Meshtastic FakeTAK "SCOUT" ultra portable tacticool GPS, ATAK optimized, 18650 node

Super compact ATAK optimized Faketec node with amazing GPS reception, quick swappable 18650 battery.
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updated January 29, 2025

Description

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There is no in detail  step by step how to, there is a ton of pictures, a video, and a description  + hints,  you should be able to pull this off,  if something is unclear feel free to ask in the comments. 

Part list DONE, showcase video DONE,   

CHECK out the video on the bottom of this page!

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ROGER THAT!  Well yes, it is not made out of metal, it is not waterproof, it wont survive a nuclear blast and it is definitely not that kind of equipment, hardcore civil prep wanna be supersoldiers are looking for, but god damn i am proud of what I created here, pretty much the coolest tacticool thing I ever made to this point of time.

Rocking a Faketec node, I also added a excellent GPS antenna that pretty much gets a fix the moment you turn it on, it really is astounding, but also has its price. 

No visible lights that can give your position away just like its big brother the FakeTAK “Commander” the Scout features a buzzer for audio feedback when you turn the device on/off and also the GPS on and off. 

Easy accessible USB C protected by a TPU dustcover and also a TPU lanyard attached to the screw cap of the drumroll easy swapable 18650 battery. 

YES just like you know it from expensive night vision and military equipment the scout  features a fully functional 18650 cell slot you can swap with ease. 

Its has a slight “flaw” but it really isnt that bad. 

The whole build is quite advanced and not easy to build, on a scale from 1-10 I would give it a 8 on difficulty, let alone that you also need to assemble a faketec node yourself first.

A looooot of prototypes, test runs and lots of hours were put into this project I could not be more happy about the outcome! 

Showcase video will be added soon as well. 

I also uploaded a remixed Faketec PCB  that includes mosfets so its much easier to add external hardware to it. 

Dont forget to gently break out the support on the Lora Antenna base with needle nose pliers, gently wiggle it and it will come off perfectly clean and straight. (it enables collected water running down the antenna to escape) 

 

IMPORTANT!: 

There is a 18650 stencil insert (18650 Mark and cut) that makes it easy to prep the use of 18650 cells with the scout.  Just slide the 18650 cell in with  + at the front and then Mark the back area with a black marker as well the part that needs to be cut out. You can try to cut it while in the stencil but I always slide it out and nicely cut away the foil for the Mass contact outside of it. 

 

Part list:  

Faketec Node: ( Check “issues” on the github, there I uploaded an updated PCB that includes spots for Mosfets for external hardware like, GPS enable, buzzer, vibra, LED, etc) 

gargomoma/fakeTec_pcb: A low-cost nrf52 device.

High sensitive GPS antenna: HA-103A

Rtk gnss antenne hochpräzise helix position ierung uav unbemanntes fahrzeugs chiff gps l1 l2 l5 glonass beidou galileo sma wasserdicht - AliExpress 509

Spring for turn able Power switch: wire diameter:0.2, length: 5mm,  spring diameter:2mm

10 stücke/Los 0,2 Edelstahl Druck feder Stahl Seide Durchmesser mm Schrauben feder od 2mm-4mm Länge 5mm bis 50mm Federn - AliExpress 13

2mm Metal ball for turnable switch mechanism: 2mm diameter

Aisi52100 Chromstahl-Lager kugeln 1,2mm-3,5mm 1,5mm 1,588mm 2mm 2,381mm (3/32 '') 2,5mm 2,778mm 3mm 3,175mm gcr15 cr6 - AliExpress 13

Micro switch for the turn able Power switch: 

10Pcs Micro Endschalter Momentary Push Button Schalter 1A 125V AC Maus Schalter 3Pins Lange Griff Roller hebel Arm SPDT 12X6X6MM - AliExpress 13

Spring for springloaded mass contact on the 18650 cell: 

I used a spring from a ball point pen cut in length ( something between 6-10mm in length) , but  you can also buy some 3.5-4mm spring in diameter.

