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Station G2 Setup Guide

⚠ ANTENNA SAFETY —- ALL DEVICES: Always connect an antenna before powering on any LoRa device. Even a brief transmission without an antenna connected risks permanent damage to the LoRa radio chip.

Station G2 —- Setup Guide

The Station G2 is a purpose-built fixed base station with the highest available TX power of any standard LoRa node (36.5 dBm / 4.5 W) and an integrated LNA for excellent receive sensitivity. It is designed for hilltop, tower, and infrastructure deployments —- not personal portable use.

Specifications

AttributeValue
MCUESP32-S3
RadioSX1262 + power amplifier + LNA
Max TX Power36.5 dBm (4.5 W)
Price$109
StrengthsHighest TX power, integrated LNA, purpose-built for fixed infrastructure
WeaknessesExpensive; requires high-voltage power; overkill for personal use
⚡ CRITICAL POWER REQUIREMENT:

The Station G2 requires 15V USB-C Power Delivery (PD) or 9–9 - 19V external DC (5.5×2.1 mm barrel jack). The high-power amplifier cannot operate at standard 5V.

Standard 5V USB will NOT power the Station G2.

Use one of:
  • A USB-C charger that supports Power Delivery (PD) at 15V —- verify PD capability before purchasing
  • A 12V DC supply via the 5.5×2.1 mm barrel jack (9–9 - 19V range accepted)
Connecting only 5V will result in the device appearing to power on but the RF amplifier will not function.

Driver Installation

  • Windows: CP210x driver may be needed. Download from Silicon Labs website if device is not detected.
  • macOS & Linux: Built-in —- no driver needed.

Entering Bootloader / DFU Mode

Method 1 —- From powered-off state:

  1. Disconnect power.
  2. Hold the BOOT button.
  3. Connect USB while holding BOOT.
  4. Release BOOT after ~2 seconds.

Method 2 —- From powered-on state:

  1. Hold BOOT.
  2. Briefly press and release RST.
  3. Release BOOT.

Firmware Flashing

  1. Enter bootloader mode.
  2. Open Chrome or Edge and navigate to:
  3. Select Station G2 from the device list.
  4. Click Flash. Do not disconnect during flashing.

Post-Flash Configuration

MeshCore:

  1. Configure via Bluetooth or serial connection.
  2. Set region to US.
  3. High power output is available —- configure carefully to remain within FCC EIRP limits for your antenna gain.
  4. For most infrastructure deployments: use an external directional or high-gain antenna.

Meshtastic:

  1. Set role to Router in the app for infrastructure deployment.
  2. Configure power settings and region.
  3. Consider EIRP limits when selecting antenna gain.

Known Quirks & Deployment Notes

  • Power supply verification is essential —- confirm PD output voltage before connecting.
  • At 4.5 W TX power, antenna quality and coax loss matter significantly. Use low-loss coax and quality connectors.
  • EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power) limits apply —- high-gain antennas may require reducing TX power to stay legal.
  • Ideal placement: hilltop, water tower, or rooftop with clear line-of-sight horizon.
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