Best Helium Miners: 7 Hotspot Models Compared

Mapping Network sells hardware only. We make no promises about Helium network rewards, token value or earnings, and nothing here is financial advice. Check current details on the official Helium network page.

Many hotspot models have been made for the Helium network since 2019. Below are seven well-known US915 models and what sets each apart. Some are no longer made; check the manufacturer's current support before buying any hotspot, new or used.

2026 update: what's still sold or supported

We checked each model again in October 2026. Where we couldn't confirm something, we say so.

• SenseCAP M1: Seeed's documentation still describes the M1 with automatic over-the-air updates, and we found no published end-of-support date. In stock at Mapping Network, also as outdoor bundles with an enclosure and antenna.
• Nebra ROCK Pi Indoor: We couldn't confirm Nebra's firmware plans for 2026, so check Nebra's own support pages before you rely on it. In stock at Mapping Network.
• Bobcat Miner 300: Bobcat is reported to be out of business, and its original software is no longer supported. Community projects run the hardware as a LoRaWAN gateway, but setup is more hands-on. We still have a few new units: see the Bobcat 300, and contact us if you're unsure it fits your plans.
• RAK Hotspot V2 and MNTD.: RAKwireless still sells the RAK Hotspot V2 on its own store. MNTD. units are sold out with us.
• Milesight UG65: Still listed by LoRaWAN network providers as a current gateway. Whether it suits Helium depends on your setup, so check before buying.
• Browan MerryIoT and Mimiq FinestraMiner: We couldn't confirm their 2026 status. Treat them as used-market hardware and check support first.

New or used? Used hotspots are cheap, but check before you pay: that the seller can transfer it, that it isn't a clone, that its firmware is still updated, and what happens if it fails. New units from us ship from Ontario, Canada, with CAD prices. Hotspot sales are final, as listed on each product.

Not just Helium. Any of these is, at heart, a 915 MHz LoRaWAN gateway. If you want a gateway for a private LoRaWAN network or The Things Network, the SenseCAP M2 data-only gateway is in stock too.

1. SenseCAP M1 (Seeed Studio)

A ready-to-use indoor LoRaWAN gateway with simple app setup. Seeed also makes LoRaWAN sensors and trackers that pair with it. In stock at Mapping Network, or as a ready outdoor kit: M1 with enclosure and RAK 3 dBi antenna or M1 with enclosure and McGill 6.5 dBi antenna.

2. Nebra ROCK Pi Indoor

An indoor hotspot based on the ROCK Pi single-board computer, with an external antenna connector. In stock at Mapping Network.

3. Bobcat Miner 300

One of the most widely deployed hotspots, set up through a phone app. See the 2026 update above on software support. In stock at Mapping Network.

4. MNTD. Blackspot and Goldspot

Hotspots built on RAKwireless hardware, sold as special editions.

5. Browan MerryIoT

A compact hotspot with eMMC storage and an internal antenna; an external antenna improves range.

6. Milesight UG65

A semi-industrial LoRaWAN gateway with an IP65 enclosure, built for harsher sites.

7. Mimiq FinestraMiner

A window-mounted hotspot designed to sit on glass for better line of sight.

Which matters more: the hotspot or the install?

For most sites, the antenna, its height and the cable matter more than which hotspot you pick. A good outdoor antenna on low-loss cable improves any of these models. Over 10 metres at 915 MHz, LMR-400 cable loses 1.4 dB (about 72% of the signal power gets through), against about 5.2 dB for RG-58 (about 30%). Our 915 MHz antenna buying guide compares the antennas we stock and explains how to choose by distance and terrain. Not sure which antenna and cable to pick? Try our free Antenna Setup Planner. Work out the loss for your own cable run with our free coax cable loss calculator.

Shop the parts

• LoRaWAN gateways and Helium hotspots
• Hotspot kits with enclosure and antenna
• 915 MHz antennas
• Low-loss LMR-400 cable
• Mounts and lightning arrestors

Sources

• Helium World: IoT network
• SenseCAP M1 documentation
• Bobcat 300 community gateway project
• RAKwireless hotspots
• Milesight UG65 (The Things Industries partner listing)