M5Stack Cardputer Mesh Kit for Meshtastic ESP32-S3 868MHz LoRa

The M5Stack Cardputer Mesh Kit for Meshtastic is a portable communication terminal that combines LoRa mesh networking with global satellite positioning. The kit consists of the Cardputer-Adv as the core controller and the Cap LoRa-1262 as the communication expansion module. The Cardputer-Adv is based on the Stamp-S3A module with ESP32-S3FN8 and features a 1.14-inch LCD display with 240 × 135 pixels, as well as a compact 56-key keyboard for direct on-site input and display. An integrated 1750-mAh lithium battery enables extended off-grid operation. For audio functions, it includes an ES8311 audio codec, a MEMS microphone, a 1-W speaker, and a 3.5-mm audio jack. Additional integrated components include a 6-axis IMU BMI270, an infrared transmitter, a microSD card slot, a HY2.0-4P Grove connector, and an EXT-2.54-14P expansion bus. The Cap LoRa-1262 module connects directly to the Cardputer-Adv via the EXT-2.54-14P port and is ready to use. It uses the SX1262 LoRa chip in the 868–923 MHz frequency range with a receiver sensitivity of -147 dBm and a transmit power of +22 dBm. An integrated AT6668 GNSS module supports positioning via GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, and Galileo. The kit comes with pre-installed Meshtastic firmware and is ready for use in a LoRa mesh network without additional development work. It is particularly suitable for outdoor communication, node deployment, location tracking, and industrial inspection tasks.

Features

• LoRa mesh communication in the 868–923 MHz band enables reliable long-range connections with up to +22 dBm transmit power.
• Integrated GNSS module with support for GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, and Galileo delivers positioning accuracy under 1.5 m.
• The ESP32-S3FN8 dual-core processor with up to 240 MHz provides sufficient computing power for mesh network applications.
• The 1.14-inch LCD display and 56-key keyboard allow full operation without additional peripherals.
• An integrated 1750-mAh battery ensures mobile continuous operation without external power supply.
• Pre-installed Meshtastic firmware makes the kit ready to use without complex initial setup.

Use Cases

• Setting up a decentralized LoRa mesh network for communication in remote areas without mobile coverage.
• GPS-based location tracking of people or equipment during outdoor activities and expeditions.
• Rapid prototyping and functional verification of LoRa-based IoT applications.
• Use as a mobile communication node for events, rescue missions, or field research.
• Monitoring and data collection in industrial environments with distributed sensor nodes.

Documentation

• M5 Stack Wiki
• M5Burner Guide
• GitHub Repository
• USB Driver Download

Technical Specifications

• Manufacturer: M5Stack
• Manufacturer SKU: K152
• SoC: ESP32-S3FN8 @ Dual-Core Xtensa LX7, up to 240 MHz
• Flash: 8 MB
• External Storage: microSD
• Display: ST7789V2 @ 1.14", 240 × 135 px
• Keyboard: 56 keys (4 × 14), 160 gf trigger force
• Expansion Interfaces: HY2.0-4P + EXT 2.54-14P
• Infrared: 1× infrared transmitter
• Audio Codec: ES8311
• Speaker: NS4150B amplifier + 8 Ω @ 1 W
• Microphone: MEMS, SNR 65 dB
• IMU: BMI270 (6-axis)
• Battery Capacity: 1750 mAh
• Operating Temperature: 0–40 °C
• Cardputer-Adv Operating Current: DC 4.2 V @ 120.2 mA
• LoRa Module: SX1262
• LoRa Frequency Range: 868–923 MHz
• LoRa Bitrate: up to 300 kbps
• LoRa Antenna: 108 × 9.3 mm, RP-SMA (female), 3 dBi gain
• LoRa Transmit Power: +22 dBm
• LoRa Receiver Sensitivity: -147 dBm (Low Data Rate Mode)
• LoRa Operating Current: DC 5 V @ 163.4 mA
• Supported Modulations: FSK / GFSK / MSK / LoRa / OOK
• GNSS Module: ATGM336H-6N @ AT6668
• GNSS Interface: UART, 115200 bps @ 8N1
• Supported GNSS Systems: GPS / QZSS / BD2 / BD3 / GAL / GLO
• GNSS Channels: 50
• GNSS Positioning Accuracy: < 1.5 m