Lilygo T-Deck Pro (left), Heltec MeshPocket (center), and Seeed Wio Tracker L1 Pro (right), click on the image to enlarge it …
This article briefly introduces the following Meshtastic devices from our perspective:
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Lilygo T-Deck Pro: “Luxury” stand-alone device, reminiscent of a Blackberry
Highlights: Keyboard, trackball with click function, and micro SD card slot. Map display when OpenStreetMaps maps are saved in the correct format on an SD card (sold separately). The ESP32‑S3 architecture with PSRAM is potentially Meshtastic Store & Forward capable.
Lowlights: It shouldn’t be dropped, as the device doesn’t seem particularly robust for tough outdoor use. A modern user interface is only supported from version 2.7 of the Meshtastic firmware onwards. -
Heltec MeshPocket: Meshtastic and MagSafe—power bank in one device
Highlights: Depending on the model, an enormous battery capacity of 5,000 or 10,000 mAh, configurable E-Ink display. Can also be used as a PD-enabled power bank for smartphones and a magnet for attachment with MagSafe.
Lowlights: The antenna is okay, but not the best, and cannot be replaced. The device cannot be used as a stand-alone device for Meshtastic messaging and requires a smartphone with the Meshtastic app. -
Seeed Wio Tracker L1 Pro: small stand-alone device with 5-way joystick
Highlights: Comparatively high battery capacity of 2,000 mAh. Great user interface with 5-way joystick for operation as a stand-alone device from firmware 2.7 onwards, including free text input for messages. Norwegian chipset with very low power consumption.
Lowlights: At the time of writing, the latest firmware version 2.7.11 is not yet stable, with the device occasionally shutting down after approximately 1 hour.
Before purchasing one of these devices, please research the actual features yourself.
More about the Wio Tracker L1’s 5-way joystick
Communication during blackouts and in the event of disasters and civil defense with Meshtastic
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