RAKwireless’ WisMesh TAP is a battery-powered Meshtastic client with an integrated TFT touchscreen display and an IP65-rated enclosure making it suitable for outdoor use.
The device supports 800 and 900 MHz Meshtastic networks and includes a GNSS module and motion sensor to provide location information through the network, besides offering off-grid messaging without a smartphone thanks to an on-screen keyboard.
WisMesh TAP specifications:
- Core module (likely RAK4631 WisBlock Core module?)
- Wireless SoC – Nordic Semi nRF52840 MCU with BLE 5.0
- LoRa transceiver – Semtech SX126x series with support for Meshtastic 8xx and 9xx MHz networks
- 800 MHz – RU864/ IN865/ EU868
- 900 MHz – US915/ AU915/ KR920/ AS923
- Display – 320×240 TFT touchscreen display with on-screen keyboard
- GNSS – RAK12500 module with u-blox ZOE-M8Q GNSS location module
- Sensor – RAK1904 module with STMicroelectronics LIS3DH 3-axis acceleration sensor
- Misc
- Power Button
- 2dBi external antenna for LoRa
- Internal antennas for BLE and GNSS
- Battery – 3,200mAh battery
- Temperature Range – Operating: -10°C to 60°C; storage: -40°C to 80°C
The WisMesh TAP is not exactly a new hardware platform as it’s based on the RAKwireless RAK10701 Field Tester supporting Helium, The Things Network, and Chirpstack LoRaWAN network providers. The WisMesh TAP mostly comes with different firmware for Meshtastic support to enable GPS coordinates sharing and messaging through the built-in screen keyboard. That means it can be used without a phone, but also remains compatible with the Meshtastic mobile app for Android and iOS, Web Client, and Python CLI at least one of which is required for configuration. You’ll find instructions to get started on the documentation website. Alternatively, if you own a RAK10701 Field Tester you can install firmware-rak10701-w.x.yy.zzzzzzz.uf2 firmware (might need to be built from source since I can’t find a binary release) to convert it into a MeshTastic device.
It provides an alternative to the SenseCAP Indicator with a 4-inch touchscreen display that is mostly suitable for indoor usage and powered by 5V through a USB-C port. The WisMesh TAP can be used outdoors thanks to its IP65 enclosure and built-in battery.
RAKwireless sells the WisMesh TAP for $109 on AliExpress or the company’s online store where you can use coupon XUO54T to get an 8% discount. RAKwireless has also launched the WisMesh Pocket V2 with a similar design, but a small 1.3-inch OLED that is only suitable for information display. That model sells for $99 on AliExpress or the RAKwireless store.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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so many posts about meshtastic here, what about reticulum and rnode? it’d be nice to see a review here.
Meshtastic is well-known. Your comment is the first time I have heard about reticulum and rnode. I’ll have a look later.
I know many people that use Meshtastic, and no one that uses reticulum. :shrug:
I love all those battery-powered products which give no indication whatsoever of their battery life or power consumption. Any ideas?
You can look up the power consumption of the components but tbh battery life while in use depends on so many things that it’s a totally useless figure in the end, especially when it comes to meshtastic kit. The only way to really know is to use it and see how long it actually lasts.