mesh networking News - CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

October 15, 2024October 14, 2024 by Debashis Das - No Comments

LumenRadio’s nRF52840 based Wireless Modbus module aims to simplify Modbus RTU installations

LumenRadio's W Modbus and W Modbus PRO module's

LumenRadio has recently introduced a Wireless Modbus (W-Modbus) module built around Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF52840 SoC. The module can connect up to 100 nodes, integrates a power amplifier with 100mW transmission power, and supports Bluetooth LE for smartphone connectivity. These features simplify Modbus RTU installations by eliminating traditional control cables, making them ideal for building and industrial automation applications. The company mentions two variants available for this module the ‘W-Modbus OEM Module’ which supports one Modbus client, and the ‘W-Modbus PRO OEM Module’ supporting up to sixteen Modbus clients. Both modules support self-healing, self-organizing mesh protocols that address the issues of network reliability and scalability in industrial environments. The module can also be used for remote monitoring and troubleshooting via smartphones. LumenRadio’s Wireless Modbus module specification Module – LumenRadio W-Modbus module SoC – Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 CPU – 32-bit Cortex-M4 core with FPU @ 64 MHz Connectivity Bluetooth 5.4 (BLE, Bluetooth mesh, […]

September 2, 2024September 2, 2024 by Sayantan Nandy - 3 Comments

T1000-E Card Tracker is a thin, credit card-sized GPS tracker with Meshtastic support

Seeed Studio has introduced the T1000-E, an updated version of the SenseCAP T1000 Card Tracker, built for Meshtastic. This rugged tracker is compact, about the size of a credit card, making it easy to carry or attach to assets. It uses Semtech LR1110 RF transceiver, Nordic Semi nRF52840 wireless SoC, and MediaTek/Aihora AG3335 GPS module for precise, low-power tracking and communication. With an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, the T1000-E is ideal for reliable asset tracking. The T1000-E supports LoRa and Bluetooth v5.1 for communication and includes a 3-axis accelerometer, an LED, a buzzer, and a button for operation. It has internal antennas for GNSS, LoRa, Wi-Fi, and BLE communication range of 2 to 5 km, depending on the environment. SenseCAP Card Tracker T1000-E specifications: SoC – Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 CPU – 32-bit Cortex-M4 core with FPU running at 64 MHz Flash – 1 MB RAM – 256 kB […]

August 30, 2024September 2, 2024 by Debashis Das - 11 Comments

LILYGO T-Deck Plus – A Blackberry-like ESP32-S3 devkit with QWERTY keyboard, trackball, LoRa, GPS, battery, and more

LILYGO T Deck Plus handheld development board

The LILYGO T-Deck Plus is an ESP32-S3 based handheld development kit that resembles a Blackberry phone with a QWERTY keyboard and trackball. The device features a 2.8-inch IPS LCD, a GPS module, a LoRa transceiver, and a 2,000mAh battery which means you can take it outside and do some pen-testing and research. Additionally, the board features a microphone, a speaker, and a microSD card slot for storage. Just last year, LILYGO introduced the LILYGO T-Deck ESP32-S3 development board with LoRa and a 2.8-inch display, and the T-Deck Plus builds on the earlier design but also adds a GPS module and a higher capacity battery. LILYGO T-Deck Plus specifications ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 wireless module SoC – ESP32-S3FN16R8 dual-core Tensilica LX7 microcontroller @ up to 240 MHz with 2.4 GHz 802.11n WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5.0 LE connectivity Memory – 8MB PSRAM Storage – 16MB SPI flash PCB antenna Storage – MicroSD card slot Display – […]

July 29, 2024September 2, 2024 by Debashis Das - 2 Comments

Seeed Studio Wio Tracker 1110 Dev Kit supports Meshtastic for off-grid communication

The Seeed Studio Wio Tracker 1110 is a dev kit designed to work with the Meshtastic network. The board is built around a Nordic nRF52840 multiprotocol Bluetooth 5.4 SoC and uses the Semtech LR1110 LoRa transceiver for communication. Seeed Studio is selling the Wio Tracker 1110 development board in a bundle with an OLED display and a GNSS receiver, providing everything needed to start experimentation for peer-to-peer LoRa mesh networking. Meshtastic is a free, open-source, decentralized mesh network that uses LoRa radios to establish a low-power, long-range, off-grid communication system in areas without reliable infrastructure. Driven entirely by the community, Meshtastic enables decentralized, encrypted communication without the need for a dedicated router or phone. Previously we have written various versions of the Wio Tracker including the Wio GPS and Wio LTE GPS Tracker. Since Meshtastic projects are becoming popular among developers and enthusiasts, we will likely see many more dev […]

