RAKwireless WisBlock Meshtastic Starter Kit US915 Base RAK19007 + Core RAK4631

Had the urge to do some DIY radio stuff and decided to check out Meshtastic. There are basically two controllers used for those devices, ESP32 and nrf52. This board uses nrf52. ESP32 is a bit of a power hog whereas the nrf52 is the complete opposite. Excellent for mobile use where power is a key factor. The RAK 19007 board acts as a motherboard for IoT devices and then you snap on modules to add the functionality you want for your project. This kit includes the 4630 (Bluetooth 5 and SX1262 LoRa radio) and 4631 (nrf52840 MCU) core module and then you can add others as needed in various positions that snap into place. Certain modules need to go in certain positions so be sure to consult the RAK Wireless site for details on the modules you're planning to use for compatibility with each other space-wise. For my project I chose the 12500 GNSS (GPS) receiver and will probably add a couple more. The modules usually run around $15-25 each so pretty cheap to tinker with.Setting up for Meshtastic was easy, just attach the antennas (DO THIS BEFORE POWERING ON!!! You can damage the transceiver if you do not attach the antennas prior to power on!!!), plug into your computer via USB-C, go to the Meshtastic Flash site pick the device, image version and COM port it's connected to and drop the file you download into the drive that appears, boom! It'll reboot and you're up and running!The great appeal of this kit is in the nrf52 very low power draw and customization you get with the modules. Also these include an on-board solar charge controller to charge a 3.7v LiPo battery from a solar panel! There are other base boards you can choose that take up less room or have more base features on them for expansion capabilities (Browse the RAK website for more details).These are priced a bit over what you can get them directly from China for but not really that much and you'll get them a LOT faster. Once you consider the time delay and shipping charges from China it's a fair trade I think provided they're available. I'd like to see the modules offered on Amazon as it's a pain tracking things down from various vendors. Hopefully more sellers will consider stocking the modules. If you have an IoT project you want to try out or want to try Meshtastic or other projects that support this board and use LoRa I'd recommend these, very happy with mine so far!

The RAKwireless WisBlock Meshtastic Starter Kit is a solid option for anyone building a long-range, open-source mesh network. I tested it outdoors, and it consistently maintained a clear, stable connection over several hundred meters, even with obstacles in the way.The US915 Base RAK19007 module handles regional frequency well, and pairing it with the RAK4631 core gives a compact, powerful setup. The kit includes everything needed—antenna, headers, and WisBlock adapters—so it’s ready to go out of the box.I connected it to the Meshtastic smartphone app, and the setup was straightforward. The interface is simple, allowing easy message transmission and routing checks between nodes.One small thing: You need basic soldering skills to mount the modules or expand with additional sensor boards. It also doesn’t come with enclosures, so it’s best suited for hobbyists who don’t mind a DIY look.Overall, the RAKwireless Meshtastic Starter Kit delivers strong performance, good range, and solid mesh networking. It’s a great foundation for long-range communication projects, especially for hikers, off-grid setups, or sensor networks.

This WisBlock Meshtastic starter kit delivers on its promise as a solid foundation for LoRa mesh networking projects. The combination of the RAK19007 base and RAK4631 core module makes for a powerful yet accessible platform. Initial setup was straightforward - the pre-soldered headers meant I could start building immediately without breaking out the soldering iron.The US915 frequency band provides excellent range in my semi-rural testing environment. I've achieved reliable communication over 2km with line of sight, and reasonable performance even with some obstacles. The Nordic nRF52840 processor on the RAK4631 handles Meshtastic firmware smoothly, and the integrated LoRa radio performs consistently.Battery management is well-implemented, with the base board providing clean power regulation and USB-C connectivity. The modular WisBlock architecture proves its worth when you want to expand - I've added environmental sensors to create a small weather mesh network. The included antenna is adequate for testing, though serious deployments might benefit from a higher-gain option.Documentation could be more comprehensive for beginners, but the active Meshtastic community makes up for this. While not the cheapest entry point into LoRa development, the build quality and expandability justify the investment. For anyone looking to explore mesh networking or build a long-range communication system, this kit provides a reliable foundation with room to grow.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

This kit is amazing! I'm into Meshtastic, and I've had several friends complain to MW that they "got stuck" on the endless list of modules on RAK Wireless' website.This kit solves that problem. You get a RAK19007 WisBlock base board, a very power-efficient LoRa chip, a little Bluetooth dipole which is adequate, and a surprisingly good 900MHz stubby antenna, with pigtail. You get all of this for, to my mind, a very reasonable price.Only things it doesn't come with are a battery or battery adapters, which is fine by me; this is a STARTER kit. It's meant for experimentation. Plug it into USB and play with it. Like what you see? Add a battery, or solar, or a case, or sensors, or....I'll be giving a presentation on Meshtastic to my ham radio club soon, and I plan to strongly suggest this kit to anyone wanting to get started playing with LoRa/mesh networking.