10–20 Stück/Lot 0,4 mm Edelstahl Micro kleine Druckfeder Außendurchmesser 3 mm/4 mm/5 mm/6 mm Länge 5 mm bis 50 mm - AliExpress 13

Metal, water resistant button to be able to turn GPS on/off: self reseting: 

8mm metall taste Mini taste schalter 2-pin self-locking / latch selbst reset/momentane wasserdicht - AliExpress 13

Ipex to SMA adapter for LORA antenna ( as short as possible) : 5CM

5 cm U.FL auf SMA-Pigtail-Anschlussantenne RF-SMA-Buchse WIFI GSM GPS RG1.13-Kabel SIM7100E/MC7455/MC7430 - AliExpress 509

Ipex to SMA adapter for GPS : Farbe: SMA F to RF4 F 10cm

2 Teile/los MHF4 auf SMA Jumper RP-SMA/SMA Stecker auf IPX-4 MHF4 Weibliche Jack WIFI Antenne Verlängerung Zopf RG113 RF1,13 Kabel Adapter - AliExpress 13

SMA antenna ( of course you can get any other suitable antenna if you dont like this one but base can not exceed 12mm in diameter!: 

GSM 868 MHz 915 MHz Antenne Lora PBX wasserdicht 3bdi SMA Stecker IOT Antena 868 MHz 915 MHz Antennenantennen für Lorawan - AliExpress 509

Buzzer for audio feedback: 7.5x7.5x2.5MM

10 Stück SMD Summer 5020 7525 8530 9650 1230 9032 3V 3,6V 5V Magnetische MINI Aktive Passive Piezo-Summer Lautsprecher Elektronisches Kit - AliExpress 502

GPS Module: 

Tzt gps bds beidou Dual-Mode-Modul, Flugs teuerung Satelliten position ierungs navigator, atgm336h Ersatz, für NEO-M8N - AliExpress 502

self cutting plastic screws: M3 (50pcs) 8mm

M2 m2, 5 m3, 5 m3 m4 m5 pt Pfanne runder Kopf selbst schneidende Holz schraube schwanz geschnittene Phillips Kreuz vertiefter schwarzer verzinkter Stahl - AliExpress 13

Metal belt clip with rivets: 

/20pcs meetee 56x25mm Doppel löcher Metall Feder gürtel Holster Mantel Clip Verschluss Schnallen Zubehör mit 8mm Kappe Bolzen Schrauben - AliExpress 15

18650 BMS ( battery protection/ management):  

10 TEILE/LOS 1S 3,7 V 3A li-ion BMS PCM batterie schutz bord pcm für 18650 lithium-ionen li batterie - AliExpress 502

Mosfets to controll buzzer and GPS module: 

200PCS SI2300 SI2301 SI2302 SI2307 SI2312 SS8050 SS8550 MMBD1503A SOT-23 Transistor SMD Triode - AliExpress 502

Pull down resistors for Mosfet: 10K Ohm

200PCS 1206 1% SMD Widerstand 0R ~ 10M 1/4W 0 1 10 100 150 220 330 Ohm 1K 2,2 K 10K 100K 0R 1R 10R 100R 150R 220R 330R 1M 10M - AliExpress 502

18650 unprotected Battery: source locally

Battery contact:

100 stücke Batterie Batterie schrapnell AA oder AAA batterie frühling 5 Keine. positive und negative kontaktieren stücke 50pairs Drop Schiff - AliExpress 13

Metal steel band for mass contact slider: 0.15 X 8 mm 3M

2/3/5M/Roll 18650 Li ionen Batterie Nickel Überzogene Stahl Gürtel Streifen Stecker Spot Schweißen maschine 10x0.15/5x 0.1/8x0.15/8x 0,1mm - AliExpress 1420

Rocker screw for spring loaded mass contact slider: M2 x 16

M2 x 4 5 6 8 10 12 14 16 18mm Schwarz Vernickelt 12,9 Grade Legierung Stahl Allen hex Buchse Taste Kopf Schraube Bolzen ISO7380 - AliExpress 13

 

Of course your gonna need some other stuff that you hopefully already have at home like: 

superglue, flux capacitor, drillbits,  pourable silicone if you want to make the antenna connections on top 100% watertight, Plutonium, PLA or PetG for the main case and TPU for the sealings and lanyard.

Recommended Oliv colored filaments for this build: 

Polymaker PolyTerra PLA Army Green

TINMORRY PETG-CF Army Green

ERYONE Matte PLA 3D olive green

 

 

 

Tags



Model origin

The author remixed this model.

NVG PVS-14 (Dummy) By Goticwar
by GoticWar (cults3d.com)

Differences of the remix compared to the original

Using parts of the housing to remodel it to a usable meshtastic node with a pvs 14 design touch.

License