mesh networking News - CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

April 13, 2026April 14, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

Trail Mate open-source firmware leverages Meshtastic and MeshCore for ESP32 off-grid handhelds

vicliu624’s Trail Mate is an open-source firmware for off-grid communication and GPS coordinates sharing, leveraging the Meshtastic, MeshCore, and other projects, and designed for ESP32 handhelds such as LILYGO’s T-LoRa Pager or M5Stack’s Tab5 with a LoRaWAN module. The Trail Mate firmware provides a fixed north-up GPS map, direct LoRa text messaging through Meshtastic or MeshCore mesh networks without relying on a smartphone, and prioritizes stability, efficiency, and interoperability over feature density. Trail Mate user interface highlights: Simple main menu with four icons: GPS, LoRa chat, tracker, and system utilities. GPS map Fixed North-Up map orientation (no rotation) Fully offline map rendering from SD card tiles (png/jpg files) Three switchable base layers: OSM / Terrain / Satellite Optional contour overlay for terrain shape awareness Real-time position marker for the current GPS fix Discrete zoom levels optimized for embedded systems Simple breadcrumb trails for path awareness Fast in-page layer switching via […]

April 5, 2026April 5, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

ESP32-S3 gets post-quantum encryption with Aethyr Edge Node open-source firmware

Aethyr Research has released post-quantum encrypted IoT edge node firmware for ESP32-S3 targets that boots in 2.1 seconds and supports full PQC (Post Quantum Cryptography) handshakes in 35ms. Public-key cryptographic algorithms such as RSA and ECC will soon have to be replaced due to the advance of quantum computers that will be able to crack such encryption within a few hours to days using Shor’s algorithm. While there’s still time, Google recently updated its timeline for post-quantum cryptography migration to 2029, mostly because it’s possible to store data now for an attack once sufficiently powerful quantum computers become available, and the NIST FIPS 203 standard (ML-KEM-768) mandates quantum-resistant security by 2035. The Aethyr Edge Node open-source firmware relies on formally verified ML-KEM-768 (FIPS 203) post-quantum key exchange, BLAKE3 integrity, and XChaCha20-Poly1305 encryption to implement post-quantum encryption to connect to a server over the AethyrWire Protocol (AWP). It’s a building block […]

April 1, 2026April 1, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Telink TL3228 – Low-power, low-latency dual-core RISC-V wireless MCU supports Bluetooth 6.0, 802.15.4, and 2.4 GHz proprietary

Telink has launched the TL322x wireless MCU family, starting with the TL3228, featuring a 192 MHz dual-core RISC-V MCU, and supporting Bluetooth 6.0, Matter, Thread, Zigbee, RF4CE, and proprietary 2.4GHz protocols for Smart Home, asset tracking, “8K” gaming accessories, and more The chip supports the recent Bluetooth features such as Channel Sounding, AoA/AoD, and LE Audio, as well as the company’s proprietary HDT technology delivering up to 6 Mbps data rate and ultra-low latency. Telink TL3228 specifications: Dual-core CPU 32-bit Andes D25F RISC-V core with FPU up to 192 MHz 32-bit Andes N22 RISC-V core Memory – 384 KB SRAM Storage – 2.5 MB of NVM (Flash + RRAM) Connectivity Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding Mesh Networking Bluetooth LE AoA/AoD location services 802.15.4 radio for Zigbee, Thread, Matter, RF4CE 2.4GHz Proprietary 2.4GHz radio data rates – 1Mbps, 2Mbps, 4Mbps, 6Mbps; Bluetooth LE PHY: LE 2M, LE Coded Bluetooth LE Multiple Connections – 4x […]

March 26, 2026March 26, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 10 Comments

RuView project leverages ESP32 nodes for WiFi-based presence detection, pose estimation, and breathing/heart rate monitoring

RuView is an open-source “WiFi DensePose” implementation leveraging multiple ESP32 nodes to turn WiFi signals into real-time human pose estimation, vital sign monitoring, and presence detection without relying on video cameras. WiFi DensePose is a sensing technique, first explored in academic research, that leverages WiFi signals to reconstruct human pose. RuView implements this technique in Rust or Python, and relies on your WiFi router and several ESP32 nodes to track body pose, detect breathing rate, and measure heart rate even through walls. As we’ll discuss below, this project has its own controversy, as some claim it’s fake. The solution relies on Channel State Information (CSI) disturbances caused by human movement to reconstruct body position, breathing rate, heart rate, and presence in real time using “physics-based signal processing and machine learning”. That obviously means you need CSI-capable hardware, and not all consumer WiFi nodes implement it. The project description lists various […]

