ELECROW ThinkNode M5
$89.99 CAD · ~$65 USD
Built-in GPS and e-paper screen, 1200 mAh battery, SX1262 radio (915 MHz). Compact and Meshtastic-ready out of the box.
- SX1262 915 MHz
- GPS
- e-paper
- 1200 mAh
Hardware
A small radio.
A whole lot of peace of mind.
The app works great without a radio. But to see your group off the grid, each member pairs a Meshtastic-compatible LoRa radio to their phone over Bluetooth. Here is what we recommend, how pairing works, and what to expect once you are out there.
Two devices we recommend
Both run Meshtastic firmware out of the box and pair with Aventerra on iOS and Android. One is a compact tracker, the other has a keyboard so you can message without a phone.
LILYGO T-Deck Plus
$142 CAD · ~$103 USD
2.8" colour screen, full keyboard, and built-in GPS. Lets you chat over the mesh even without a phone.
- 2.8 in colour screen
- keyboard
- GPS
Prices observed on Amazon in September 2026, subject to change. Prices are indicative and set by retailers.
Pairing a radio
Pairing happens on the Mesh Radio screen in the app's settings. It takes a minute, and the app remembers the radio for next time.
1. Charge it and set its region
Power the radio on with a full battery. A radio with no LoRa region set does not transmit at all; the app warns you and lets you pick where you are from its radio settings.
2. Turn on the mesh radio
Open Settings, then Mesh Radio, and switch on Enable mesh radio. The app asks for Bluetooth permission the first time.
3. Scan and connect
Tap Scan for Radios and pick yours under Found Devices. From then on it waits for you under Paired Devices, marked In range when the app can hear it.
4. Read the connected card
The card shows the radio's name, whether its GPS is available and how many nodes it hears. Nodes heard lists every radio around you; people running Aventerra carry an APP tag.
5. Choose who sees you
Share Position on Mesh sends your GPS location to nearby radios every 30 seconds. The card tells you who can see it; change that in Privacy and Sharing, or go hidden with Ghost Mode.
LoRa is powerful. Not magic.
The mesh carries the essentials over long distances with zero infrastructure. What to know before you go:
Range depends on terrain
In practice, expect roughly 2 to 10 km depending on terrain, and less in dense forest or deep valleys. With clear line of sight, far more: the official Meshtastic record is over 331 km. Test with your group before relying on it.
Every radio relays the others
A message is passed from radio to radio, up to 3 hops by default (configurable up to 7). The bigger the group, the farther the network reaches.
Short messages, not photos
Positions, text, waypoints, hazard reports and SOS only: no photos or calls. Positions refresh every 30 seconds rather than continuously, to preserve battery and airtime.
Cold drains batteries
Like any electronics, a LoRa radio loses run time in deep cold. Leave fully charged and keep the device close to your body.
Bring your own radio
Already have a Meshtastic device: RAK WisBlock, T-Echo, T-Beam, or anything else? It works. Connect it in Settings, then Mesh Radio. The full list of supported hardware is at https://meshtastic.org/docs/hardware/devices/ (opens in new tab)
Mesh chat between Aventerra users is end-to-end encrypted with rotating group keys. Positions travel as standard Meshtastic packets protected by the channel key, so set a private channel on your radios if you want them off the public one.
By the way: we are currently working on our own Aventerra mesh device. Stay tuned!
Who the mesh reaches
Above all: the mesh reaches your group and people nearby, not rescue services. For any serious emergency, use 911 or a dedicated satellite communicator.
Trademarks
Meshtastic is a trademark of Meshtastic LLC. ELECROW and LILYGO are trademarks of their respective owners. Aventerra is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Meshtastic LLC, ELECROW, or LILYGO. Prices shown are indicative and set by retailers.