RAKwireless WisBlock Meshtastic Starter Kit & Modules Overview + Giveaway!

Here we take a look at the RAKwiireless WisBlock Meshtastic Start Kit. This kit includes everything you need to get started in the world of Meshtastic, the popular OFF Grid messaging system that works over LORA.
Meshtastic Starter Kit:
s.click.aliexp...
Environment Sensor:
s.click.aliexp...
GPS Module:
s.click.aliexp...
Get 3% off when ordering from RAKwireless directly using this link:
rakwireless-me...
If you would like to show your support for this channel, then please consider becoming a member by clicking here:
/ @techmindsofficial
Products used in my videos can be purchased through my Amazon storefront.
US ► www.amazon.com...
UK ► www.amazon.co....
Patreon ► / techminds
Twitter ► / techmindsyt
Facebook ► / techmindsyt
Instagram ► / tech.minds.official
Send $$ ► www.paypal.me/...
Merch ► teespring.com/...
If you enjoyed this video please help me out by subscribing and help me get to my next Milestone of 100,000 Subscribers!
#techminds #meshtastic #hamradio

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Give away has ended and winner drawn, thank you for all those that commented.

[@Meshtastic]

May the odds forever be in your favor!

[@Buzzygirl63]

I'm in the US so this giveaway won't apply to me, but I just want to say thanks for getting me interested in this technology. I'm already an amateur radio operator so this sort of tech is right up my alley. I've got two Heltec V3s on the way and can't wait to get started using them. 73!

[@RabbitStu-M7UTS]

Pairing code is 123456 by default without a display. These can also be updated over Bluetooth with DFU app.

[@markcparanormal]

Also you can set via pc

[@waylonk2453]

The RAK module looks great! I like the ease of adding a solar panel and battery backup.

[@ethzero]

I understand one of the unique features of the RAKs is their use of a very low current microprocessor unit (when compared to a typical ESP32-based solution like the Heltecs), so I'd love to see future videos covering that neat Solar box and how that performs in the UK climate (!) and (when it works) the PoE injector module.

[@nanoicdalflanlun]

Some kits shipping as recently as the beginning of March 2024 have the older firmware that requires you to double click the reset button before it will appear as a USB storage device. An additional note is the web flasher page requires a web browser supporting Web Serial API, like Edge or Chrome. Unfortunately, Firefox doesn't support Web Serial API.

[@Slay3rOne]

Oh I was just about to order that with a few modules (Ethernet with PoE and GPS) next month maybe. Nice seeing you just made a video on the system!

[@BenCos2018]

I could do with a Poe board tbh

[@Glock21911]

So does the poe and ethernet modules work yet?

[@grahamwebber9208]

Just starting to look at meshtastic, this looks like a great device!

[@MrSoulshine123]

I am thinking of adding Meshtastic in my Family’s Emergency Communications Plan. Probably I will use it as a solar powered repeater placed in a strategic location. The only problem I will face is that I will have to order more boards since I do not own one. Thank you in advance #techminds

[@BeneeUK]

Good luck all, I’d expand on my dissertation I completed last year with it, this module is far superior than the modules/components I used which severely limited my projects capabilities, don’t really fancy sharing the idea too widely but can definitely let you know privately!

[@downsouthsafaris6788]

It’s past the draw but I’m planning on putting this onto a High Altitude Balloon together with Environmental sensors and GPS very keen to: a) see how far it can send a signal with 10 kilometers “line of sight” b) hope to use it for tracking and retrieval

[@andremak3933]

Great video again with a complete and clear overview all options. I am always curious in new communication as a licensed radioamateur and considering starting with meshtastic. #techminds

[@M0LMK]

Our local radio group has been playing with Meshtastic and the Heltec boards for a few months so I would use the RAK kit to build a solar node and place it with our local 70cm repeater (GB7TH) which is on a very high block of flats. This would give lots of local users a great bost. #techminds

[@survival6178]

Thank you for your informative video #techminds . Looking forward starting a new Hobby!!!

[@ethzero]

I'd like this kit to go a school! This kit seems like it would make for a great STEM platform for students to learn electronics & radio 👍 #techminds

[@shadyss96]

Thank you for the vid! I would first put one together and start by figuring it out how it works and see how I can use it within my life and or job. Then deploy a few repeaters around and see what these can do over LoRa.

