Hardware
Buying a radio
You need a node. Here is what people around here actually use, and what the differences mean in practice.
Everything below runs both Meshtastic and MeshCore — you flash different firmware, not different hardware. Start on one network and try the other later without buying anything.
| Device | Price | Battery | GPS | Case | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SenseCAP T1000-E | ~$50 | yes | yes | yes | Carrying around |
| XIAO nRF52840 + Wio-SX1262 | ~$25 | no | no | no | Battery or solar |
| LILYGO T3 S3 | ~$18 | no | no | no | Fixed, antenna included |
| XIAO ESP32S3 + Wio-SX1262 | ~$10 | no | no | no | Cheapest fixed node |
Prices are rough and were last checked in July 2026. Shipping from Asia usually adds a few weeks.
Choosing
Just starting
SenseCAP T1000-E. Battery, case, antenna and GPS in something the size of a credit card. Nothing to assemble. It costs more than the alternatives and that is fine — it removes every excuse not to try.
Buy the charging cable too. It is not in the box.
A node on your balcony
XIAO ESP32S3 kit at around ten dollars, or the LILYGO T3 S3 if you would rather have a decent antenna included. Either is a cheap way to add a genuinely useful node to the mesh.
The LILYGO uses RP-SMA, which is not the same as SMA.
Off grid
XIAO nRF52840. Around 10 mA average draw in quiet traffic, which is what makes battery and solar builds practical. The ESP32 boards will flatten a battery far faster.
Needs a u.fl to SMA pigtail and an antenna — see parts.
GPS is not a feature you need
On a node that never moves, GPS costs power and airtime to report a position the mesh already knows. Buy GPS if the node travels with you. For anything fixed, skip it and set the position by hand.