# Heltec Mesh Node T096

## Overview

The **Heltec Mesh Node T096** (Heltec's nRF52 part naming follows the HT-n5262 / HT-n5262M family) combines an nRF52840 MCU with an SX1262 radio and an *integrated power amplifier*. Heltec rates its maximum TX power at **28±1 dBm** via that PA — well above the SX1262's bare native +22 dBm — which it pairs with on-board GPS and an ultra-low sleep current, making it purpose-built for solar and remote deployments. *(TX-power figures for Heltec PA boards are contested across third-party sources; the 28±1 dBm here reflects Heltec's own current spec — verify against [heltec.org](https://heltec.org/project/t096/) before relying on it.)*

## Specifications

<table id="bkmrk-attributevalue-price"><thead><tr><th>Attribute</th><th>Value</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Price</td><td>~$30 (Heltec lists ~$29.90-$33.90 depending on date/variant; as of 2026-06-08)</td></tr><tr><td>MCU</td><td>nRF52840</td></tr><tr><td>Radio</td><td>SX1262 + integrated power amplifier</td></tr><tr><td>TX Power</td><td>28±1 dBm (per Heltec, via integrated PA; verify against heltec.org)</td></tr><tr><td>GNSS</td><td>UC6580 - L1+L5, 6 constellations (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC)</td></tr><tr><td>Display</td><td>0.96″ color TFT (commonly 160×80 panels; confirm resolution against Heltec datasheet)</td></tr><tr><td>Sleep Current</td><td>12 µA</td></tr><tr><td>Bluetooth</td><td>BLE 5 + Bluetooth Mesh</td></tr><tr><td>Battery Connector</td><td>1.25 mm lithium</td></tr><tr><td>Solar Input</td><td>1.25 mm solar connector</td></tr><tr><td>MeshCore Support</td><td>Yes (compatible with Meshtastic and MeshCore per Heltec)</td></tr></tbody></table>

## T096 vs. Heltec V4

<table id="bkmrk-featuret096v4-tx-pow"><thead><tr><th>Feature</th><th>T096</th><th>V4</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>TX Power</td><td>28±1 dBm (Heltec, via PA)</td><td>~22 dBm stock (contested; some sources cite up to ~27-28 dBm on PA variants — verify against heltec.org)</td></tr><tr><td>Price</td><td>~$30 (as of 2026-06-08)</td><td>~$17 - 20 (as of 2026-06-08)</td></tr><tr><td>GPS</td><td>Yes (UC6580, L1+L5)</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>Wi-Fi</td><td>No</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td>Sleep Current</td><td>12 µA</td><td>Higher</td></tr><tr><td>Best Role</td><td>Solar / remote / field</td><td>Indoor / USB-powered nodes</td></tr></tbody></table>

RF output is **not** identical between the two: the T096 reaches 28±1 dBm via its integrated PA, whereas the Heltec V4's stock output is around 22 dBm (higher on some PA variants — the exact figure is contested, so verify against heltec.org). Beyond raw output, the T096's 12 µA sleep current and built-in GPS make it far more suitable for long-term solar-powered deployments, where the V4's Wi-Fi integration goes unused.

## Target Use Cases

- Solar-powered relay nodes
- Remote repeaters (mountain tops, rural infrastructure)
- Portable field kits requiring GPS without an external module