How to Turn a RAK WisBlock Kit into a Meshtastic Node

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Yes, you can turn the RAK WisBlock kits we sell into Meshtastic nodes. The RAK4631 core in our Helium Solar Panel Mapper Kit and Helium Developer Kit is an officially supported Meshtastic device, and the firmware is free. You copy one file onto the board, set the region to US, and pair it with the Meshtastic app over Bluetooth.

This guide walks through what's in each kit, how to flash Meshtastic, how to go back to LoRaWAN later, and the battery and antenna details that keep the board safe. Every step comes from the official Meshtastic and RAKwireless docs, linked at the end.

What Meshtastic is

Meshtastic is a free, open-source project that lets you use inexpensive LoRa radios as a long-range, off-grid text messaging network. Each radio rebroadcasts the messages it hears, which forms a mesh, and messages are encrypted. No cell service, internet or gateway is needed.

Meshtastic uses LoRa radio but not LoRaWAN. That means a Meshtastic node won't talk to a Helium hotspot or send sensor data to a LoRaWAN console. If you want sensors that report to an app, keep the kit on LoRaWAN. If you want off-grid texting with friends, family or your local mesh, Meshtastic is the right fit.

What's in our WisBlock kits

Both kits use the RAK4631 core module on a RAK5005-O base board. Here's what the product pages list:

Kit	Main parts	Not included
Helium Solar Panel Mapper Kit	RAK5005-O base board, RAK4631 core, RAK1904 accelerometer, RAK1910 GNSS (GPS) module, RAKBox-B2 enclosure with a top-mounted solar panel, LoRa, BLE and GPS antennas	Battery
Helium Developer Kit	Two RAK5005-O base boards, two RAK4631 cores, 13 sensor and interface modules (including a RAK1910 GNSS module), two LoRa antennas, two BLE antennas, a GPS antenna and a screwdriver	Battery (none is listed in the kit)

The Mapper Kit ships with Helium Mapper firmware already on it. The Developer Kit has two complete core and base board sets, so you could build two Meshtastic nodes and message between them.

Meshtastic lists the RAK1910 GPS module as supported in slot A of the RAK5005-O, so your node can share its position. For the other modules in the Developer Kit, check Meshtastic's supported peripherals page before relying on them.

Antennas first, always

RAKwireless is clear on this: "Do not power the module without an antenna connected to the IPEX connector to avoid damage to the RF section of the chip." It also says to keep an antenna connected whenever the LoRa or Bluetooth radio is in use.

• LoRa antenna: clips onto the RAK4631's U.FL/IPEX connector. Press it on straight and gently.
• BLE antenna: connect it too, since you'll pair your phone over Bluetooth.
• GPS antenna: goes on the RAK1910 module if you're using it.
• Screw the modules down so they seat properly, as RAK's quick start guide recommends.

The antennas in the kit are the easiest way to start. Bigger outdoor antennas, like the ones in our 915 MHz antenna buying guide, use N-type or RP-SMA connectors, so connecting one to the RAK4631 needs an IPEX pigtail. Our RAKwireless 3dBi Fiberglass Antenna comes with a 12-inch N-female to RP-SMA male pigtail, and our LMR-400 N-female to RP-SMA male cables end the same way. We may earn a small commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Mapping Network earns from qualifying purchases. We don't stock IPEX pigtails, so to join that RP-SMA male end to the RAK4631's IPEX LoRa connector, use a Proxicast U.FL (IPEX) to RP-SMA female bulkhead pigtail on Amazon.ca. It fits the standard U.FL (MHF1) size, not the smaller MHF4. Need help matching parts? Contact us.

Building with a different board that has an SMA antenna port, such as a Heltec or LilyGO T-Beam? Our Outdoor Meshtastic Node Kit (CAD $229.99, radio not included) gives you a weatherproof enclosure with PoE power, an outdoor 915 MHz antenna, a lightning arrestor and a 50 ft cable run. The enclosure's internal antenna cable ends in an RP-SMA male connector, so for an SMA-port board you'll also need an RP-SMA female to SMA male adaptor (Amazon.ca), which isn't included. The kit works with the RAK4631 in our WisBlock kits too: the Proxicast pigtail above has an RP-SMA female end that mates with the enclosure's RP-SMA male cable. Check that your board fits inside the enclosure and that you can power it from the PoE splitter's USB-C 5 V output (the RAK5005-O base board has a micro USB port).

Battery and solar: what the base board takes

Neither kit includes a battery. The RAK5005-O base board takes a rechargeable 3.7 V lithium battery (LiPo or Li-ion):

• Battery connector: JST PHR-2, 2 mm pitch.
• Voltage: the battery must never go above 4.3 V.
• Polarity: RAK warns that not all batteries are wired the same way. Check that the battery's wires match the polarity marked on the board before you plug it in.
• Charging: the board charges the battery from the micro USB port.
• Non-rechargeable batteries: RAK says to unplug them before connecting USB, or the charger can damage the battery or cause a fire.

The solar input is a separate JST ZHR-2 (1.5 mm pitch) connector for a 5 V panel. RAK says the panel's output must not exceed 5.5 V, and not to use 12 V panels. The Mapper Kit's RAKBox-B2 has a top-mounted panel made for this, and the box is rated IP67, so it suits an outdoor or solar node once you add a battery.

