Lilygo TDeck Meshtastic Build - Battery, GPS, LoRa Antenna, 3D Printed Case

In this video, we start with a stock Lilygo TDeck with the 915 mhz LoRa radio (for operation in the United States) and we add an external battery, GPS radio, LoRa Antenna, and a 3D Printed case. We then install Meshtastic on the T-Deck and demonstrate adding it as a node to our existing Meshtastic network, making our TDeck capable of encrypted off grid communications as well as being location aware. Additionally, since 915mhz is in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) radio band, it is completely legal to operate this off grid encrypted communications network without a license. Since it is built on extremely cheap hardware, it is very simple to deploy multiple nodes that all mesh together to give you a large coverage area very quickly.
Meshtastic: meshtastic.org/
Lilygo TDeck (you must get the LoRa radio for your country for Meshtastic to work): www.lilygo.cc/products/t-deck...
3D Printed Case:
www.thingiverse.com/thing:652...
If you would like to support me, consider buying your hardware from my affiliate links:
955565 5000 mAh Battery: amzn.to/3ItVfdV
ATGM336H GPS Module (2 pack): amzn.to/49MwghV
915 Mhz UFL to SMA LoRa Antenna (4 pack): amzn.to/49LHpPR
--------------------------------------------------------------
A great resource for Antenna testing results and recommendations for the TDeck external antenna can be found here:
github.com/RicInNewMexico/Mes...
If you would like to be able to measure the SWR of your antenna, here is the NanoVNA that I use: amzn.to/3Pv7ScB
Or you can find much cheaper ones with reduced frequency ranges and features by searching "NanoVNA" on Amazon, like this one: amzn.to/4crrojO

[@MyTube4Utoo]

I've been a licensed HAM Radio operator since 1989, but just got into LoRa / Meshtastic like a month ago, and I'm addicted. I've now got (6) devices, the last being a T-Deck, and I'll be getting a T-BeamSUPREME, when Lilygo has them available again.

[@zloneOTM]

What’s your favorite device by far? I might pick up a t deck as my starter for meshtastic I have esp32s laying around Should I just get some Lora modules ?

[@MyTube4Utoo]

@zloneOTM I like my T-Deck, but mostly because it has the keyboard. I want a T-BeamSUPREME since it has GPS. I haven't bought any GPS modules for any of my other devices, yet. I do have a WisBlock I haven't done anything with, and I'm going to add GPS and an environmental sensor to it. It'll probably be my main device for when I'm running around outdoors. I have (4) Heltec V3s in the little factory cases. I may give a couple of those to neighbors to try to get Meshtastic going around here. I've yet to see any other nodes online, but I also don't have an antenna up outside, yet. The devices are fairly cheap, especially the Heltecs, so I'll always have some extras lying around.

[@elsuperpollo2273]

I'm only a tech, looking to upgrade to general soon. I so want to get into these as well I'm actually looking to get away from using a cellphone. 73, kq4hcu

[@haydenc2742]

ISM band 915mhz, no need for a HAM license APRS does about the same thing but meshtastic seems to have more support/apps at the moment

[@haydenc2742]

@@zloneOTM That's one way to do it...there are tons of devices out specifically designed...but the LORA modules are what communicate digital packet radio (similar to APRS for HAMS) the ESP32's have the software to code/decode the packets

[@Ammed_KN6STX]

That was a perfectly explained process video. Keep it up!!!

[@Smash-n-Grab]

This is the best build I've seen bro . The rest I've seen don't have GPS and in uk 868mhz same rules as yourself. I glued 2 old Nokia batteries together and used those

[@SMB_SpeedTwin]

Great video mate! Thank you, this is exactly what I needed.

[@edwardfletcher7790]

What a chunky boy ! LoL I'd strongly suggest you implement corner protection for the LCD. You could stick one of those folding rings from a phone case on the back to grip the case easier. Another battery option would be to just use an 18650 holder and swap batteries when they go flat ?

[@robnacho6286]

Love it bro 😎

[@nzseagull]

Nice presentation

[@kenough90]

I love this thing, I recently got my RAK set up but I wish i could get my hands on one of these but they're sold out everywhere!

[@JohnnyArizona84]

I seen that Amazon had some available a few days ago

[@adrianobueno6984]

Nice video thanks! Since you have two TDecks would be nice to see a range test

[@haydenc2742]

Meshtastic is CB version of APRS for Hams...in case anyone needed an analogy explaining it

[@lieutenantcolonelnicholson9228]

Can I buy that case? All I have ever 3D printed was a glob lol Nice video!

[@iblackfeathers]

those with older t-deck boards may experience issues flashing, where it is stuck at “connecting…” desoldering and removing the d2 diode disables the chip id bug, allowing the flashing of firmware to commence. newer t-deck boards do not have this problem.

[@OnTeamHumanity]

I just got a t-deck straight from Lillygo and I'm stuck at Connecting

[@arisoda]

​@@OnTeamHumanityI had the same but I fixed it. I was trying on linux (manjaro) but it worked when I switched to windows 10 (on chromium).

