Meshtastic router box with magnets

WARNING: the box is not water proof or water resistant yet, the new design would allow for more antennas but it is not complete yet, only the aliexpress antenna will fit


Developed in the field for real life usage (and hopefully more things like ATAK the future). This router is made for urban, european cities, where it can attach itself on metallic surfaces. 

There are no special print requirements. It should work with all. As long as you know your preferred filament type properties, supports are recommended. Printed on bambu mini. Didnt print it with ASA yet but that would probably make it survive a bit better out there. If you want to use it longer term.

Components you need:

>Cheap aliexpress antennna with an IPEX connector
>M3 threaded inserts
>M3 screws (from 4 mm to 9 mm will do)
>A small strip of metal I cut up with an angle grinder (its required to stop the magnetic fields from reaching the radio equipment) (you may also want to hammer it on a vice so that it fits)
>1 MM tubing/rubber strip (optional, if you want to waterproo…resist it, use glue to secure it)
>2 x 18650 batteries (also be very aware with wiring this, its red on red, and black on black, look up the difference between series and parallel for batteries, dont increase the voltage)
>Some spare speaker wire (can be almost any wire)
>A lora device of your choice as long as its not larger than 70mm x 45 mm.
>10 x 10 MM magnets, can be round or square, 3 mm thick max, minimum 2mm
>Heat Shrink Insulated Electrical Wire Terminals or just solder it
>UV GLUE


If you want to try out solar cells, the solar lid uses this solar cell:

Rak store solar panel
(and while you are in the store, buy their much more power efficient lora device) (use UV glue around the edges of the lid, probably should be enough)


Here are small field tests (the channel has more info)
Telegram link DEC16-2023, DEC28-2023


The battery holder was taken and modified from 
https://www.printables.com/model/131214-18650-minimal-holder

I am also open to any and all suggestions and/or comments.  This is also not waterproofed yet, so dont expect it to life through storms just yet.

Updates:

1-1-2024 — Currently working on making the inner box more tidy, and to a suggestion to isolate the power circuit a bit more from the antenna, had a great idea to try to get the SMA connector to screw in somehow into the box, allowing your own antenna to sit atop of it

1-2-2024 Moved the antenna up and into a more universalized solution so that other antennas can be used. Created an internal almost fully enclosed battery enclosure for some shielding

1-5-2024 completed the assembly of the current box, tested dimensions, made sure everything fits, it works now. Also started to work more on the 3 cell lid.

20-02-2024 Was thinking abit on how to get connectors inside and added a simple hole thing near the lid. Got some more funds now for dev work

Want me to speed up the development?  DONATE Doge coin D975cqRhJu566U3mG6RCcUvUeUMyTxrDEW