🌐 Connect Beyond Limits with the RAKwireless WisBlock Starter Kit!
The RAKwireless WisBlock Meshtastic Starter Kit (US915) is a comprehensive solution for creating a personal mesh network. It includes the RAK19007 baseboard and RAK4631 core module, preflashed with Meshtastic firmware, allowing for seamless off-grid messaging. With LoRa and Bluetooth antennas, USB connectivity, and smartphone compatibility, this kit empowers users to communicate over long distances without relying on traditional internet services.
Compatible Devices | Smartphone |
Hardware Connectivity | USB 3.0 Type A |
Item Weight | 2 Ounces |
W**6
All you need in a Meshtastic starter kit!
This kit is amazing! I'm into Meshtastic, and I've had several friends complain to MW that they "got stuck" on the endless list of modules on RAK Wireless' website.This kit solves that problem. You get a RAK19007 WisBlock base board, a very power-efficient LoRa chip, a little Bluetooth dipole which is adequate, and a surprisingly good 900MHz stubby antenna, with pigtail. You get all of this for, to my mind, a very reasonable price.Only things it doesn't come with are a battery or battery adapters, which is fine by me; this is a STARTER kit. It's meant for experimentation. Plug it into USB and play with it. Like what you see? Add a battery, or solar, or a case, or sensors, or....I'll be giving a presentation on Meshtastic to my ham radio club soon, and I plan to strongly suggest this kit to anyone wanting to get started playing with LoRa/mesh networking.
R**E
Reliable modular LoRa radio that goes really far
I’m thoroughly impressed with the RAK Wisblock. It delivers a robust signal and is exceptionally reliable. I also discovered that the transmitter power surpasses that of other LoRa radios available in the market. There are also a lot of add-on modules and sensors to fit different needs. I’ve installed these radios in various locations, including solar-powered nodes exposed to the elements atop buildings and my own house. Surprisingly, even the extreme heat doesn’t affect their performance. It's incredible how far the signal goes for such an inexpensive radio, I’m incredibly satisfied with this radio and plan to purchase more as I expand my private Meshtastic network. I was able to find tons of information and documentation at the RAK and at the meshtastic.org websites.
S**N
Reliable and Flexible Wireless Mesh Kit
The RAKwireless WisBlock Meshtastic Starter Kit is a solid option for anyone building a long-range, open-source mesh network. I tested it outdoors, and it consistently maintained a clear, stable connection over several hundred meters, even with obstacles in the way.The US915 Base RAK19007 module handles regional frequency well, and pairing it with the RAK4631 core gives a compact, powerful setup. The kit includes everything needed—antenna, headers, and WisBlock adapters—so it’s ready to go out of the box.I connected it to the Meshtastic smartphone app, and the setup was straightforward. The interface is simple, allowing easy message transmission and routing checks between nodes.One small thing: You need basic soldering skills to mount the modules or expand with additional sensor boards. It also doesn’t come with enclosures, so it’s best suited for hobbyists who don’t mind a DIY look.Overall, the RAKwireless Meshtastic Starter Kit delivers strong performance, good range, and solid mesh networking. It’s a great foundation for long-range communication projects, especially for hikers, off-grid setups, or sensor networks.
J**S
Perfect Entry Point for Building a Solid Mesh Network
This WisBlock Meshtastic starter kit is plug and play magic for anyone looking to dive into off-grid communication. Everything comes neatly packed, and setup with the Meshtastic firmware was fast and painless. The modular design is genius easy to expand with sensors or swap components later.Performance wise, it delivers great range, stable connections, and low power draw. Whether you’re hiking, prepping, or just nerding out with LoRa, this kit is a fantastic place to start.
R**T
Default PIN 123456, no power connector, usb A to C cable
Just received this today, so not a lot of use yet. I've spent the last few weeks playing with Meshtastic on Heltec (V3, T190, E213) nodes. This one joined my mesh and has been perfectly behaved for the last few hours.This is my first node without a screen. So there is no place to display the BLE PIN. The Meshtastic Android app suggested 4 digit PINs do not work but "123456" does. As noted in the product discription the software version is often behind. Mine shipped with firmware 2.5.5, and I've been flashing 2.5.15. Old software version sound like a gripe, but I think it's great they ship with Meshtastic (Heltec does not).Each of my Heltec MCUs came with a battery lead. I purchased batteries for the connector that Heltec uses. This MCU carrier board takes different sized battery connector. So I'll need to: by the connector, or new batteries, or a converter. A battery connector would have saved me some of that trouble.Because the USB A to C cable wasn't pictured, I was surprised to get one. The description clearly states the kit comes with one. For some people this could be "the thing" they needed. For me it's just another USB data cable, and I could really use a "battery connector".The rubber antenna is different that the Heltec OEM and any of the after market ones I've purchased. There is also a second LoRa circuit board antenna. It was nice they provided two. The BLE circuit board antenna has double sided tape on the back, the LoRa circuit board does not. A nice touch if you building out a self contained case. Both circuit board antennas have stickers indicating LoRa and BLE. It would be nicer if the PCB silkscreens had less RAK advertising and had "LoRa 915" and "BLE" silk screened on them prominently.I really like ESP32-S3 hardware, but the power draw and capabilities of this RAK unit compelled me to make the jump to this MCU. Assuming it is what everyone says, it is the best choice for my hill top solar node.Planning to utilize the $15 Lowes solar spotlight (as seen on the Meshtastic website) as my hilltop case. I like to test things, so I'll run this guy through testing before I deploy it. It'll be nice to see what I does with various antennas.If it meets the hype I'll certainly buy more of these.
T**B
Very low power consumption
Great option for solar nodes. Very low power consumption. I run them with a 4-5 watt solar panel and 1 18650 and it has never died on me for the past 3 weeks. Usually only drops down to 70%.
Trustpilot
1 month ago
3 weeks ago