[@OnTeamHumanity]

@@arisoda I was already on windows. I was able to get it to work by not selecting full erase and install

[@masondawson4061]

I did this a few weeks ago following Random Alley Cat's instructions, and am wondering if mine is working properly. When I first turn it on it will normally get a GPS lock, but it doesn't update position even if asked to by a separate node. I played around in the web client settings, and nothing I did seemed to make a difference. It just gives me the single GPS reading shortly after powering up. If I want another reading the only thing that seems to work is turning it off, and then on again. I'm thinking about putting a different GPS module in, but thought I would ask before doing so.

[@KillRoy0351]

I definitely ripped the pad for one of the gps modules trying to pull the metal piece out in the end it would have just stuck to the soldering iron without me pulling on it with snips

[@michaelmcwilliams5403]

good video. I have been looking at these but the lack of gps has been a holdback nice tutorial to implement the glaringly missing feature. I mean its obvious right? If I want a signal repeater it doesnt need GPS. If I'm replacing my phone on an encrypted messaging app, then my location matters right? right..?

[@0xKruzr]

I have a ClockworkPi uConsole and am hoping putting together T-Decks will give me some ideas for turning it into a Meshtastic communicator. Thanks!

[@joecizin9357]

👍👍

[@DogasNetwork]

@HackedExistence I was wondering since I wanna build the exact same build with all of the modules and accessories you've shown in the video... have you also got the Amazon links for those wires as well perhaps? thanks in advance man! love the deep technical dive video instruction btw! it's awesome! ❤

[@davetech356]

So the point of this is to be able to communicate completely privately? And not be traced?

[@theunheardprophet4315]

No, just legally off-grid without license and with the option of encrypting the messages. At the end its still radio so the signal can be traced.

[@davetech356]

@@theunheardprophet4315 ok thanks for the reply.

[@haydenc2742]

End of the world "zombies are coming" type comms...if cell service and all other comms are fritzed...HAMS will be coming out of the woodwork by then ;)

[@haydenc2742]

@@theunheardprophet4315 CB version of APRS...

[@TheGtech83]

Wonder what Blackberry thinks about all this 😂, looks great just trying to learn use cases

[@jaqhass]

What advantage does the gps give you? What use do you even get from it?

[@PaulMacpherson-zv2sh]

Could I use my old blackberry passport🙏🙏🙏just need firmware & need to GPS channels set 👍👍👍👍👍

[@danielktdoranie]

What watch are you using? Is it a LilyGo T-Watch-S3? If so, where’d you get the firmware? I own the T-Watch-S3 and I can’t find any firmware for it besides the stock firmware and it doesn’t have any LoRa apps (although it has LoRa)

[@HackedExistence]

Correct, I am using the Twatch-S3 with the LoRa radio. You can use the same process in the video, flasher.meshtastic.org but select "T-Watch S3" from the device drop down, or you can pull the latest release from the github repo here: github.com/meshtastic/firmware/ and use something like Arduino IDE to flash.

[@danielktdoranie]

@@HackedExistencethank you so much!

[@danielktdoranie]

@@HackedExistence so I flashed my T-Watch-S3 and I followed your instructions but it still says "No GPS" I am in a rural region in Ireland... could this be why I have "No GPS" or it just not configured correctly? Thanks for your help.

[@HackedExistence]

@@danielktdoranie The TWatch S3 doesnt have a GPS radio, just a LoRa radio. If you want the T-Watch to be location aware, connect it to a cell phone running the meshtastic app over bluetooth and configure the app to send GPS location from the phone to the watch via bluetooth.

[@danielktdoranie]

@@HackedExistencethanks! Still learning

[@galmor1007]

What's your battery life with that setup? Also, is there a case where I can simply take the battery out without disassembling the TDeck from the case?

[@LordGryllwotth]

What voltage do it supply? 3.3v or 5v? I need to google that, I have plenty 5v GPS around me for my radio control projects.

[@PaulMacpherson-zv2sh]

Or could I use the blackberry & the Tdeck to help meshtastic or see what else I can connect or what else is still lec felt.0

[@joels7605]

Those "915 MHz" antennas are AWFUL. Don't trust what the sellers say, at all. I've ordered boxes and boxes and those antennas, and I usually just get a 2.4 GHz antenna that the seller is pretending is 915 MHz because very few people have the ability to actually verify the frequency.

[@HackedExistence]

You are correct, without a VNA it is somewhat a shot in the dark, thats why I put a link to RicInNewMexico's github repo where he has tested and posted the results of multiple different antennas for the 915mhz space, check out his research here: github.com/RicInNewMexico/Meshtastic-Antenna-Reports

[@MrGhost9640]

How do I verify the frequency

[@urlawyer]

@@MrGhost9640Use a nanovna as he specified in the video description.

