Metrum

Hardware Guide

Quick Start: Recommended Purchase Options

Always make sure on AliExpress and similar sites, that you are buying the full chip, not just a module. Often the sellers list the cheapest module or case, as the list price.

Budget Starter Kit (5 Nodes) - ~€150 Total

Pros: Cheap, WiFi+BLE, OLED display, good for learning
Cons: Power-hungry (~90-200mA), not suitable for long-term battery use
Best for: Indoor nodes, mains power, development, short-term mobile use

Low-Power Starter Kit (5 Nodes) - ~€300 Total

Pros: Ultra-low power (11µA sleep), solar-ready, 1.14" TFT display, no soldering required, built-in BMS
Cons: More expensive, BLE only (no WiFi)
Best for: Long-term deployment, solar nodes, battery operation, remote locations

Why T114 over RAK4631? The Heltec T114 is plug-and-play with built-in battery management and display, while RAK4631 requires additional BMS components and soldering.

Protocol Architecture Comparison

This guide covers three distinct mesh networking approaches with fundamentally different transport mechanisms:

• Meshtastic: Application-layer mesh protocol over LoRa PHY/MAC
• Reticulum: SDLC-based (Synchronous Data Link Control) networking stack, transport-agnostic
• OpenMANET: IP-based MANET (Mobile Ad-Hoc Network) over WiFi HaLow (802.11ah)

Critical Engineering Distinction: Reticulum operates at the data link layer without IP dependencies, while OpenMANET maintains full IP stack compatibility. This architectural difference impacts power consumption, protocol overhead, and network interoperability.

Hardware Platform Analysis

Microcontroller Architectures

ESP32 Family Characteristics

• Architecture: Xtensa 32-bit LX6/LX7 dual-core
• Power Profile: High consumption - 90-200mA active, ~900µA deep sleep
• Radio Integration: WiFi + Bluetooth + LoRa (external)
• Use Cases: Mains-powered base stations, vehicle installations, development
• Cost: Low (€15-35 per node)

nRF52840 Characteristics

• Architecture: 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4F with FPU, 64MHz
• Power Profile: Ultra-low - 2-11µA sleep, ~125mA TX@20dBm
• Radio Integration: BLE 5.0 + LoRa (external)
• Use Cases: Battery/solar nodes, remote sensors, handheld devices
• Cost: Medium (€40-70 per node)

LoRa Transceiver Performance Matrix

Recommendation: SX1262/1268 offers the best power efficiency and is used in modern devices like Heltec T114.

Complete Hardware Bill of Materials

Meshtastic Devices

Budget ESP32 Platforms

Ultra-Low Power nRF52 Platforms

All-in-One Solutions

Reticulum RNode Hardware

Important: Reticulum supports the Heltec T114 and other nRF52840 devices via RNode firmware as nodes.

Supported Platforms

RNode Firmware Support Matrix

WiFi HaLow Hardware (Experimental)

Development Modules

Antenna Specifications

LoRa Antennas

Purchase Links: AliExpress Antennas | Search for your specific frequency band

Power and Environmental

Solar Power Systems

Enclosures

Power Analysis

Battery Life Calculations

Solar Sizing Guidelines

Daily Power = (Sleep Hours × Sleep Current) + (TX Hours × TX Current)

ESP32 Node: ~0.1W average → 5W panel minimum (3x safety factor)
T114 Node: ~0.01W average → 1W panel sufficient (10x safety factor)

Regional Frequency Regulations

Network Architecture

Meshtastic Topology

• Max nodes per channel: 100-200 (duty cycle limited)
• Hop limit: 3-7 hops typical
• Channel utilization: <10% (regulatory requirement)
• Optimal spacing: 1-5 km (terrain dependent)

Reticulum Network Design

• Transport agnostic: LoRa, WiFi, Ethernet, Serial, Packet Radio
• No hop limits: Dynamic route discovery
• Bandwidth adaptation: Automatic rate adjustment
• Heterogeneous: Mix different radio technologies

OpenMANET Architecture

• IP-based: Full TCP/IP stack
• Range: Up to 3 km (WiFi HaLow)
• Device capacity: 1000+ nodes per AP
• Protocols: B.A.T.M.A.N. Advanced, OLSR

Setup and Configuration

Video Resources

Hardware Setup Guide: YouTube - RNode Hardware Setup

Application Usage: YouTube - Meshtastic App Tutorial

Installation Commands

Reticulum/RNode Setup

# Install RNode configuration utility  
pip install rns --upgrade

# Auto-install firmware (supports T114)
# Or use the web based installer: https://liamcottle.github.io/rnode-flasher/
rnodeconf --autoinstall

Meshtastic Firmware

# Web-based installer (recommended)
# Visit: https://flasher.meshtastic.org/

# For T114: Select "Heltec Mesh Node T114"

OpenMANET (WiFi HaLow)

# Download OpenWRT image
wget https://github.com/OpenMANET/openwrt/releases/latest

# Flash to supported hardware
# See: https://openmanet.github.io/docs/initial-setup.html

Integration Notes

Reticulum + OpenMANET

Currently incompatible due to fundamental differences:

• Reticulum: SDLC-based, no IP layer
• OpenMANET: IP-based MANET protocols

Future Integration: Possible through bridge applications or protocol gateways.

OpenMANET Resources:

• Website: openmanet.net
• Documentation: Setup Guide
• B.A.T.M.A.N. Advanced: Configuration

Purchasing Summary

Recommended First Purchase (Germany/Europe)

For Beginners: 2x Heltec LoRa 32 V3 (€50) + antennas (€10) = €60 total

For Serious Deployment: 5x Heltec T114 (€250) + solar panels (€40) + cases (€10) = €300 total

Purchase Priority:

1. T114 for battery/solar nodes - No soldering, built-in BMS, ultra-low power
2. ESP32 for mains-powered base stations - WiFi capability, lower cost
3. Professional antennas for range improvement
4. Proper enclosures for permanent deployment

Further Reading

• Reticulum Network Stack: Official Manual
• RNode Technical Guide: Linux in a Bit Blog
• Meshtastic Hardware: Official Device List
• Amateur Radio Integration: KISS TNC Guide

This guide reflects current hardware availability as of September 2025. Verify specifications and regional compliance before deployment.