An open-source LoRa development board for Meshtastic and long-range wireless communication.
Meschy is an open-source hardware platform built around the Nordic nRF52840 microcontroller and the Semtech SX1262 LoRa transceiver. It is designed for reliable, low-power, long-range communication and is fully compatible with the Meshtastic ecosystem.
Whether you're building an off-grid messaging device, an IoT sensor network, or experimenting with mesh communications, Meschy provides a compact and flexible hardware platform.
- Nordic nRF52840 MCU
- Semtech SX1262 LoRa Transceiver
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE 5.0)
- USB Type-C interface
- Low-power design
- Meshtastic compatible
- Expansion GPIOs
- Open-source hardware
Once you have an assembled Meschy board in hand, here's how to get it running on the Meshtastic network.
The nRF52840 uses a UF2 bootloader, which is different from the flashing process used on ESP32-based Meshtastic devices (no esptool or serial flashing needed here). To enter bootloader mode:
- Connect Meschy to your computer via USB-C.
- Double-tap the reset button quickly.
- The board will reboot into bootloader mode and appear on your computer as a USB mass storage drive (usually named something like
MESCHYBOOTorNRF52BOOT).
If double-tapping doesn't work on the first try, it can take a couple of attempts to get the timing right.
- Download the latest nRF52-compatible
.uf2firmware build for your device from the official Meshtastic firmware releases page.- Since Meschy is based on the MiniX hardware design, start with the MiniX (or closest matching nRF52840/SX1262) variant build. If a dedicated Meschy build isn't available yet, this is the recommended starting point.
- Drag and drop the
.uf2file onto the USB drive that appeared in Step 1. - The board will automatically flash the firmware and reboot on its own. The USB drive will disappear once flashing is complete — this is normal.
Alternatively, you can use the Meshtastic Web Flasher for supported boards. Note that nRF52-based boards generally rely on the drag-and-drop UF2 method above rather than Web Serial/WebUSB flashing used by ESP32 boards.
After flashing, Meschy will show up as a Bluetooth Low Energy device. Configure it using any official Meshtastic client:
- Meshtastic Android app (Google Play)
- Meshtastic iOS app (App Store)
- Meshtastic Web Client (client.meshtastic.org) — connect via BLE or USB serial
- Meshtastic CLI (Python) for advanced/scripted configuration
Pair with the device over Bluetooth, then set your region (LoRa frequency plan), device role, and channel/encryption settings according to the official Meshtastic documentation.
To update firmware in the future, repeat Step 1 (double-tap reset to re-enter bootloader mode) and drag the new .uf2 file onto the drive. Your radio/channel settings are generally preserved across firmware updates, but it's good practice to back up your configuration first via the app (Settings → Export Configuration).
- Board doesn't show up as a drive: Try a different USB-C cable (some are power-only) and a different USB port.
- Double-tap isn't registering: Try tapping slightly faster/slower, or hold reset briefly before releasing.
- Device not visible over Bluetooth after flashing: Give it 10–15 seconds after reboot, and make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone/computer.
Meschy is based on the open-source Meshtastic MiniX hardware design.
Rather than being a direct copy, this project is a customized hardware variant that has undergone substantial hardware redesigns to better fit our engineering goals and manufacturing requirements.
Major modifications include:
- Redesigned power supply circuitry
- Completely revised button circuitry
- PCB layout optimization
- Improved component selection
- Routing refinements
- Manufacturing optimizations
- General hardware improvements for production
These changes were made to improve reliability, manufacturability, and long-term maintainability while preserving compatibility with the Meshtastic ecosystem.
We sincerely thank the original MiniX designers and the Meshtastic community for making open hardware possible.
This project was originally developed under the name ULAQ.
During development, we discovered a trademark conflict with an existing registered brand. To avoid legal issues and respect intellectual property rights, the project was officially renamed to Meschy.
Since the hardware had already reached the manufacturing stage, the current PCB revision still contains the "ULAQ" silkscreen on the board. This is purely cosmetic and does not indicate a different hardware version.
Please note:
- ULAQ and Meschy are the same hardware project.
- The PCB may still display the ULAQ name.
- All future documentation, software, and hardware revisions will use the Meschy name.
Hardware/
├── 3D_PCB.step
├── PCB_PICS.pdf
├── MESCHY_BOM.xlsx
├── MESCHY_PICK_AND_PLACE.xlsx
├── MESCHY_SCH.pdf
└── meschy_gerber.zip
This repository includes everything required to manufacture and assemble the board.
meschy_gerber.zip
Contains the complete PCB manufacturing package, including:
- Copper layers
- Solder mask
- Silkscreen
- Drill files
- Board outline
Compatible with virtually all PCB manufacturers, including:
- JLCPCB
- PCBWay
- Seeed Fusion
- OSH Park
- Any Gerber-compatible fabrication service
MESCHY_BOM.xlsx
Complete component list required to assemble the board.
MESCHY_PICK_AND_PLACE.xlsx
Automated SMT assembly coordinates.
MESCHY_SCH.pdf
Complete circuit schematic for reference and development.
3D_PCB.step
STEP model for enclosure design and mechanical integration.
PCB_PICS.pdf
Reference photographs of the manufactured PCB.
Meschy can be used for:
- Meshtastic devices
- Off-grid communication
- Emergency communication
- GPS tracking
- IoT sensor networks
- Outdoor adventures
- Remote telemetry
- Educational and research projects
Meschy is released as an open hardware project to encourage learning, experimentation, and community-driven development.
Contributions, bug reports, hardware improvements, and pull requests are always welcome.
This repository contains open-source hardware design files. Please respect the applicable open-source license and the trademarks of third parties.
The first production revision of the PCB still contains the ULAQ silkscreen due to the project's original name. Only the project name has changed. The hardware, documentation, Gerber files, BOM, and all future development belong to the Meschy project.