M5Stack has just launched the Cardputer Mesh Kit, a portable, card-sized Meshtastic communication terminal built around the ESP32-S3-powered Cardputer-Adv controller and a new LoRa expansion module (CapLoRa-1262).
The kit is essentially a modular upgrade to the original Cardputer, where the base unit handles the UI via a 56-key keyboard and a 1.14-inch LCD. The added “Cap” module adds a Semtech SX1262 transceiver and an AT6668 GNSS module, allowing for off-grid text messaging and GPS location tracking without relying on cellular networks.
Cardputer Mesh Kit specifications:
- Core Controller (Cardputer-Adv):
- Wireless MCU module – M5Stack M5Stamp S3A with
- SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3FN8
- CPU
- Dual-core 32-bit Xtensa LX7 microcontroller with AI vector instructions up to 240MHz
- RISC-V ULP co-processor
- Memory – 512KB SRAM
- Storage – 8MB flash
- Wireless – 2.4GHz WiFi 4 (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 5.0 BLE + Mesh
- CPU
- 2.4GHz 3D antenna
- USB – 1x USB Type-C port
- Expansion connectors for I/Os such as SPI, I2C, UART, ADC, and more
- SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3FN8
- Storage – MicroSD card socket
- Display – 1.14-inch IPS LCD with 240×135 resolution using ST7789V2 driver
- Audio
- 1W speaker with NS4150B amplifier
- High SNR (65dB) MEMS microphone
- 3.5mm audio output jack
- User input – 56-key keyboard (4x 14-key matrix); note: key actuation force reduced from 260 gf to 160 gf
- Sensor – BMI270 6-axis motion sensor
- Expansion
- 4-pin Grove connector with I2C (5V)
- 14-pin 2.54mm pitch expansion bus
- Misc
- Reset button, user button
- On/Off switch
- IR transmitter
- Built-in magnet used for mounting, e.g. attached to a fridge or whiteboard
- Compatible with LEGO hole extensions
- Lanyard hole
- Power Supply
- Built-in 1750mAh Li-ion battery (instead of 1,400 mAh battery + 120 mAh battery)
- Built-in battery charging and voltage regulation
- Charging via USB-C port on the M5Stamp S3A module
- Wireless MCU module – M5Stack M5Stamp S3A with
- Communication Module (Cap LoRa-1262):
- LoRa Radio – Semtech SX1262
- Frequency – 868MHz to 923MHz
- Sensitivity– -147 dBm (low data rate mode)
- Transmit Power – +22 dBm
- Modulation – LoRa, FSK, GFSK, MSK, OOK
- Antenna – External SMA “rubber duck” antenna (internal thread, internal hole)
- GNSS (Global Positioning) – ATGM336H-6N (based on AT6668)
- Systems – GPS, BeiDou (BD2/BD3), GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS
- Accuracy– <1.5m (CEP50)
- Sensitivity – -162dBm (Tracking) / -148dBm (Cold Start)
- Antenna – Built-in ceramic antenna
- LoRa Radio – Semtech SX1262
- Expansion
- 2x 4-pin Grove ports (one on Cardputer, one on Cap)
- 14-pin 2.54mm pitch expansion bus connecting the two units
- Mechanical – 84 x 54 x 34.8mm (combined, slightly bigger than the Cardputer-Adv)
- Mounting – LEGO-compatible mounting holes with magnetic back
On the software side, the kit comes pre-flashed with Meshtastic firmware. However, because it is based on the M5Stack ecosystem, it remains fully open for custom development. Users can program the device using the Arduino IDE, ESP-IDF, or UiFlow2. M5Stack has already provided the necessary libraries for RadioLib (LoRa) and TinyGPSPlus (GNSS) to simplify development.
The device is also supported by the Meshtastic Web Flasher, so you can easily install or update Meshtastic directly from your browser. Just select the device, pick the firmware, and click flash. No extra software needed. It competes against other similar products such as the Trail Mat off-grid communicator, the LILYGO T-LoRa Pager, and the LILYGO T-Deck Pro.
The M5Stack Cardputer Mesh Kit is available now for $48.00 on Aliexpress and on the M5Stack store. In the box, you will receive the Cardputer-Adv, the LoRa/GNSS module, an antenna, and the M2 screws required for assembly. More technical documentation and schematics are available on the documentation website. For those who already have the Cardputer-Adv module, you can purchase the Cap LoRa-1262 separately for $14.50 on AliExpress or the M5Stack store.
Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication
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