[@MrGhost9640]

@@urlawyer thank I watched before I watched full video my bad but seriously thank you

[@urlawyer]

@@MrGhost9640NP. FWIW, I ordered the antennas the OP linked in his description; they arrived today, and I checked the SWR on my nanovna, and it had an (appropriate) SWR of 1.4 on 915mHz. It’s not the ideal of 1.0, but it is perfectly acceptable.

[@joel6221]

Can you disable the GPS to save battery life?

[@wakejoe]

Will it only show one message at a time on the TDeck...?

[@TheOpticalFreak]

How expensive is all this? And where did you get it?

[@Atlasmehd]

Do you have any info/link to that watch shaped LoRa device in the video?

[@brandonfreeman8994]

Just got my tdeck in and accidentally ripped off the TX pad. Is there any way that i can fix it?

[@tgif7598]

Where can I get the back case with out having to print one?

[@26TM034]

Wonder what software the actual Mesh uses...may be the Quansheng UV5 could end up with mesh capabilities..it's programed for most other weird cons 🧐🤣

[@ralfor14]

Stupid Question : do you NEED to remove the GPS pin receiver to solder on your gps module or can you just solder on the module on top of the connections? asking for a friend :)

[@HackedExistence]

As long as the data can get to the board, you can wire it any way you want. It might not fit in a case if you dont make room for it though.

[@nomaddynamics]

Any idea on range in mountainous \ heavy forested areas with this frequency?

[@haydenc2742]

Height is might...get a good 915mhz tuned antenna (not the crappy stubbie one) get that sucker up high...and it will talk for miles! since it's mesh capable and can repeat the messages, chances are you should get the signal/message

[@elcuhemanuel]

How do i get the keyboard to stay illuminated

[@HackedExistence]

press alt + B

[@fc382010]

wy not Wireless charging?😊

[@Mmlimited902]

I'm just stumbling upon the tdeck. Does it only communicate between other tdeck type devices? Is it a souped up radio so to speak?

[@HackedExistence]

Meshtastic uses LoRa for RF communications, read up on LoRa and it will have all the information you're looking for

[@HuckleBerry476]

I would love if this could work with a wisBlock

[@HackedExistence]

It sure does: meshtastic.org/docs/hardware/devices/

[@HuckleBerry476]

@@HackedExistence Wait.. The TDeck works with a RAK19007?! 😄 I would’ve assumed there be some modifications required unless you meant that WisBlock works with Meshtastic in general

[@vahidbrignoni1631]

can this be done wiht voice messages? inotherwords can you create a mesh walkie talkie?

[@londo776]

no

[@KH07734]

There needs to be a second channel/frequency for Meshtastic. The system has become too busy too fast.

[@HackedExistence]

Check out the docs on meshtastic.org, specifically the page titled "Channel Configuration" under Configuration -> Radio Config -> Channels

[@joeglennaz]

Can you tell us where to to learn to solder?

[@elsuperpollo2273]

Any KZbin video on this censored platform

[@DeruginizCLS]

Dang my case was so dang tight, I broke the stupid power button 😖😖

[@TheMrDrMs]

For being 'designed' for 915mhz an SWR of 2.5:1 is really awful, clearly it's too 'long' (electrically at least) as the dip near 1:1 is the UK freq of 866mhz. But yes, you're right you really ought to have the properly matched antenna for a transmitter (rx well, closer is better and will rx better, but at least no damage) yes, also a ham... I kind of what to slap on a good 3-6dBi antenna at the top of my tower, and run at full 1500w legally allowed for us hams, to see how far I'd reach, haven't played with 33cm much. 23cm tho, that's a blast, and too bad it's limited to 5w for hams. and yes its ham not HAM, it's not an acronym. Love the T deck, thanks for the video, used it to find what case I wanted for mine, and ended up going with the one you linked. Too bad the battery is stupid expensive for 5Ah, 1S.

[@thatguy2828]

On the globe lol

[@HackedExistence]

GPS stands for Global Positioning System, Global is literally in the name

[@njappboy]

Funny how all the techs, engineers, and ex military in telecom always called it ground position system. But the earth is measured and navigated flat so it makes sense from a scientific point of view instead of thr retail view found in Plato's cave.

[@jaywasheregmailcom]

Excellent video, appreciate how you speed up parts of the video. Champion. Edit- using your links in description to order parts now. Edit- all links - items currently unavailable! Doh.

[@hitman3531]

Just a curious noob here, is the USB C port on the bottom to charge the battery or is the USB just a way to connect the T-Deck to a computer? How is the battery charged does it have to be removed? Also, I'm on a website that takes custom 3d printing orders, it is asking me what unit of measurement the design for the case/housing was created in (mm, cm, inches) should I enter centimeters? For material, should I use PLA or the SLS Nylon PA12? Thank you very much for your build and whatever info you can help me with.

[@TheJimmyCartel]

The USB C port does both of those things. No need to remove the battery to charge.