Members of your family might not be interested in mesh radio at all, they’ve heard you go on about it enough, they’re not going to load the app on their phone, or if they do, they won’t open it. If you give them a mesh radio, they probably won’t even keep it powered up.
If however there’s a possibility that they will keep it charged up enough, and perhaps take it with them or just leave it at home near a window, then which type of mesh radio should you hand to them. These are my recommendations.
- Heltec MeshPocket
- Seeeeed SenseCAP Card Tracker T1000-E for Meshtastic [1]
- Seeeeeeeed Wio Tracker L1 Pro
MeshPocket
If you’re going to give it to someone who has had enough of your constant banging on about mesh this and mesh that, they might not even want to download the app in the first place, or if they do, they probably won’t open it. Nevertheless, they might accept having it around. If that’s the case, one way is to suggest the MeshPocket on the basis that it is a Qi2 battery bank for their phone. As long as it is kept topped up every few weeks (really), they now have a good phone powerbank and they also unknowingly contribute to the mesh. Start with a MeshPocket 5000 because it’s small, not heavy and easy to slip into a bag to take with them as they go. Otherwise, give them a MeshPocket 10000 if it’s likely to sit in the house most of the time with occasional trips out for their unusual journeys.
T1000-e
Otherwise, I would strongly suggest the T1000-e (must be an -e) if it is likely to be actually used now and then. Maybe they’re not tempted by a USB battery bank if they already have one (see above). The T1000-e is small and light, very robust, very good performance, has an IP rating of IP65, has GPS which the MeshPocket lacks, but needs charging every couple of days or so. If you get one, get the snap hook accessory too (the snap hook is actually very well made and a bargain for what it is).
Wio L1 Pro
Last on the list but a good contender nevertheless is the Wio L1 Pro. Obviously get the Pro, who wants to carry around a hacky nonsensical bundle of circuitry. The Pro has a proper label on the bottom with FCC numbers etc which should satisfy any random airport transit interest. The reason I put this last is because it is a bit industrial toy-looking, and isn’t as inconspicuously ‘normal’ as the other two choices. However, I got mine out on the plane last week from London to Gibraltar, then again a few days later Gibraltar to London. The L1 Pro has GPS and a good-lasting battery. It also has a joystick which proved useful to some extent with Meshtastic’s ‘Canned Messages’ feature, which enabled me to just send the same message periodically using buttons on the device. The MeshPocket can do this too. The T1000-e has no display so that’s not going to be so easy.
T114?
Those are the three devices I have experience with which I’d give to someone else to live with. I also have experience with the Heltec T114 in the provided cyan semitransparent case with the stubby aerial, and this is a potential fourth option except for the buttons. It is far too easy to have one or both buttons pressed randomly if it is in a pocket or bag, and this inevitably results in it being left in a useless mode rather than the mesh radio operating mode you expect it should be. For this reason, I’d avoid the T114 for other people, keep it for yourself as you’ll know how to rescue it if that happens. It’s also a bit suspicious looking with wires and battery and components visible through the case.