July 11, 2024September 2, 2024 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

LILYGO T3S3 E-Paper combines ESP32-S3 WiFi & BLE SoC with LoRa module, 2.13-inch e-Paper display

LILYGO T3S3 E-Paper is an ESP32-S3 WiFi and Bluetooth LE development board with a 2.13-inch e-Paper display and an SX1262 LoRa module that should make it suitable for off-grid messsaging even under sunlight. LILYGO has made some ESP32-S3 boards with an e-Paper display and some ESP32-S3 boards with a LoRa module, but unless I’m mistaken, the T3S3 E-Paper is the first board from LILYGO that combines ESP32-S3 SoC with e-Paper display and a LoRa module. It builds upon the earlier LILYGO T3S3 board with a 0.96-inch OLED. LILYGO T3S3 E-Paper specifications: ESP32-S3-WROOM-1U wireless module SoC – ESP32-S3FH4R2 dual-core Tensilica LX7 microcontroller @ up to 240 MHz with 2.4 GHz 802.11n WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5.0 LE connectivity Memory – 2MB PSRAM Storage – 4MB SPI flash IPEX antenna connector Storage – MicroSD card slot Display – 2.13-inch e-Paper display (DEPG0213BN) with 250×122 resolution; size: 48.55 x 23.70mm Wireless 2.4 GHz […]

June 7, 2024September 2, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - 18 Comments

The S5 Trekker is a compact Meshtastic communication device for hikers and preppers

The S5 Trekker Bravo and the S5 Trekker Mini are two Meshtastic-enabled radios designed by SpecFive LLC, a team of engineers based in the United States. Both devices are based on the Heltec Wireless Tracker from Heltec Automation. The Wireless Tracker integrates Espressif’s ESP32-S3 system-on-a-chip, a 160 x 80 TFT LCD, a SemTech SX1262 LoRa chip, and a Unicore UC6580 GNSS chip. The MiniTrekker is much lighter than the Trekker Bravo and features a built-in attachment hook for connecting it with other gear. Both radios are built to be durable enough to resist the rigors of outdoor exploration. They come pre-flashed with the open-source Meshtastic software and are ready to be used out of the box. The S5 Trekkers are intended to be used when hiking, trekking, and partaking in other outdoor activities that take one away off the well-trodden path. It is also useful for setting up a reliable […]

March 26, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - 6 Comments

Arduino Nano Matter board specifications and price announced

The Arduino Nano Matter is the product of a collaboration between Arduino and Silicon Labs. The Nano Matter board was announced in January and is powered by SiLabs’ MGM240S chip. It offers multiple wireless connectivity options such as Matter, OpenThread, and Bluetooth Low Energy. Support for the Matter standard is the Nano Matter board’s key offering. Matter is an open-source, connectivity protocol that lets smart home devices from different manufacturers interoperate seamlessly. The 45mm x 18mm board leverages dual-mode connectivity, with IEEE 802.15.4 (Thread) for mesh networking and Bluetooth Low Energy for short-range communication. It is targeted at the Internet of Things, home automation, professional automation, environmental monitoring, and climate control applications. Prospective industrial applications include machine-to-machine interoperability, machine status monitoring, and worker status optimization. Arduino Nano Matter specs: MPU – SiLabs MGM240SD22VNA MCU core – 32-bit Arm Cortex-M33 with DSP (digital signal processing) instruction and FPU (floating-point unit) @ […]

February 26, 2024February 28, 2024 by Debashis Das - No Comments

Nordic nRF9151 – A smaller LTE-M/NB-IoT and DECT NR+ SiP with enhanced power efficiency and security

Nordic’s New nRF9151 DECT NR+ SiP Module

Nordic Semiconductor has announced the availability of its new nRF9151 SiP module adding to the nRF91 cellular IoT lineup. This new module includes a 64MHz Arm Cortex-M33 SoC, LTE-M/NB-IoT connectivity with a radio-frequency front-end (RFE) for cellular support, and DECT NR+ connectivity. All this comes with a 20% smaller footprint and additional support for Power Class 5 20 dBm alongside Class 3 (23 dBm) compared to the Nordic nRF9161 SiP module also designed to power cellular IoT and non-cellular 5G solutions that was introduced just last month. Nordic nRF9151 SiP module specification: Processor and Memory – 64 MHz Arm Cortex-M33, 1 MB flash, and 256 KB SRAM. Modem – Integrated LTE-M/NB-IoT and DECT NR+ with support for 3GPP Release 14 LTE-M/NB-IoT. Location Tracking – Built-in GNSS receiver and support for cellular-based location features. Security – Arm TrustZone, CryptoCell for cryptographic operations, true random number generator (TRNG). Power Options – Supports […]