# 1 Watt Ikoka Box Build

The Ikoka Box is a high-mounted infrastructure repeater design intended for fixed installations - rooftops, towers, and elevated structures. It uses the [Ikoka Stick](https://wiki.meshamerica.com/books/hardware-guide/page/ikoka-stick) radio module (available in 0.15W, 1W, and 2W variants) paired with a purpose-built solar power system housed in a weatherproof QILIPSU enclosure. This is a more capable and more expensive build than the JadeNode, intended for sites where reliability and output power matter. **Note: the 2W Ikoka Stick variant (33 dBm conducted) exceeds the FCC Part 15 limit for unlicensed 902-928 MHz use - see the regulatory warning under "The Ikoka Stick Radio Module" below. For unlicensed US deployment choose the 1W variant.**

**Mounting & safety:** This is a high-mounted build for rooftops, towers, and elevated structures. Use fall protection / working-at-height precautions for any elevated work (OSHA fall-protection triggers are 4 ft in general industry, 6 ft in construction). Keep the mast and its full fall radius clear of overhead power lines - contact with power lines is a leading installer-fatality cause. Bond the antenna ground rod to the building grounding electrode system and add surge/lightning protection (NEC 810.21 / 250). Tower climbing requires training, certified anchors, 100% tie-off, and a spotter. See [Mounting Outdoor Nodes](https://wiki.meshamerica.com/books/diy-build-guides/page/mounting-outdoor-nodes-poles-walls-and-towers) for required fall-protection and grounding practice.

## Parts List

<table id="bkmrk-componentapprox.-cos"> <thead> <tr><th>Component</th><th>Approx. Cost</th><th>Notes</th></tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr><td>Ikoka Stick (0.15W, 1W, or 2W variant)</td><td>Varies</td><td>Choose the 1W variant for US infrastructure sites. The 2W variant (33 dBm) exceeds the FCC Part 15 1 W / 30 dBm conducted limit at 902-928 MHz and is not legal for unlicensed US operation. Confirm current per-variant pricing on the vendor listing.</td></tr> <tr><td>Voltset 20W solar panel</td><td>~$30</td><td>Price approximate; verify on a current retailer listing (as of 2026-06-08).</td></tr> <tr><td>Renogy Wanderer 10A solar charge controller</td><td>~$26</td><td>Renogy Wanderer 10A PWM controller; price approximate (as of 2026-06-08).</td></tr> <tr><td>DROK 12V → 5V USB buck converter</td><td>~$10</td><td>Steps down from 12V battery to 5V USB for the Ikoka Stick. Confirm the model's output current covers the radio's peak TX draw; price approximate.</td></tr> <tr><td>Nermak 12V 10Ah LiFePO4 battery</td><td>~$30</td><td>LiFePO4 chemistry preferred for longevity in outdoor thermal cycling. Use a BMS with a low-temperature charge cutoff (do NOT charge below 0 °C). Price approximate (as of 2026-06-08).</td></tr> <tr><td>Inline fuse + disconnect (battery positive)</td><td>~$5</td><td>**Required.** Install an inline fuse at the battery positive terminal (sized to the wiring) and a disconnect switch. A 10Ah LiFePO4 cell can source very high short-circuit current.</td></tr> <tr><td>QILIPSU IP67 outdoor enclosure 11.4×7.5×5.5"</td><td>~$30</td><td>IP67 rated - dust-tight and resistant to temporary immersion (IEC 60529). Verify dimensions/price on the vendor listing.</td></tr> <tr><td>*Optional:* Baymesh 910 MHz bandpass/cavity filter</td><td>~$90</td><td>For very noisy deployment locations. Verify filter topology and insertion loss on the datasheet; price approximate.</td></tr> </tbody></table>

## Power System Design

Unlike the JadeNode and Raccoon Tree Node (which use 5V direct solar charging), the Ikoka Box uses a conventional 12V solar system:

1. **Solar panel** charges a 12V LiFePO4 battery via the Renogy Wanderer charge controller.
2. **DROK buck converter** steps the 12V battery voltage down to regulated 5V USB output for the Ikoka Stick. **Install an inline fuse at the battery positive terminal (sized to the wiring) and a disconnect switch between the battery and the charge controller/converter. A 10Ah LiFePO4 cell can source very high fault current; never wire it without overcurrent protection close to the battery.**
3. **LiFePO4 chemistry** is chosen over standard lithium for better cycle life and inherent safety. On the discharge side it also tolerates cold somewhat better, but this is a modest advantage - **do NOT charge any lithium chemistry, including LiFePO4, below 0 °C (32 °F)**; charging a cold cell causes lithium plating and is a safety hazard. Use a BMS / charge controller with a low-temperature charge cutoff for the PNW winters.