Flash Meshtastic onto the RAK4631

Meshtastic needs the board's Arduino bootloader, which the RAK4631 uses. The RAK4631-R version ships with a different bootloader (RUI3) and has to be converted first, so check the label on your core module. If it says RAK4631-R, follow Meshtastic's conversion guide before you start.

The drag-and-drop method from the Meshtastic docs:

1. Attach the LoRa and BLE antennas.
2. Download the latest firmware from Meshtastic's downloads page and unzip it. Find the file named firmware-rak4631- followed by the version, ending in .uf2.
3. Connect the board to your computer with a USB data cable (some cables only charge).
4. Double-press the reset button on the base board, within about half a second. A new drive appears on your computer with files such as INFO_UF2.TXT.
5. Copy the .uf2 file onto that drive.
6. The board reboots and starts Meshtastic once the copy finishes.

Meshtastic also has a web flasher at flasher.meshtastic.org. Choose your RAK4631 and follow the steps on screen. If the board gets stuck rebooting after a flash, Meshtastic's docs explain how to factory erase an nRF52 board and try again.

Going back to LoRaWAN or Helium

Flashing Meshtastic replaces the LoRaWAN firmware on the RAK4631, so the board stops working as a Helium mapper or LoRaWAN sensor. The good news is you can flash it back:

• Mapper Kit: the Helium Mapper firmware is free on GitHub. Its guide shows how to install the ready-made release package with the free adafruit-nrfutil tool, or build it with PlatformIO. You'll then set the region and sub-band again, as the guide explains.
• Developer Kit: install RAKwireless's Arduino board support package and upload one of its examples, such as the LoRaWAN_OTAA_ABP example, from the Arduino IDE.

Our guide to Helium mappers explains what the mapper firmware does if you want to switch back later.

Pair the app and set it up

A new Meshtastic node won't transmit until you set a region. Here's the basic first setup:

1. Install the Meshtastic app on your phone and connect to the node over Bluetooth.
2. Enter the PIN. The RAK4631 kits have no screen, and Meshtastic says boards without a screen default to a fixed PIN of 123456. Meshtastic advises changing it afterwards in the Bluetooth settings.
3. Set the region to US. At the time of writing, Meshtastic's region table lists US as 902.0 to 928.0 MHz and has no separate Canada entry. That's the same licence-exempt band that LoRaWAN and Helium use in Canada.
4. Check the modem preset. The default is LONG_FAST. Nodes only hear each other on the same preset, so match your local mesh if you're joining one.
5. Leave the role on CLIENT unless you're building a fixed relay in a high spot.

Once that's done, you can send a test message to a friend's node, or set up a second node from the Developer Kit and try it across the house, then across town.

Gear we stock for this

• Helium Solar Panel Mapper Kit: CAD $99.99. One RAK4631 node with GPS and a solar enclosure. Battery not included.
• Helium Developer Kit: CAD $199.99. Two RAK4631 nodes and 13 modules. Battery not included.
• RAKwireless 3dBi Fiberglass Antenna: CAD $69.99, a 915 MHz outdoor antenna for a fixed node. Its included N-female to RP-SMA male pigtail reaches the RAK4631 through the U.FL to RP-SMA female pigtail above.
• Laird Lightning Surge Arrestor: CAD $39.99, for any outdoor antenna run. See our lightning protection guide.
• Outdoor Meshtastic Node Kit: CAD $229.99. Enclosure, PoE power, 915 MHz antenna, lightning arrestor and 50 ft cable for a rooftop node. Radio not included. Fits SMA-port boards with an RP-SMA female to SMA male adaptor, or the RAK4631 with the U.FL to RP-SMA female pigtail (neither included, see above).

See all our Meshtastic antennas, cables and enclosures. Planning a rooftop node? Our free Antenna Setup Planner helps with antenna height and cable length. All prices are in CAD. Free shipping in Canada on orders CAD $99+, excluding oversized items and rural and northern areas. Shipping outside Canada is calculated at checkout.

FAQ

Is the RAK4631 supported by Meshtastic?
Yes. Meshtastic lists the RAK4631 as a supported WisBlock core module and publishes a firmware file for it. The RAK4631-R needs its bootloader converted first.

Can one board run Meshtastic and Helium at the same time?
No. The RAK4631 runs one firmware at a time. The Developer Kit has two cores, so you could keep one on LoRaWAN and flash the other with Meshtastic.

Which region do I pick in Canada?
US. At the time of writing, Meshtastic's region table lists US as 902.0 to 928.0 MHz with no separate Canada entry.

What battery should I buy?
A rechargeable 3.7 V LiPo or Li-ion battery with a JST PHR-2 (2 mm) plug, wired to match the polarity marked on the RAK5005-O. Check the wires before plugging it in.

Sources

• Meshtastic: Introduction
• Meshtastic: RAK WisBlock Core Modules
• Meshtastic: RAK WisBlock Supported Peripherals
• Meshtastic: nRF52 Drag and Drop Flashing
• Meshtastic: Entering Bootloader Mode
• Meshtastic: Converting the RAK4631-R
• Meshtastic: LoRa Configuration (regions and presets)
• Meshtastic: Bluetooth Configuration (pairing PIN)
• RAKwireless: RAK4631 Quick Start Guide
• RAKwireless: RAK5005-O Base Board Datasheet
• RAKwireless: RAK5005-O Quick Start Guide
• RAKwireless: RAKBox-B2 Enclosure
• RAKstars: Make a Helium Mapper with the WisBlock