[@rbe250]

Nice introduction to the WizBlock kit and modules. I will build my first Meshtastic device together with a 3D printed enclosure. So that I can communicate with my friends in the local mesh network. #techminds

[@danfitzpatrick4112]

These boards are next level! My ESP32 boards in one spot run very hot! I don't get any heat at all with the Wis. Seem more stable as well and many many options.. I like these so far and thanks for the awesome presentation! Keep in mind these do not seem to have a battery charger on board? Could be part of the reason for being more efficient with power draw?

[@williamna5800]

Wow, shipping nearly as much as the base/module combo if you get the case/base/module.

[@bigo93]

I wonder if you can plug in a Type C to ethernet adaptor instead of using the RAK module, thereby freeing up space for another module for you to use? #techminds

[@JakubHolubinka]

I'd attach it to my dog's collar along with a GPS module to track how greater distance she makes than me during a walk. I can't use APRS since my dog is not a licensed HAM operator :) #techminds

[@TOMinPDX]

I love it! I swear my dog does at least two miles to each one of mine and that's on a mellow day, if she's very energetic it's a lot more. 😂

[@sveinutne7347]

This might be good as a relay station placed on a roof or other high location close bye for much better reach.

[@connecticutaggie]

I am in the US so I am sad that I can't enter for the free giveaway. 😢 But, to encourage you to give away a US kit, here is my idea - a mushroom monitor! I want to put it at my favorite mushroom spot and have it provide me with remote soil temperature, sun and humidity readings. Do you know if the solar panel could be used to monitor sun intensity?

[@elesjuan]

Pro-gamer tip for ordering a WisBlock starter kit; Not only make sure you select the correct frequency, but make sure the core you order is the appropriate one. I recently ordered a starter kit and apparently selected the wrong kit; My core is the rak11300 which does NOT have bluetooth included in it. Ordered the correct kti with the RAK4631 core, and also picked up an ethernet and PoE module for my existing WisBlock kit. I'll wire/power the existing one to my network for a primary home node. Also moderately disappointed at the current time, there do not appear to be any other LoRa meshtastic nodes in my immediate area. Hopefully that'll change soon, as this is a super neat technology! Also -- As a side note, I never bothered to pick up a display because I've got multiple SSD1306 OLED displays kickin' around from other projects, but unfortunately the standard pinout of "GND, VCC, SCL, SCA" is not what RAK choose for the WisBlock, they went with "VCC, GND, SCL, SCA" pinout, so be careful with that as you might nuke your display. My workaround for that is some dupont connectors instead of installing a header socket on the WisBlock board.

[@justOffgrid-ph7uo]

I am busy setting up a MeshTastic network in my community, The Base nodes in a triangle form are financed by myself... So when I have that in place.... I help the community setting up nodes they buy themselves. Would love to see one of the nodes to be a RAk starter kit 😊 #techminds

[@jonpg1jsf118]

Another great video. Up in North Yorkshire we dont get much coverage / distance due to the terrain. With the solar powered module we could hide a Node up high on the Moors to provide support for Meshtastic across a huge area. #techminds

[@mor4y]

If i won the unit i would use it to kickstart interest at my work, as we work somewhere where mobile signal is pretty awful, so some extra comms would be handy

[@curajgamerfricos6916]

Did not use rak sistem yet in EU. Inhave the tbeamon 433

[@AllanCookg7vqv]

Thanks for Videos, Repeater G7VQV going on air Soon.

[@miketaylor253]

Love the idea of playing with Meshtastic and I would mount this outside so as to provide coverage to this part of the country #techminds

[@1crazynordlander]

I bought a solar/battery rak wizblock complete from GarthVH. Nothing in my rural area in southwest Minnesota but I put it in my car when I drove to Denver and picked up numerous stations along the way. In my daughter’s neighborhood I see one user that has four rak devices. I’m not sure what to do with it at this point since I see these other nodes. I’m new to meshtastic. I ordered a rak starter kit and have a waveshare SX1262 LoRa HAT for Raspberry Pi. I am hoping you’ll do a video on that. I have no clue what to do with it. Got any ideas?

