RAKwireless Launches Compact, Quick-Deploy, Solar-Powered WisMesh Meshtastic Repeater Nodes
Need to boost the range of your Meshtastic network? These self-contained battery-backed repeater nodes should do the trick.
RAKwireless has announced the launch of two repeater nodes for Meshtastic mesh networks, featuring solar power support for installation where reliable power supplies are few and far between: the WishMesh Repeater and Repeater Mini.
"The WisMesh Repeater is a ready-to-use Meshtastic Solar repeater designed to extend the range of the Meshtastic LoRa mesh network. The WisMesh Repeater is built for reliable, long-range Meshtastic communication in areas with no power or infrastructure. Designed for tough outdoor conditions, it ensures continuous connectivity for remote networks, emergency setups, and off-grid use cases — all with minimal maintenance and solar-powered operation."
The new WisMesh devices, brought to our attention by CNX Software, are designed for use with the Meshtastic network, a community-driven mesh network of low-power long-range nodes communicating over LoRa radios. Inside the IP67-rated weatherproof housing is either a WisBlock RAK4631 Core LoRa module, built around the Nordic Semiconductors nRF52840 microcontroller with Semtech SX1262 LoRa transceiver, ready-flashed with the Meshtastic firmware.
In the WisMesh Repeater Mini, this is connected to a 3,200mAh lithium-ion battery with a solar panel built into the housing's lid; in the case of the full-size WisMesh Repeater, the solar panel and battery are optional and external — either bring-your-own with a 12VDC regulated output or add RAKwireless' in-house Solar Battery Lite, which combines a 10W panel with a 5,200Ah battery. In both cases, the housings provide weather protection and can be mounted on a wall or a pole.
"When communication matters," the company explains of the devices' intended use-case, "gaps in coverage can be a problem. The WisMesh Repeater [or Repeater] Mini helps keep your Meshtastic network connected, even when direct signals fail. Whether you're in remote locations, off-grid areas, or places with obstacles blocking the signal, this compact repeater ensures messages go through."
The WisMesh Repeater Mini and WisMesh Repeater are now available on the RAKwireless store, priced at $99 for either — or $299 for a bundled of the WisMesh Repeater with Solar Battery Lite.
