mesh networking News - CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

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 […]

November 4, 2025November 4, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 11 Comments

$200 SpecFive Spectre Pro Android 12 smartphone integrates LoRa Mesh connectivity

Spec5 Spectre Pro LoRa Mesh Android 12 smartphone

LoRa Mesh solutions like Meshtastic or MeshCore enable off-grid messaging, GPS coordinates, and in some cases, audio communication for emergencies, working or hiking in remote areas, or simply to be able to communicate outside of cellular networks. However, adoption is limited, as users need to buy a terminal that costs about the same as an entry-level smartphone, or they may not see any use for it, except for emergencies. Integrating LoRa Mesh into Android smartphones can lower the cost of the feature, since the battery, enclosure, etc… are already there, and you just need to add a LoRa module and an antenna. That’s what SpecFive has done with the SpecFive Spectre Pro 4G LTE smartphone with a LoRa module. The rugged phone runs Android 12 and ships with Meshtastic, Mesh Tic Tac Toe, CheckTastic, and Mesh Chess. Spec5 Spectre Pro specifications: SoC – Unnamed quad-core processor System Memory – 4GB […]

October 10, 2025October 10, 2025 by Debashis Das - 2 Comments

FoBE IDEA Mesh Tracker C1 – An nRF52840-based LoRa GPS tracker with sensors, OLED, knob, and more

Designed by FoBE Studio in China, the FoBE IDEA Mesh Tracker C1 is a LoRa-powered off-grid communication device designed for outdoor GPS tracking, sensor data exchange, and mesh networking in remote environments. Built around the Nordic nRF52840 MCU, it integrates LoRa, GPS, BLE, and motion sensors, making it suitable for location tracking, environmental monitoring, and off-grid communication projects. The device integrates a GPS module, LoRa transceiver, 0.96-inch OLED display, buzzer, a 3-axis accelerometer, and a 3-axis gyroscope. Other ports include a USB-C port, reserved SWDIO/SWCLK headers, an 8-pin GPIO expansion header, and dual IPEX connectors for LoRa and GPS antennas. There is also a rotary encoder and two user buttons, and two indicator LEDs for controls and status feedback. Power input is provided via a 2-pin MX1.25 battery interface for portable, battery-powered outdoor IoT applications. FoBE IDEA Mesh Tracker C1 specifications: SoC – Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 CPU – 32-bit Arm Cortex-M4F […]

August 26, 2025 by Debashis Das - 3 Comments

Blackout Comms Cluster – A pre-configured off-grid LoRa texting and GPS system with cryptographic security

Blackout Comms Off Grid Encrypted Mesh Texting and GPS

Designed by Altware Dev Shop in the US, the Blackout Comms is an off-grid, LoRa-based encrypted mesh communication system built around ESP32 for texting and GPS location sharing without the need for any cellular networks or internet. The device uses asymmetric encryption and digital signatures for secure communication during blackouts, emergencies, or in remote areas where connectivity is unavailable. The device seemed a little bit pricey at first, but the complete kit includes two customized T-Deck communicators and one Altware Link/Node, all pre-configured and ready to use. Each communicator features a DFRobot GPS, Adafruit DS3231 real-time clock, 5000 mAh battery (≈48-hour runtime), external antenna, and PETG printed case, while the Link/Node integrates its own GPS, RTC, 3000 mAh+ battery, and antenna for cluster support. The system forms a private cluster with encrypted, frequency-hopping communication, signed delivery confirmations, and distributed mesh caching. Beyond messaging and location, it also supports proximity/motion sensing […]

July 19, 2025July 19, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 17 Comments

MeshCore is a lightweight alternative to Meshtastic LoRa-based off-grid messaging

While Meshtastic is by far the most popular off-grid messaging solution relying on LoRa radios, MeshCore offers an alternative as a lightweight C++ library and firmware designed for multi-hop packet routing and made for developers who want to create resilient, decentralized communication networks that work without the internet. The project’s GitHub repository provides some high-level differences compared to the Meshtastic and Reticulum projects: MeshCore provides the ability to create wireless mesh networks, similar to Meshtastic and Reticulum but with a focus on lightweight multi-hop packet routing for embedded projects. Unlike Meshtastic, which is tailored for casual LoRa communication, or Reticulum, which offers advanced networking, MeshCore balances simplicity with scalability, making it ideal for custom embedded solutions., where devices (nodes) can communicate over long distances by relaying messages through intermediate nodes. This is especially useful in off-grid, emergency, or tactical situations where traditional communication infrastructure is unavailable. MeshCore key features: Multi-hop […]