[@SergeiJonovich]

This Meshtastic is really starting to interest me. I’d like to use one to get started with the system and ultimately have it monitor water levels at a nearby brook that overflowed and flooded us back in January. Some early warning to get me speedos on & evacuate the ground floor would be handy. #techminds

[@navex4786]

Useful information thanks. Nice box but. . .what is the point of having environmental sensors on the motherboard which you will then need to isolate from the environment?? Also, the optimal orientation for the LoRa antenna and the solar panel are at odds. Maximise one and you loose out on the other. Lastly, I don't understand the 'for about seven days' statement. Surly this will depend on the number of hors of sunshine and it's strength so can't be quantified like this? Anyway, I've decided on a Wisblock system, just not configured as above. Thanks again. D.

[@chesshooligan1282]

I'd turn it into an ultra-flat GPS tracker. I'd put it in a concealed compartment at the bottom of my battery box and program the device to wake up regularly and send an update of its location in case my motorbike gets stolen.

[@davetreadwell]

You'd need to make sure the GPS antenna can see the sky though - VERY much needs line of sight

[@chesshooligan1282]

@@davetreadwellAaaah, thank you. I'll need to do something else with it then.

[@JonnyS281]

Would be great to win this, looking to get started with Meshtastic having watched lots of videos on it. Don’t think there are many nodes round by me.

[@ronsworldnl]

😎 Would like to mount it next to my CB antenna and give it a bit of height. Looks very interesting, am all new to this.

[@bopsop]

Amazing video again. I would like to use it for a on the road car note when I’m out and about on my adventures, I think meshtastic is an amazing hobby and I like to jump into it 💪 #techminds

[@adriangodley]

#techminds The topography where I live makes point to point connections quite challenging. If I won this starter kit, it would be used to create a covert repeater node situated on one of the hills over looking our town.

[@donphilbin5659]

Love to get one of these. I was just about to order this kit and saw this video. I would set this up as a local repeater in my area. #techminds

[@BLUESKYS4EVE]

Make sure your battery is pinned correctly.

[@Atari.Geezer]

Good luck to the non U.S. members, since I am in the U.S. I'll have to wait for the goodies next time :) But I do have an IC-7300 arriving Monday so that will fun to play with for now... 73's

[@sivoltage]

I would use this on my allotment to gather weather data. It will help alert me to frosts so I could save my plants. So cool. #techminds

[@John-Bates]

Keep hearing about Meshtastic and would love to setup node in my area. Live in a high building so think I would get great coverage. #techminds

[@TheToxiss]

I don't currently own any Lora/Meshtastic devices, so I would just use it to get into the hobby and fall into this rabbit hole. #techminds

[@jefftheworld]

Oxford doesn't yet have much meshtastic coverage, so I'm hoping to get a few folks here interested and get a mesh across town. #techminds

[@n1kkri]

I'm really new to this. Where do you get the flasher program? It seems like you just jumped into it without saying where you get it. I am also in the U.S. I think we use 915MHz

[@kajatoth9151]

I would like to use it as repeater and mount it to a big tree on my garden. I only own 2 diy versions so one good node would be amazing. The tree is so big it would cover my small town and a village nearby, so it would hopefully bring more people to this amazing hobby and i would get a greater range. #techminds

[@brendoncobey6034]

I would like to try and use it to monitor for motion and smoke detection and mesh the whole game fence line to try stop the pouchers I need to prove the concept. #techminds

[@oncomics1128]

Have you seen any way to report wind speed to the device?

[@chrislx2006]

I seem to be located in a radio black spot with no contacts so I would set it up as a repeater for my area by placing it high - near GPO Tower on Sutton Common would be good. I would want a better antenna than the provided one though. #techminds

[@AlistairMacDonald]

My use case is to mount the device on my house to help us expand our local coverage. I suspect I would mount it in a waterproof box with an external antenna mounted at roof level. #techminds

[@G6MDX-Dai]

I would use this as a stealth repeater, solar powered in a high hidden spot to link East & West Midlands meshes, the tiny power consumption of the RAK modules would make this possible. #techminds

[@MultiVogon]

🙂 Been wanting to get into Meshtastic for a while now - there's one other node in my small town in Wales - so I want to expand the network locally - would be nice to get a chain going across the country so we can communicate with the outside world too 😀 #techminds

[@cleitorubi_izolan]

Show Parabéns o melhor canal que tenho no presente momento...Parabéns moro No Sul do Brasil e estou loko para começar a Meshtastic por aqui tbm ok soube que perto do chile ja temos algo Abraços 73´s py3sa, Cleito.

