A compact baseboard for 868 MHz (EU) or 915 MHz (US) LoRa networks measuring 70 × 43 mm, featuring an integrated MPPT charger, multi-chemistry battery support, a 3.3V buck/boost converter, easy I2C senssors integration and a USB-C connector. Designed specifically for off-grid Meshtastic/MeshCore/Reticulum/other setups, this board optimizes solar power usage, protects your battery, and ensures uninterrupted operation of your nodes in any condition.

Note: If you want to set up your own Mesh node but don’t have the equipment, a 3D printer, or the necessary knowledge, check out my fully assembled Meshtastic station here on Lectronz. It’s a plug-and-play MeshCore/Meshtastic solution.

Note on Product Name Change (July 2025): This is the same product as previously sold under the name "Meshtastic Motherboard". Starting from August 2025, the product has been renamed to "Solar Mesh Baseboard" to better reflect its compatibility with multiple mesh networking firmware platforms, including Meshtastic, MeshCore, and Reticulum, and to avoid any trademark concerns with Meshtastic®. Boards manufactured up to 2025-07-31 are labeled "Meshtastic Motherboard" on the silkscreen. Functionally, they are identical to newer boards. No hardware or firmware changes were made — only the name and branding have been updated.

How It Compares to Common Setups?

Many mesh users build solar-powered nodes using a RAK4631 + RAK19007 WisBlock boards and a separate MPPT charger module. While this is a functional solution, my RAK4630 Motherboard with MPPT charger offers several key advantages:

• Integration: Instead of multiple boards and messy wiring, this solution combines everything into a single, compact PCB.
• Ease of Setup: With fewer components, the connections are simpler and reduce the chance of wiring errors.
• Size: This all-in-one design is compact and fits easily into small enclosures, unlike the bulkier alternative setups.
• Cost: By reducing the number of required parts, this solution is more cost-effective overall.
• Durability: Fewer components mean fewer potential points of failure, making the entire system more reliable.

Getting Started

• Connect 868 MHz or 915 MHz LoRa antenna and 2.4 GHz Bluetooth antenna to the IPEX connectors on the board.
• Optional: Connect any supported I2C sensor to the QWIIC (STEMMA) connectors.
• Connect any solar panel with voltage up to 30 V to the "solar" terminal.
• Attach compatible battery to the "battery" terminal.
• By default, the hardware is flashed with latest Meshtastic firmware and set to EU 868 MHz preset. You can change this to any firmware you want later.
• Done. You have a fully working solar-powered node.

Detailed description, user manual, schematics and 3D model (STEP) are available on my blog μArt.cz.

Technical Details

More information available in the datasheet.

You can use any solar panel with an operating voltage from 7 to 30 V and any lithium-based battery with a nominal voltage below 5.6 V. This means the Meshtastic router can be powered by:

• 1S Li-Ion and Li-Pol (standard, widely available batteries commonly used by Meshtastic enthusiasts),
• 1S LiFePo4 (popular in solar installations due to their long lifespan and capacity over 100 Ah), or
• 1S and 2S Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) (batteries that can be discharged and charged even in winter temperatures below −10 °C).

The PCB includes connectors for easy integration with I2C sensors (e.g., for measuring temperature, humidity, pressure, or other parameters supported by the Meshtastic firmware; connector is compatible with QWIIC from Sparkfun or STEMMA from Adafruit), a USB-C connector (used for communication only, not for powering the board), a RESET button for firmware updates, two signal LEDs, and convenient access to UART RX/TX signals and the SWD (Serial Wire Debug) interface for firmware development or debugging. It also features three mounting holes for M3 screws to securely attach the PCB to an enclosure.

The baseboard is compatible with the Meshtastic or MeshCore firmware compiled for the WisBlock RAK4631. You don’t need to compile or modify anything in the firmware. Simply go to flasher.meshtastic.org or flasher.meshcore.co.uk, select the target device 'WisBlock RAK4631,' download the UF2 binary, and copy it to the board via USB-C.

Firmware compatibility

This hardware is electrically compatible with the RAK4630/RAK4631, so any firmware running on that board will work on the Solar Mesh Baseboard. I have already tested the following projects:"

• Meshtastic (any version)
• MeshCore (all variants work: Repeater, Room Server, and Companion Radio)
• Reticulum (tested by a customer, RNode firmware)

What’s Included

I offer three variants to choose from:

• Solar Mesh Baseboard only
  • Solar Mesh Baseboard with RAK4630 (fully assembled and tested)
  • Quick-start guide.
• Solar Mesh Baseboard and a set of antennas:
  • Solar Mesh Baseboard with RAK4630 (fully assembled and tested)
  • Gizont LoRa 868 MHz and 2.4 GHz Bluetooth antennas with IPEX connectors
  • Quick-start guide.
• Fully assembled solar mesh node:
  • Available here on Lectronz.
  • Solar Mesh Baseboard with RAK4630 (fully assembled and tested)
  • Gizont LoRa 868 MHz and 2.4 GHz Bluetooth antennas with IPEX connectors
  • 10 W polycrystalic solar panel with aluminium frame (370x250x17mm)
  • 3 Ah LiPol battery
  • 3D printed parts
  • Waterproof ABS IP65 enclosure
  • Quick-start guide.

Why Buy from Me?

I’m a maker and HAM radio enthusiast who designs and manufactures every board myself. Sharing my creations with other makers is a way to contribute to the community I love. By purchasing from me, you not only support my work but also help fuel future designs and innovations. Your support means the world — thank you!

I use Packeta for shipping, a Czech company that delivers packages using the best method for each destination country.

Shipping Times: Typically under 2 weeks for the European Union and some other European countries.

Lost or Damaged Packages: If your package is lost or damaged during transit, please contact me. I’ll work with you to find the best solution.

Shipping to Other Countries: If your country isn’t listed (outside the EU), feel free to send me a message. I’ll do my best to find a way to ship the package to you.

If you have any questions or if something went wrong, send me a message, and I'll do my best to resolve the issue.