February 9, 2026February 8, 2026 by Debashis Das - 1 Comment

86-type Smart Home control panel features a 3.5-inch display, physical buttons, Bluetooth SIG Mesh gateway

The Tuya WiFi 3.5-inch Smart Center Control Panel (CCP-S05) is designed to replace traditional 86-type switches while adding a Bluetooth SIG Mesh gateway, a touchscreen interface, and three buttons for smart homes, apartments, and small commercial spaces. Compared to other 86-type control panels such as the Luckfox-Pico-86-Panel, Dusun DSGW-130, and Waveshare’s ESP32-P4 Smart 86 Box, the Tuya device follows a hybrid approach, combining a capacitive touchscreen with three physical buttons for instant local control. Tuya WiFi 3.5-inch Smart Center Control Panel (CCP-S05) specifications: SoC – Unknown (potentially based on Allwinner F1C100s ARM9 application processor, slightly more powerful Rockchip or Allwinner SoC) Display – 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen Audio – Built-in microphone and speaker Networking Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) Bluetooth Mesh USB – USB Type-C port for debugging only Relays – 3x independent relay channels (200 W per channel max 600W) Misc 3x programmable physical buttons Reset button (on the bottom side) RTC […]

February 8, 2026February 9, 2026 by Debashis Das - 6 Comments

8devices Maca 2 – A ultra-long-range data radio with 80km range for drones and robotics

8devices Maca 2 high-power plug-and-play ultra-long-range wireless data radio targets drones, UAS, robotics, interceptor systems, industrial IoT, and defense-grade communications, where long range, resilience, and scalability are critical. The device features high transmit power of up to 39 dBm (with 36 dBm per RF chain) and a receiver sensitivity of –98 dBm, and is designed for air-to-ground and point-to-point connectivity over distances of up to 80 km. To maintain stable links over extreme distances, the radio supports ultra-narrow channel widths ranging from 1.5 MHz to 19.5 MHz, significantly improving signal-to-noise ratio and resistance to interference and jamming. Additionally, it includes dual Ethernet, USB 2.0, UART, GPIO, and 14–33 V power input. It also supports industrial temperature operation and NDAA/TAA-compliant manufacturing. For unmanned systems, the radio allows users to manage bandwidth asymmetry. It’s a feature where a user can allocate 90% of the channel to downstream video data while reserving 10% […]

November 27, 2025November 28, 2025 by Debashis Das - 3 Comments

Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 (V4) – An ESP32-S3 off-grid LoRa/Meshtastic communicator with solar input, GNSS, and 28dBm Tx Power

While searching AliExpress, I found the WiFi LoRa 32 (V4) shell set, another ESP32-S3-based off-grid LoRa/Meshtastic communicator designed for long-range wireless applications. Compared to devices like Blackout Comms, Wio Tracker L1 Pro, and ThinkNode M2, this device features built-in solar charging, optional GNSS, a removable battery, and a higher transmit power. The device features a Semtech SX1262 LoRa transceiver, an amplifier delivering up to 28 ± 1 dBm transmit power, along with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5/Mesh connectivity. It adds solar charging, an 8-pin GNSS connector, upgraded battery management, gold-plated 40-pin headers, and a fully protected 0.96-inch OLED, as well as a few I/Os for expansion. The USB-C port includes ESD and short-circuit protection, while dual IPEX connectors support both LoRa and 2.4 GHz antennas. Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 (V4) specifications: SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3 CPU – Dual-core 32-bit microcontroller @ 240MHz Memory – 512KB SRAM, 2MB PSRAM Storage – […]

November 12, 2025November 14, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

WisMesh Tag – A thin, IP66-rated Meshtastic GPS tracker for outdoor use

RAKwireless WisMesh Tag is a thin and rugged Meshtastic GPS LoRa tracker designed for off-grid location tracking and messaging. The 7.5mm thick device is pre-flashed with Meshtastic, dust and waterproof (IP66-rated), and powered by a 1,000mAh battery. Internally, it is built around a Nordic Semi nRF52840 wireless SoC and a Semtech SX1262 LoRa transceiver. Contrary to most DIY trackers, the device is fully certified (FCC and CE), so users across Europe and North America can deploy it for personal or professional use. WisMesh Tag specifications: SoC – Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 CPU – 32-bit Arm Cortex-M4F microcontroller @ 64 MHz Memory – 256 KB RAM Storage – 1 MB flash Wireless – Bluetooth 5, Thread, ANT, Bluetooth Mesh, 802.15.4 (Zigbee), 2.4 GHz proprietary LoRa – Semtech SX1262 RF transceiver GNSS – AT6558R GNSS module Misc Built-in LoRa, BLE, and GPS antennas Reset/Bootloader button User Button for alarms, alerts, or future customization […]