[@elmodiddly]

I would use mine for my chicken coop, solar powered solution to overheating and high humidity. Using the RAK1906 to measure air temp and humidity as factors I would look to automatically set a threshold for a built in solar powered extractor fan to start whenever humidity and temp got too high. Helps to keep red mite at bay if kept cooler overall. Would be interesting to see whether high temp and humidity would affect air quality and measure the effectiveness of the fan ventilation which may steady egg production of my girls. #techminds

[@altitude1039]

Wow! That's not a deal! $40 (CAD) for the bare bones kit plus $20 shipping.

[@ArferNower]

I used to use paket radio back in the 90s this looks to a modern version of that fantastic#techminds

[@th3heal3r]

I've only just discovered meshtastic over the past day or so and have been binge watching youtube vids ever since, hence how I ended up here. This giveaway would be a fantastic start to my journey down the rabbit hole to discover all the things it is capable of! #techminds

[@flintlock1]

I would love to learn all about the world of Lora, have been fascinated with these small low power devices since they became popular recently. All the best to all in the giveaway, #techminds

[@TanelKersna]

❤ I'd like to learn more about LoRa before build something, so the answer is - for learning and testing #techminds

[@ibarker182]

Given the opportunity, I would glue it into an empty butter box with the air quality sensors and take them for a ride on the bike to see how many nodes I could find and see what my local air quality is like, pretty new to lora and these modules make tinkering fairly simple.... so it seems 😂 #techminds

[@speccyplays621]

I would use it to connect to like minded people in my area. I've only recently got interested in radio stuff via an sdr and it's been so fascinating so far ! #techminds

[@stephandg1bgs236]

The LoRa Meshtastic network in Singapore only has 4 nodes at the moment and this one would be used to extend our slowly growing network #techminds

[@sivoltage]

Be aware the Telegram scammers are sending people messages telling you that you have won the giveaway.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Yep. I've seen this..! I do NOT use Telegram so if anyone see's a spam message, please ignore it!

[@sivoltage]

I almost fell for it. They got my email and my address. 😢 But they didn’t get any money. They wanted £65 for shipping 😅

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Bastards! I’ve been blocking all the accounts as soon as I see them, let’s hope no one else falls for it!

[@MultiVogon]

Yeah they're all over YT like a rash, sadly. All you can do is keep reporting them to YT (or the channel owner can obviously block them if they spot them)

[@samik83]

I'd build a solar node and put it on a 500ft hill near by. Should cover the whole town easily and also link up to the next town. #techminds

[@Moonriser73]

I would like to test to what degree the LoRaWAN network is impacted by the fact that Meshtastic doesn't limit the duty cycle #techminds

[@360turns2]

I am planning to take it with me paragliding and how many nodes can be picked up from 6000 feet. If I won it... #techminds

[@davetreadwell]

Did you really not get any customs/import charges? The US website doesn't charge the UK VAT/allow you to have duties pre-paid with the courier - really don't want to be stung by additional charges/fees on top of the customs charges for the sake of a £0.75 saving from using your link!

[@BeneeUK]

Nope because it’s worth less than £135

[@alw7315]

I would put a solar panel with it and battery and either put it on a tethered weather balloon to give it really good altitude for reception and make it a repeater node. #techminds

[@infocuslearning]

If I had the starter kit, I would mount it high up and use it as a low-powered repeater, as my area in South London is a bit of a Meshtastic desert! #techminds

[@maryjane5108]

im new to the whole radio kind of stuff, recently got into quasheng radios with custom firmware, then ordered a portapack hackrf cause it can be used as a SDR at a pc and mobile device to spot planes (really love that feature) , next im going to get a VNA to build my own dipolantennas that im planing for meshtastic, im also interested in heltec v3 but not sure about it because of the higher power consumption of the esp32....so yeah a wisblock kit would be helpful starting my journey in this particular direction, would safe me some money which i would invest in other hardware instantly :P also im very excited about the embedded convention which starts soon(april), there will be a lot of interesting tech stuff to see and hopefully a lot of nerdtalk allday all night :) #techminds

