.

For planning the build itself (power settings, batteries in heat and cold, enclosures, antennas), see how to plan a Meshtastic solar node. To check whether a spot can see the nodes you want to reach, use the range and line-of-sight tool.

Common questions

Should my rooftop node use the ROUTER role?

Usually not. Meshtastic says ROUTER is only for stationary nodes in extremely strategic spots, like a mountaintop tower, and recommends CLIENT_BASE for an attic or roof node. When in doubt, CLIENT is the safe default.

Which chip is better for a solar node?

Meshtastic's hardware docs say nRF52-based devices use less power than ESP32-based ones and are generally preferred for solar setups.

What is a MeshCore repeater?

In MeshCore, the radios paired with phones do not repeat. Range is extended by nodes flashed with the separate Repeater firmware, which forward packets selectively instead of rebroadcasting everything.

Sources