Deng Dazhong's uConsole Add-On Board Turns the Gadget Into a Multi-Radio Meshtastic Powerhouse
Add-on board expands the Clockwork Pi uConsole's connectivity with RTL-SDR, Meshtastic-compatible LoRa, and GNSS radios, plus RTC and USB.
Engineer Deng Dazhong is preparing to launch an add-on for the Clockwork Pi uConsole that delivers as much wireless connectivity is possible — including an RTL-SDR software-defined radio, Meshtastic-compatible LoRa transceiver, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, and even bonus USB ports for external radio modules.
"The uConsole Multi-Functional Expansion Board is a comprehensive solution that significantly extends the functionality of your uConsole," Dazhong explains. "With its integrated RTL-SDR, LoRa, GPS, RTC [Real-Time Clock], and USB Hub capabilities, this expansion board is perfect for various applications, from radio communication and navigation to timekeeping and device connectivity. Whether you're a developer working on a complex project or a hobbyist exploring new technologies, this expansion board is designed to meet your needs and enhance your uConsole experience."
Clockwork Pi unveiled the uConsole back in October 2022 as a compact portable computer designed as a successor to its earlier DevTerm — which was, in turn, a scaled-down Tandy-RadioShack TRS-80 Model 100-inspired successor to its GameSHell handheld console. Based around the company's Mainboard v3.14, the uConsole can be fitted with a range of systems-on-modules (SOMs) — including the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4, when fitted in a suitable adapter.
As standard, the uConsole includes integrated Wi-Fi connectivity — and an optional cellular expansion board adds an LTE modem. Dazhong's expansion board, though, goes considerably further — adding an RTL-SDR receive-only software-defined radio module, a Semtech LoRa Connect SX1262 LoRa transceiver compatible with the popular Meshtastic mesh networking project, and a multi-mode GPS-compatible GNSS receiver, all of which can operate at the same time and each of which is given its own external antenna for best performance.
If the radios weren't enough, Dazhong's design also includes an NXP Semiconductors PCF85063A real-time clock with battery backup and an integrated USB hub — the latter driving externally-accessible USB Type-A and USB Type-C ports plus an internal Type-C port and a 2mm-pitch USB header.
Dazhong is preparing to launch the board through his company Hacker Gadgets at $78.99 soon; interested parties can sign up to be notified when the device goes on sale.