Companion nodes are nodes that send and receive messages and are how people interact with each other over the mesh. If you're looking for your first node, a companion is what you'll want to start with.
Cards & Clips
Card nodes are a great option for getting started. They're very easy to carry around in a pocket or attach to a bag, and typically have some form of water resistance so they're great for outdoor use. Since they don't have a display, you'll need to pair with a phone to send/receive messages with these.
These nodes are bulkier than the cards above, but you gain the ability to use an external antenna as well as a display for checking the node's status and reading messages without needing to have a phone paired.
This class of device is also where you'll see more microcontroller options. We recommend looking for nRF52-based nodes, since they're significantly more power-efficient than ESP32-based ones.
The Heltec V3 is another popular and cost-effective option that can be bought as a kit or just the bare board, but note that its battery life will be worse due to it being ESP-32 based. For battery-powered nodes that you carry with you, we advise picking something nRF-based instead, despite the popularity of the V3.
Standalone
Standalone nodes include a keyboard and larger display, which allows sending and receiving messages without carrying a phone. These nodes are the most expensive, but also the most full-featured. Firmware such as Ripple or MeshOS are most frequently used on these to best take advantage of the extra power and features.
For nodes with an external antenna connector, the stock "stubby" antenna that comes with many nodes can be a limiting factor for range. If you'd like to improve your RF performance, upgrading to a better antenna is a way to do that (though there are many other factors at play - bad terrain and repeater proximity can still cancel out any improvement you might see from a better antenna.)
The Muzi Works whip antenna is the most commonly recommended upgrade:
There's many other antenna vendors out there, but be wary of no-name or counterfeit sellers - advertised specifications are not always correct.
Repeaters
Repeaters are responsible for routing traffic across the mesh, and define the "backbone" of the network. To reach someone else on the mesh, there needs to be a path of repeaters between your companion node and theirs for the message to pass through. Most repeaters are solar powered to ensure that the mesh remains intact even if grid power fails.
Adding repeaters in strategic locations is key to improving coverage of the mesh, both on towers and tall structures for regional coverage, as well as roofs, attics, and balconies for stronger neighborhood-level coverage.
If you have the tools and know-how, building a repeater from parts is also possible, and in some cases may be more cost-effective than buying something pre-built. There are plenty of guides to building this type of node online.
For most repeaters, we recommend the RAK WisBlock series of boards:
You'll also want a waterproof enclosure, batteries, solar panel(s), and antenna. Also consider how to get power connections into the enclosure - cable glands of an appropriate diameter are typically used for this.
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Some boards like the RAK13302 and Heltec V4 are capable of 1W transmit power. While other nodes may be able to hear a 1W repeater from further away, the repeater won't be able to hear replies from weaker companion nodes at those ranges. Because of this asymmetry, we recommend using a board with lower transmit power in most cases to ensure that traffic can flow bidirectionally - optimal placement and elevation can improve RF performance much more than an increase in power can anyway.
1W nodes are most useful as a workaround to "punch through" tricky terrain or buildings where clear line of sight isn't possible, but they should not be considered the default - a well-placed low-power repeater will almost always outperform a sub-optimally placed high-power one.
Antennas
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Note that antenna gain and range are two different things. While a higher gain antenna may reach "further" horizontally, its coverage area is flattened vertically - nearby nodes higher or lower in elevation than the plane of the antenna will have a worse connection to a high gain antenna. Because of this, very high gain antennas are not effective in this area's hilly terrain. We recommend gains of around 3-5 dBi, even for longer distance links.
A frequent recommendation for repeaters is this ALFA model (beware of counterfeits):
Larger outdoor antennas typically use an N-type connector, so you may also need to purchase a pigtail/adapter to connect the antenna to the SMA or U.FL connector on your node. Pre-built nodes usually include this.
RAKWireless
muzi ᴡᴏʀᴋꜱ
