Seeed Studio SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro
Seeed Studio SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro
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Features
- Utilizes a 5W solar panel in combination with 4*18650 batteries with a capacity of 3350mAh each. This setup ensures continuous operation even in the absence of sunlight, effectively solving the problem of outdoor power supply.
- The device comes pre-flashed with Meshtastic firmware at the factory.
- Features a built-in XIAO L76K GPS module, enabling high-precision real-time positioning. It supports real-time sharing of location information, providing reliable location assurance for outdoor activities.
- Equipped with a Grove interface, it is convenient to connect various sensors, such as temperature and humidity sensors. This meets diverse monitoring needs and enables easy functional expansion.
- It is suitable for long-term outdoor use.
- The communication range between the two devices can reach 8-9KM in open areas. It can seamlessly integrate into the Meshtastic ecosystem and be used as an outdoor node or repeater to easily expand the Mesh network, enhancing network coverage.
Product Includes
- SenseCAP Solar Node Pi-Pro with GPS & Battery
- Mounting Brackets
- Universal Joint
- Connector
- Hoop Bracket
- Hoop Ring
- 2dBi 868-915MHz Rubber Rod Antenna
- RF Cable: RP-SMA Male to RP-SMA Female 300mm
- Black Type-C Cable
- User Manual
Applications
- Outdoor Adventure: Send real-time location and text messages in areas without network coverage.
- Mesh Network Expansion: Serve as a Mesh relay node to expand the coverage of the existing Meshtastic network. Support multi-hop transmission, where data can be relayed through multiple nodes, enhancing network reliability.
- Educational Experiments: Learn about the development of Meshtastic and LoRa decentralized networks.
- Environmental Monitoring: Provide a Grove interface to connect sensors for remote monitoring of the environment (such as temperature, humidity, air quality, etc.).
Specs
- Main Controller: XIAO nRF52840 Plus (Nordic nRF52840, ARM® Cortex®-M4 32-bit processor with FPU, 64 MHz, 256KB RAM, 1MB Flash, 2MB onboard Flash)
- LoRa Module: Wio-SX1262 Module (Semtch SX1262, TXOP=22dBm@862-930MHz)
- GPS Module: XIAO L76K (Support GPS/GLONASS/Galileo)
- Solar Panel: 5W
- Interface: Grove (I2C/GPIO/UART) + USB-C
- Buttons: Power On/Off, Reset, User
- LED: Charging status, Solar panel status, Mesh heartbeat, User
- Battery: 4x18650 lithium ion battery(3350mAh each), supporting Type-C and solar charging, discharge: -40 ~ 60°C, charge 0 ~ 50°C
- Dimensions: 191.2mm x 201.2mm x 42.1mm
- Certification: FCC, CE
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I am pleased to say that Muzi and Seeed collaborated to send me a new unit, and within 10 minutes, it was up and operational.
I’ve built several solar Meshtastic nodes before, and this one is only a few dollars more than a DIY build yet it feels noticeably more quality than cobbled together parts. So, unless you have a very specific custom setup in mind, this should cover the majority of use cases. The form factor is excellent, compact, and low profile. So low profile/compact it took my wife a few weeks to even notice it was right in front of our driveway on a flagpole. I originally planned to mount it on my vehicle, but there isn’t an ideal mounting option available at the moment. Hopefully a future revision adds more flexibility.
That said, performance has been rock solid. It has handled rain, freezing temperatures, and low light conditions without issue. It continues to charge and operate reliably. Overall, it’s a great unit.
My only minor nitpicks:
• An out of the box car rack mounting option would be fantastic, even as an add on, assuming the device can handle the stress.
• It would be nice to include an additional pipe clamp size. Most people aren’t mounting this to a 5 inch mast, and the included clamp doesn’t compress well below 2 inches. A quick hardware store fix works, but still worth noting.
• I’d also love to see an optional larger, higher performance antenna.
None of these points should dissuade anyone. As an out of the box solution, it’s excellent for 95 percent of use cases.
After spending several hours trying to get this device working, I contacted Muzi for help. I’m not a Meshtastic expert, but I’ve set up other devices without any issues. Muzi told me they couldn’t assist and directed me to SEEED Studio. When I reached out, SEEED asked me to run troubleshooting steps that required more technical experience than I have.
I went back to Muzi to request a refund, but they would only offer a replacement or store credit. Since I wanted to switch to another manufacturers solar device and expected the same problems with another unit of this model, that didn’t work for me.
I then reached out to the community and learned that other users were also having problems with this unit. After flashing the firmware five or six times, I eventually got mine working, though it still has minor issues and very limited support.
Bottom line: You’re essentially buying this device “as is” from Muzi Works. If it doesn’t work correctly, don’t expect meaningful support or a refund.
It works fine and charges using solar energy.
I am going to give 5 stars despite two things. The choice of using an RP-SMA connector for the antenna was aggravating. I had a higher gain antenna with an N connector, with an N to SMA connector kit only to find that an RP-SMA connector was used and required me buying another adapter kit with RP SMA connectors. Second, I'm not sure what mount needs that size of clamp, but I'm used to 2" masts and "U" clamps. Other than those two things, the 4 batteries have been kept up to their charge level with the choice of solar panel. The unit has been performing well over the last several days. I am new in Meshtastic and my area has not been built out with nodes. I'm the first or second node in the area. Much to learn, but happy with the unit, and recommend it to others, but be aware of the above concerns.