Base Station Nodes

Base station nodes are designed for fixed high-site installations where maximum transmit power, receive sensitivity, and continuous power availability matter more than portability or battery life.

Station G2 — $109

The Station G2 is the benchmark base station for MeshCore and Meshtastic networks. It delivers 36.5 dBm (approximately 4.5W) of TX power — substantially more than the 22–28 dBm typical of portable devices. A built-in LNA improves receive sensitivity, extending the effective range on both transmit and receive.

Station G2 Key Specs

TX power: 36.5 dBm (4.5W)
LNA: Yes — improves receive sensitivity
Power input: 15V USB-C Power Delivery (PD) — standard USB-A/5V chargers will not work
MCU: ESP32
Antenna: SMA connector; use a high-quality outdoor antenna
Enclosure: Open board; requires weatherproof enclosure for outdoor deployment

Deployment Considerations

Mount at the highest practical point. Line-of-sight dominates range at 915 MHz — elevation matters far more than TX power.
Use low-loss coax (LMR-400 or equivalent) for the feedline. At 36.5 dBm output, cable loss becomes significant. Every 3 dB of cable loss halves your effective radiated power.
Pair with a 5–8 dBi omni antenna for broad coverage, or a Yagi for point-to-point backbone links.
The 15V PD requirement means you need a USB-C PD charger or power supply. Many laptop chargers work. For solar-powered base stations, you will need a 15V solar charge controller output, which is non-standard — most builders use a boost converter from a 12V battery.

RAK WisBlock Base Station Approach

An alternative base station can be built using a RAK4631 (nRF52840 + SX1262) on a RAK19007 base board, mounted in a weatherproof enclosure. This approach costs more upfront but offers modularity: you can add GPS modules, environmental sensors, or additional radios on the WisBlock connector system. The RAK4631 draws less power than the Station G2, making it more practical for solar-powered base stations without a boost converter.

Siting a Base Station

Consideration	Guidance
Height	Every doubling of height adds ~6 dB of effective range. Rooftop > hilltop > pole-mounted > ground level.
Obstructions	Buildings and trees absorb 915 MHz. Clear line of sight to the horizon is ideal.
Antenna choice	5–8 dBi for omnidirectional coverage. Higher gain focuses the beam — avoid if terrain varies in elevation around the site.
Lightning protection	Use a DC-grounded lightning arrestor on the feedline. Ground the mast. 915 MHz arrestors are inexpensive (<$20).
Power	Mains power is preferred. Solar requires careful sizing for winter minimums.