# Which board should I buy as a beginner?

## Short answer: Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3 or T-Beam Supreme

For most beginners in North America, either of these is an excellent first choice:

<table id="bkmrk-boardprice-%28approx%29b"><thead><tr><th>Board</th><th>Price (approx)</th><th>Best for</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>**Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3**</td><td>$18-25</td><td>Lowest cost, quick start</td><td>Small OLED display built-in; ESP32-S3; USB-C charging; no GPS</td></tr><tr><td>**LILYGO T-Beam Supreme**</td><td>$35-45</td><td>All-in-one handheld</td><td>Integrated GPS; large battery connector; OLED display; good antenna connector</td></tr><tr><td>**RAK WisBlock Starter Kit**</td><td>$40-55</td><td>Best battery life</td><td>nRF52840-based; excellent for portable use; modular expansion</td></tr><tr><td>**T-Echo**</td><td>$55-65</td><td>Best handheld device</td><td>E-ink display; GPS; nRF52840; weeks of battery; premium feel</td></tr></tbody></table>

Prices are approximate and change over time; confirm against a current listing before buying. (Note: the "T-Beam Supreme" is a distinct, newer product from the older plain "T-Beam" - check that the listing names the exact model you want.)

## What to Avoid as a Beginner

- **868 MHz boards** - Common on AliExpress. Check the listing carefully for "915 MHz" or "US version." 868 MHz hardware will not work on North American mesh networks.
- **No-name ESP32 LoRa clones** - Very cheap boards with no external antenna connector. Beyond poor range from the PCB trace antenna, a board whose LoRa front-end is not properly matched can present a poor SWR, which stresses the radio's power amplifier when transmitting. Choose a board with a real SMA or u.FL antenna port and a properly matched RF front-end - it's worth the extra $5.
- **LoRaWAN gateways** - These are different from LoRa mesh nodes and will not run Meshtastic or MeshCore. Check for "Meshtastic compatible" in the listing.

## Where to Buy Reliably

- **Amazon** - Faster shipping; check seller carefully; returns are easy.
- **Official distributors** - Rokland (US), Heltec official store (AliExpress), LILYGO official store (AliExpress). Ships from source but slower delivery from China. Prices are approximate and change; lookalike "official store" listings are common, so confirm a seller is the genuine official store by following the link from the manufacturer's own website.
- **Local ham radio events and swaps** - Other operators often sell tested hardware at reasonable prices.

## Do I Need to Buy an Antenna?

The stock rubber duck antenna included with most boards is functional but not optimal. For a handheld or portable device, the included antenna is fine. For a fixed repeater or rooftop node, upgrading to a fiberglass vertical (5-6 dBi) on a short coax run provides significantly better performance. See the Antennas &amp; RF book for details.

**Before you mount anything outdoors:** a rooftop node needs proper grounding and a coax lightning arrestor, and roof work carries fall and overhead power-line hazards. Read the antenna-installation safety guidance in the Antennas &amp; RF book before installing.