Recommended Hardware
List of devices, antennas, and accessories verified for use with Meshtastic PT.
📡 Recommended Hardware for Meshtastic
On this page we present a list of tested and recommended equipment (including antennas, LoRa modules and accessories) for use with Meshtastic in Portugal. We only list products with recognized quality, good value for money, and that have not caused issues in tests or daily use.
The list is updated regularly. Discontinued products or those with a poor reputation are removed. For antennas, it is very important to ensure the frequency matches your region (🇪🇺 EU868, EU433, 2.4 GHz).
⚠️ Pay attention to connectors too! Many devices use SMA Male or RP-SMA - a mistake here may prevent proper operation.
🚀 Have an antenna or device you tested and it works well? Send us feedback in our Telegram group!
Your sharing helps us keep this list updated and prevents others from buying incompatible or low-quality equipment.
ESP32 or nRF52840: which should you choose?
Both platforms run Meshtastic, but they target different priorities. Compare battery life, connectivity, and capacity before choosing a device.
| Criterion | ESP32 / ESP32-S3 | nRF52840 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Generally higher power consumption; better suited to frequent or permanent power. | Very low power consumption; usually the better choice for battery or solar power. |
| Wi-Fi | Built into most boards, enabling a direct network connection. | No integrated Wi-Fi; normally communicates through Bluetooth, USB, or additional hardware. |
| Bluetooth | Available, with a greater energy impact while in use. | Efficient Bluetooth Low Energy well suited to portable use. |
| NodeDB capacity | Tends to provide more memory headroom for larger meshes, depending on the board. | May have more limited capacity in very dense meshes; the actual limit depends on the device and firmware. |
| Direct MQTT | Can connect directly to the broker over Wi-Fi. | Without integrated Wi-Fi, it normally needs an external client or gateway for Internet access. |
| Price and choice | Wide availability and affordable options in many form factors and display configurations. | Often more expensive, but worthwhile when battery life and efficiency are the priority. |
| Best suited to | MQTT gateways, fixed Nodes, Wi-Fi experiments, and devices with regular power. | Portable Nodes, solar installations, and uses requiring long battery life. |
Choose ESP32 if…
you need Wi-Fi or direct MQTT, want a wider device selection, or will have regular access to power.
Choose nRF52840 if…
battery life, battery/solar operation, or an efficient portable Node is your priority.
Results vary by board, battery, display, GPS, sensors, and configuration. Always confirm the exact model in the official Meshtastic Web Flasher list.
| Brand | Name | Category | Store |
|---|
⚠️ Pay Attention to Connectors!
When buying antennas, always check the connector type. Most LoRa devices use SMA Male connectors - connecting the wrong one (e.g., RP-SMA) will result in reception problems or even transmitter damage.
Wrong connector = no signal! Always confirm before ordering.