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Maker Joseph DiGiovanni is looking to make it easier to add Meshtastic LoRa mesh network connectivity to your pocket — by sticking a transceiver to the back of your phone using MagSafe, Qi2, and compatible magnetic charging systems.
“Its designed to be the most convenient every day carry node,” DiGiovanni says of the “Magtastic” Meshtastic transceiver. “It securely attaches to your phone, but is also small enough to fit just about anywhere. The internal battery lasts up to five days, and charging is as easy as enabling battery sharing if your phone supports it. In my testing with a [Google] Pixel 9, every one per cent drained will provide an hour of radio use, but this will vary greatly depending on your device.”
If you’re looking for a sleek way to add Meshtastic support to your phone, the Magtastic is it. (📷: Joseph DiGiovanni)
Meshtastic is a community-driven mesh networking project based on an open source firmware written for low-cost LoRa-based radio hardware. While some Meshtastic devices include integrated screens, buttons, and even keyboards for full standalone use, most are designed to connect to a nearby phone, laptop, or tablet over Bluetooth or USB for use with companion software.
Rather than carrying around two devices, though, DiGiovanni’s Magtastic reduces an on-the-go fully-capable Meshtastic setup to one — by connecting the transceiver, in a 3D-printed housing, to the MagSafe or Qi2 magnetic wireless charging ring available on many phones, or a compatible mount-only magnetic ring available for phones without the feature integrated. Just drop the Magtastic on the back of your phone and you’re away — complete with power sharing, if supported.
The device is designed to take up no more footprint than your existing phone, and can even share its battery. (📷: Joseph DiGiovanni)
The Magtastic hardware itself is based on a RAKwireless RAK4630, which combines a Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 wireless microcontroller with a Semtech SX1262 LoRa transceiver in a 3D-printed housing. There’s a 900mAh battery, which can be charged via a USB Type-C connector or MagSafe/Qi2 battery sharing, and an SMA connector for a bundled slightly-shortened 900MHz dipole antenna. There is not, however, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver included in the parts list, meaning location sharing will rely on the smartphone’s built-in GNSS functionality.
The Magtastic is now available from DiGiovanni’s Tindie store, priced at $65 including a 3D-printed case in a choice of colors.