The 10Ah battery at 12V provides 120 Wh of storage - sufficient for several days of autonomous operation without solar input at typical repeater power draws.

## The Ikoka Stick Radio Module

The Ikoka Stick is available in three output power variants:

- **0.15W:** Low power (~22 dBm, near the bare SX1262 maximum), suitable for portable or battery-constrained applications.
- **1W:** Standard infrastructure variant - recommended for most fixed sites. 1W (30 dBm) is exactly at the FCC Part 15.247 conducted ceiling for 902-928 MHz and is legal with an antenna gain of ≤6 dBi.
- **2W:** High-power variant. **WARNING: 2W (33 dBm) conducted output exceeds the FCC Part 15 limit of 1 W / 30 dBm conducted for unlicensed 902-928 MHz operation (47 CFR 15.247) and is NOT legal for unlicensed US use - irrespective of antenna gain. It may only be operated by a licensed amateur under Part 97, which requires station identification (97.119) AND prohibits encryption (97.113) - meaning MeshCore/Meshtastic default AES encryption must be DISABLED. For any unlicensed US deployment, choose the 1W variant or limit conducted output to 30 dBm.**

For most [CascadiaMesh](https://wiki.meshamerica.com/books/north-american-networks/page/cascadiamesh) infrastructure deployments, the 1W variant provides a good balance of range and power consumption while remaining within the legal US conducted limit.

## Optional: Baymesh 910 MHz Cavity Filter

In high-RF-noise environments (urban rooftops, sites near cellular infrastructure, etc.), the Baymesh 910 MHz filter (~$90) can be installed inline between the radio and antenna. A higher-Q bandpass or coaxial-resonator filter provides better out-of-band rejection than a small ceramic bandpass module such as the JMT filter used in the Raccoon Tree Node, at the cost of higher insertion loss (~0.5-2 dB) that reduces both TX power (EIRP) and RX sensitivity. Verify the actual filter topology and insertion loss on the manufacturer datasheet before deploying; a true multi-cavity filter is physically large and far more expensive than $90, so a $90 part is most likely a small ceramic/coaxial-resonator bandpass filter rather than a true cavity. **A bandpass/cavity filter only rejects strong out-of-band signals (e.g. nearby cellular/paging transmitters outside 902-928 MHz) that overload the receiver front end. It does NOT reduce in-band noise or co-channel interference within the LoRa band itself - in-band noise passes straight through.** Use when an out-of-band signal is causing receiver desensitization.

## Enclosure

The QILIPSU IP67 enclosure (11.4×7.5×5.5") is large enough to house the Ikoka Stick, charge controller, buck converter, and battery connections in a single weatherproof package. Per IEC 60529, IP67 means dust-tight and resistant to temporary immersion (30 min to 1 m). Verify the internal dimensions on the vendor listing and sanity-check battery fit.

## Firmware Configuration

Flash MeshCore Repeater firmware and configure for CascadiaMesh:

- Frequency: 910.525 MHz / BW: 62.5 kHz / SF7 / CR 4/5
- Zero Hop Interval: 0 / Flood Advert Interval: 48 hours
- Do not include "Repeater" in the node name

These are CascadiaMesh-specific LoRa parameters (a regional community convention, not a universal default). A node configured this way will NOT interoperate with nodes left on the standard MeshCore/Meshtastic US/Canada default preset that the per-board and flashing guides describe. Only use these settings if you are joining CascadiaMesh; otherwise match the default preset used by the rest of your mesh. The 910.525 MHz channel is within the 902-928 MHz band and, with LoRa digital modulation at ≤30 dBm conducted, operates compliantly under the 15.247 digital-transmission-system rules.

## Community Build Variations

The following are reported community builds (advanced/reference). Figures and component brands are builder-reported and not independently verified. MPPT = maximum power point tracking (a more efficient solar charger).

- **Scott's Node:** Heltec V4 + Waveshare MPPT solar board + 10,000 mAh pancake Li battery + Zivif 10W panel + 5.8 dBi antenna. A compact high-capacity single-unit design. (5.8 dBi stays within the FCC ≤6 dBi no-derate window at 1W.)
- **mcarper's 10x Heltec V4 Build (~$81 each, builder-reported):** Heltec V4.3.1 from Rokland + 4 dBi antennas + IP65 ABS boxes + 18650 battery packs (4 - 8 cells) + EasySkyMesh PowerSaving firmware. Reported to achieve ~5.5 mA idle current. Optimized for low-cost bulk deployment across a coverage area.