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JadeNode Build (~$50)

The JadeNode is one of CascadiaMesh's mostlow-cost cost-effective(~$50) DIY repeater design,designs, purpose-builtconfigured for the Pacificstandard Northwest'sMeshCore USA/Canada preset (which CascadiaMesh operates at 910.525 MHz band.in the Pacific Northwest). At roughly $50 in parts, it's an accessible entry point for community members who want to extend network coverage without a large investment. It is not the only low-cost option, and the 910.525 MHz operation comes from the regional preset rather than the hardware being purpose-built for that band.

Parts List

ComponentApprox. CostSource
Seeed XIAO nRF52840 + Wio SX1262 module~$14Seeed Studio
Linx ANT-916-CW-HW-SMA antenna~$10Digi-Key (verify part number/price)
RAKwireless 5.5×3.5" solar panel (3-pack)~$1113 eachRokland (sold individually, ~$13; no $11 3-pack bundle confirmed - verify quantity/SKU)
PeakMesh solar charging board~$7Etsy (David'scommunity shop)seller "David" - obtain the actual shop name/listing URL; single-seller part, availability risk)
Protected lithium cell + inline fuseVariesRequired (not optional): the build is solar-charged and needs a battery. Use a protected lithium cell and fuse the battery lead. See safety note below. IP65 ABS enclosure 158×90×60 mm~$7Amazon (verify a specific listing confirms IP65 + dimensions) Total~$50 (recompute once the solar board, panel, and battery SKUs/prices are confirmed)

Battery safety: This is a solar-charged build, so it needs a lithium cell (add it to your parts above). Use a protected lithium cell, fuse the battery positive lead, and in freezing PNW conditions ensure the charge circuit will NOT charge the cell below 0 °C (32 °F) - charging a cold lithium cell causes lithium plating and is a fire risk. Use a charger/BMS with a low-temperature charge cutoff, and match the charger to the cell chemistry (a 4.2 V Li-ion charger will overcharge a LiFePO4 cell).

Key Design Choices

  • nRF52840 + Wio SX1262: The nRF52840 microcontroller paired with the Wio SX1262 LoRa module provides excellent power efficiency. nRF52-based devices have significantly longer battery life than ESP32-based alternatives, making this design well-suited for solar-powered deployments with limited panel size.
  • PeakMesh charging board: Sourced from Davida community seller on Etsy, this charging board is recommended by the CascadiaMesh community for better winter solar performance compared to generic MPPT modules. As a single-seller hobbyist part it can go out of stock - obtain the actual Etsy shop name/listing and keep a generic equivalent in mind as a fallback.
  • IP65 enclosure: The 158×90×60 mm ABS box provides weather protection suitable for outdoor permanent deployment.deployment (IP65 = dust-tight + protection against low-pressure water jets per IEC 60529).
  • Linx ANT-916-CW-HW-SMA: A compact, roughly unity-gain whip tuned antenna atfor 916 MHz,MHz; closethe enough~5.5 toMHz offset from 910.525 MHz foris goodnegligible performance.relative Availableto fromthe antenna's bandwidth, so it performs well in-band. Note this is a low-gain antenna suited to a budget/local repeater - do not expect the long range of the high-gain fiberglass antennas used in the larger repeater builds. Verify the exact part number and price on Digi-Key with reliable stock.Key.

Firmware

Flash with MeshCore Repeater firmware using the MeshCore Web Flasher (flasher.meshcore.co.uk - the canonical URL). After flashing, configure via the MeshCore Repeater USB Setup tool:

  • Frequency: 910.525 MHz
  • Bandwidth: 62.5 kHz
  • Spreading Factor: SF7
  • Coding Rate: 4/5
  • Zero Hop Interval: 0
  • Flood Advert Interval: 48 hours

These are CascadiaMesh-specific LoRa parameters (a regional community convention), not the universal MeshCore default. A node configured this way will NOT interoperate with nodes left on the standard MeshCore USA/Canada default preset that the per-board and flashing guides describe - the two will silently be unable to hear each other. Only use these settings if you are joining CascadiaMesh; otherwise match the default preset used by the rest of your mesh.

Do not include "Repeater" in the node name - itthe node name is broadcast in every advertisement packet, so a longer name lengthens each advert and wastes airtimeairtime. onKeep everynames advertisement.short for this reason.

Notes

  • This build does not use a bandpass filter. For most residential and semi-rural locations, interference is not a significant issue with the nRF52/SX1262 combination.combination (it has no high-power front-end module, so it is far less prone to the self-interference seen on FEM-equipped boards).
  • If deploying in a high-RF-noise urban environment, consider upgrading to the Raccoon Tree Node or Ikoka Box designs which include filter options.
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