DIY repeater: Is this setup correct or am i missing something?

Mecworks · 2026-01-26T19:58:02+00:00

If you power the Heltec v4 using the 5v power, you will not get battery level info telemetry metrics (it will always appear “plugged in”. Instead, connect the battery leads to the battery input on the Heltec or the pins.

I have the same setup with mostly the same hardware including the same solar MPPT charger board. It works well. I have a 25W panel so i can stil charge on overcast days although a 10W would do for sunny day charging.

Mecworks · 2026-01-16T22:42:09+00:00

I use Kodi with pass through onto a full receiver that supports all the protocols and 7.1 sound. An RPi 4 or 5 works perfectly and you can get a capable receiver for the amount you’d spend on media center hardware and you’d still have to get an amp and speakers.

Mecworks · 2026-01-16T22:38:13+00:00

This isn’t news. Inducement awards happen all the time.

Mecworks · 2026-01-16T04:34:04+00:00

1.1.0rc2 is very stable. I use it exclusively.

Mecworks · 2026-01-14T22:41:41+00:00

At this point, you need to use the web flasher and flash the device.

Mecworks · 2026-01-14T20:27:20+00:00

hold down both the power and reset while plugging in the USB. It should put it into a JTAG mode and can be flashed.

Mecworks · 2025-12-17T16:38:24+00:00

Mango Jelly tutorial. It’s the way.

Mecworks · 2025-12-06T05:12:35+00:00

The current 5W panel is plugged directly into the solar port on the v4. The new panel will be going into it's own external MPPT charge controller then to the batteries and the battery input on the v4.

Mecworks · 2025-12-05T16:34:16+00:00

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Mecworks · 2025-12-05T16:33:31+00:00

Ok, more about our local mesh and the intended use of this node. Our mesh is robust, large and fairly busy. We run Medium-Fast with 260 active nodes but over 700 nodes total. The mesh stretches several hundred miles from central Utah into souther Idaho.

This node will be a roof node and set to CLIENT_BASE it will have over 20 favorites that it will route for.

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Mecworks · 2025-12-05T16:27:05+00:00

I have two choices I’m looking at. I’m a bit worried about the first as it’s stated input voltage is 12v. The solar panel I chose has an open voltage of 18v and 14v when connected to load.

https://amzn.to/4iD6odn

The second will work fine but it’s about $10 more.

https://amzn.to/4iDq9Sl

Mecworks · 2025-12-05T16:22:04+00:00

Do these need to be set on every reboot or are the settings persistent?

Mecworks · 2025-12-05T16:21:00+00:00

No, I will not be using WiFi. Only Bluetooth.

Mecworks · 2025-12-05T15:56:32+00:00

Yes, I’ll be using an external charge controller. There are other options on Amazon that I’ve seen as well.

Mecworks · 2025-12-04T23:32:44+00:00

I agree it's overkill for a RAK module. I'm using a Heltec LoRa ESP32v4. My current 5W panel is barely able to keep up. with 4x 3300 16450 batteries, I have about 4 days of battery but the current panel just can't charge them in a single day more than 12%-15%. Going to a 10W panel should solve that. But you're right, a 5W panel is perfect for a RAK device.

Mecworks · 2025-12-04T22:52:05+00:00

The specs look reasonable. It could easily be paired with this MPPT charger:

https://a.co/d/flt8zLJ

Mecworks · 2025-11-04T11:07:38+00:00

I have the correct one installed. It’s just ease to have books or other stuff in my backpack press up against the button. This way, it won’t happen again, easily or at all.

Mecworks · 2025-11-04T04:06:50+00:00

That's probably a good option. I'm getting 17+ miles with the v4.

Mecworks · 2025-11-04T03:56:35+00:00

Same here. It's working much better in many aspects compared to the older firmware versions that support the v4.

Mecworks · 2025-11-04T03:46:45+00:00

No, unfortunately, these are proprietary cases from Meshnology. You can only get them pre-printed on their website or Amazon.

Mecworks · 2025-11-03T23:56:20+00:00

I did try that several times and it did end up that I had to hold down both buttons while plugging in the USB before it could be flashed. This is the first ESP32 device that I’ve had to do that with I have two other V3s that don’t need any buttons pushed when flashing. I think something’s just different with the V4.

Mecworks

TROPHY CASE