Ben "VE6SFX" Eadie's MeshTIEstick Is an Espressif ESP32-Powered Wearable Meshtastic Node

Radio ham Ben "VE6SFX" Eadie is taking portability to the next level, turning a flexible fabric antenna into a wearable necktie-connected radio system compatible with the Meshtastic mesh network project: the MeshTIEstick.

"I don't normally dress this dapper," Eadie explains of the sartorial communications system, "but, I'm not going to brag, this is a Meshtastic node, complete, fully-functional. It turns out if you put some iron-on backing onto Faraday cloth and then use the Cricut [vinyl cutter] to cut out the antenna you have something that you can iron onto a ribbon and attach my BNC connector that I use for all my other antennas."

The community-driven Meshtastic project is enjoying an explosion of interest at late, thanks in no small part to a wide variety of low-cost devices designed to connect to it. These include LoRa transceivers and, typically, Bluetooth connections for control via a smartphone, tablet, or other computer — though many also include displays and keyboards of their own for standalone use.

Sadly, Eadie has discovered that many also come with poor-quality antennas — something his necktie antenna solves, while ensuring that you'll always have it on your person so long as you remain properly dressed. "It has a better range," Eadie explains," and it does way better than the stock antenna, and it will be easier on the electronics hardware that you have."

Eadie's finished design pairs the necktie antenna with Seeed Studio's Xiao ESP32S3 and Wio-SX12623 Meshtastic Kit bundle, providing an easily-pocketable and battery-driven Meshtastic node that can be installed in the back of the tie to make the entire system wearable.

The project is documented in full in the video embedded above and on Eadie's YouTube channel; Eadie sells the fabric antenna, dubbed the Fara-J, on vfcomms.com for $45 plus $15 for it to be customized with your callsign if desired.