[@adriaticshorespinning]

I would love to develop a mesh network for the use of wild river rafting crews in my area, since some of the tracks are not covered by GSM networks, and the activity tends to be dangerous once in a while #techminds

[@wolfiegoth]

I would love to mount this with a solar panel on my log cabin. Wales is a little behind on nodes and coverage. #techminds

[@seanyem]

I would want it so I can put it at my friends farm on too of a local hill so that we can finally speak to our mates on the other side of the hill and fix a massive hold in our local mesh, plus adding environmental sensors would be great #techminds

[@Ammed_KN6STX]

Where do get the header to mount the display???

[@TechMindsOfficial]

It came in the same packet as the display.

[@Heppie89]

This would make a fantastic remote solar node in a strategic location to link up some meshes #TechMinds

[@dmsungam]

I would use the node to bridge two parts of town that doesn't have mutural coverage due to topograpy. #techminds

[@mortendue]

I want to use it to set up a node so we can get Meshtastic up and running here in Denmark. I've ordered a Heltec LoRa 32 from China, but it's taking forever to arrive... #techminds

[@G6DDX]

I would put this device on the top of my ham radio mast, with a solar setup to provide environmental monitoring and more importantly to try and create a local mesh in this quiet part of Norfolk. #techminds

[@nonamesi]

If I got this free starter kit I'd probably mess around with it and with this kind of gadgets, ordered a bunch more from aliexpress and get hooked real good. #techminds

[@QuattroUK2011]

There are only 2 nodes in my area but we can’t reach each other from our home nodes because there is a hill in the way. One of us has to go mobile with another node on the hill to bridge the gap. If I won this device I’d install it as a fixed node hidden up the hill with a battery! #techminds

[@LAB-77]

Wow, this looks fun. Was thinking of getting a GoTenna, but now I think I'll play with Meshtastic #techminds

[@42markk42]

#techminds I don't have a meshtastic yet, but have been watching your videos with great interest and have been very close to buying one to see what all the fuss is about, so I will wait until you announce the winner before buying :)

[@TheIaindavidson]

I'd set it up at my Dad's house, he's somewhat suspicious of online messaging apps so a decentralised system will appeal to him. Perhaps I can even tempt him out of the house for once to go up a hill to see what we can pickup. #techminds

[@FPV_Gizmo]

I would love to try this unit for a remote node to help expand our south hants mesh. #techminds

[@gadjetsvideo]

I'm looking into meshtastic at the moment for monitoring some security access so would have to make/source a gyroscope type module to plug in, does anyone know if that's supported in meshtastic? #techminds

[@paulladdie1026]

Hi I would use that RAK wireless module, as a repater in my loft, to use with my other Lilygo tbeam modules, thanks #techminds

[@TBNRregs]

I would use this on my e-bike to be a mobile repeater and to track my e-bike. Already ordered 2 of the sets and 2 T-Echos, but waiting for it to arrive. #techminds

[@howardmay1951]

I would mount it on the roof of my workshop. it is one if the highest points around, a nd has line of sight 8-9 miles to Coventry. #techminds Coventry

[@Nibbe78]

Sweden needs more meshtastic, have one lilygo but this modular one is briliant #techminds

[@HenrikWilsson]

I will set it up in a mast at the local Amateur Radio Club and become the first Meshtastic node in our region up here in Sweden. #techminds

[@Hamradio2024]

Rare technology in my area but this can be changed ☺ #techminds

[@highflyermw0lkx311]

I'd like to add a full weather station and solar to it including wind speed etc and place it on high ground to add to the mesh #techminds

[@horakus]

This would be a good kit to start tinkering with meshtastic! #techminds

[@davetreadwell]

Set up a decent basecamp node in a bit of a dead zone near me! #techmind

[@BLUESKYS4EVE]

DO NOT power the unit until you attach the antennas.

[@VapourTrailz]

I would like to use it for range testing in the north York Moors. Cheers #techminds

[@corneuys]

Would like to build tracker for the car sure it will pass a node somewhere in London once stolen! #techminds

[@antoinep.7420]

I will set a new node in my area, since there are no reachable ones from where I live. #techminds