HELTEC WiFi LoRa 32 V4.3.1 SX1262 LoRa Node Meshtastic LoRaWAN GPS Included

OpenELAB Technology Ltd. Verified independent store

→

Description HELTEC WiFi LoRa 32 V4 is a compact ESP32-S3 and SX1262 LoRa development board for Meshtastic, LoRaWAN, MeshCore, GNSS/GPS tracking, wireless sensor nodes and long-rang e IoT prototypes. This listing covers two selectable variants, WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R2 and WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R8, and the package includes a GPS module for projects that need location data. The board combines 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, a 0.96 inch OLED display and an SX1262 LoRa radio in one small module. It is a strong fit for developers who want a ready hardware base for portable mesh nodes, telemetry devices, LoRaWAN end nodes, environmental monitors, remote control links and field test equipment. V4-R2 uses an ESP32-S3R2 with 2MB PSRAM and 16MB Flash. It is the practical choice for standard Meshtastic nodes, LoRaWAN sensors, compact telemetry devices and projects where lower memory demand and available free pins matter. V4-R8 uses an ESP32-S3R8 with 8MB PSRAM and 16MB Flash, giving more memory headroom for heavier firmware, larger buffers, richer UI work and more complex wireless applications. The SX1262 section supports 863-928MHz LoRa operation with high transmit power and long receive sensitivity, while the included GPS hardware allows location-aware operation when the correct firmware and antenna setup are used. For battery or outdoor deployments, the lithium battery input and solar connector make the board suitable for mobile and semi-permanent field nodes. Features ESP32-S3 core with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE and efficient embedded application support. SX1262 LoRa radio for 863-928MHz long-range communication, Meshtastic, LoRaWAN and custom LoRa links. Two variant choices: V4-R2 with ESP32-S3R2 / 2MB PSRAM, or V4-R8 with ESP32-S3R8 / 8MB PSRAM. 16MB Flash on both variants for firmware, configuration and application storage. 0.96 inch OLED display for node status, menus, debugging and field feedback. GPS module included for tracking, GNSS-aware Meshtastic nodes and mobile outdoor projects. Battery and solar support for portable nodes and unattended telemetry installations. USB-C interface for power, flashing, serial debugging and development. LoRa antenna and connectors included so the board can be tested without sourcing the basic radio accessories separately. Meshtastic and MeshCore friendly when the firmware file is selected for the exact V4-R2 or V4-R8 hardware variant. Suitable for LoRaWAN end-node experiments, sensor gateways, outdoor telemetry and maker electronics education. Compact board format with expansion pins for sensors, buttons, displays, relays or custom carrier boards. Specifications Product name HELTEC WiFi LoRa 32 V4 SX1262 LoRa Node with GPS Selectable variants WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R2; WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R8 MCU V4-R2: ESP32-S3R2; V4-R8: ESP32-S3R8 PSRAM V4-R2: 2MB PSRAM; V4-R8: 8MB PSRAM Flash 16MB external Flash LoRa transceiver SX1262 high-power LoRa radio LoRa frequency range 863-928MHz Transmit power Up to 28 +/- 1 dBm, depending on firmware and region settings Receive sensitivity Down to about -137dBm at SF12 / BW125KHz Wireless connectivity 2.4GHz Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth LE, Bluetooth 5 and Bluetooth Mesh support through ESP32-S3 Display 0.96 inch OLED display GNSS/GPS GPS module included; use the GNSS interface and matching firmware configuration for location data Power input USB-C, lithium battery input and solar input Battery range Lithium battery input designed for about 3.3-4.4V Included connectors Battery/solar connectors, header pins and LoRa antenna Firmware ecosystems Meshtastic, MeshCore, LoRaWAN and custom ESP32-S3 LoRa firmware Typical applications Mesh communication, tracking, telemetry, LoRaWAN sensors, outdoor nodes, classrooms and field tests Operating temperature Approximately -20 to 70 C Estimated shipping weight About 60 g for the board and included accessories Variant Memory Comparison Item WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R2 WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R8 MCU ESP32-S3R2 ESP32-S3R8 PSRAM 2MB PSRAM 8MB PSRAM Flash 16MB external Flash 16MB external Flash Main advantage Extra free pins and enough memory for standard nodes More memory headroom for heavy-load tasks Best fit Standard Meshtastic node, LoRaWAN sensor, compact telemetry, classroom project Larger firmware builds, richer UI logic, bigger buffers, more complex applications Firmware Compatibility Comparison Firmware or workflow WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R2 WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R8 Meshtastic Use firmware name pattern firmware-heltec-v4-xxxx and version 2.7.20 or higher for hardware V4.3. Use firmware-heltec-v4-r8-xxxx and version 2.7.25 or higher when following the official R8 temporary firmware path. MeshCore Use MeshCore version 1.15.0 or higher for hardware V4.3. LNA behavior follows the current MeshCore support status. Use the R8 firmware resource path while R8 support is handled separately from the normal V4 target. Heltec development framework Update the board package and LoRa library from Heltec WiFi Kit series and Heltec ESP32 libraries. Use the R8 manual and resource folder first, then match the framework or example version to ESP32-S3R8 hardware. Hardware Selection Notes Topic WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R2 WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R8 Pin and expansion focus Better choice when a project values the extra free pins mentioned by Heltec and does not need large PSRAM. Better choice when memory capacity matters more than the extra-pin advantage. LNA and hardware V4.3 notes Hardware V4.3 requires updated firmware; Heltec lists the V4.3 schematic and LNA-related MeshCore firmware resources. Follow the R8 manual and R8 firmware path, because R8 firmware is not the same as the normal V4-R2 firmware path. Practical buying advice Choose R2 for normal LoRa nodes, simple sensor firmware, lower complexity and pin flexibility. Choose R8 for future firmware growth, more memory buffers and heavier application logic. Applications Meshtastic GPS mesh node: build a portable LoRa mesh node that can share position and text data when configured with the included GPS module. LoRaWAN end node: connect sensors and test low-data-rate uplinks for monitoring, education and proof-of-concept deployments. Outdoor telemetry: collect remote environmental, agricultural, energy or equipment data where Wi-Fi coverage is not available. Mobile asset tracking: combine LoRa, GPS and battery power for test trackers, field kits and mobile maker projects. MeshCore experiments: evaluate MeshCore firmware with the correct V4 hardware target and compare behavior between R2 and R8 memory profiles. Classroom and lab projects: demonstrate Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LoRa, OLED display output, GNSS and low-power design on one board. Remote control and status links: send simple commands or receive status packets over long-range LoRa links. Custom ESP32-S3 development: use the expansion pins for sensors, buttons, buzzers, displays or a custom carrier board. Product List WiFi LoRa 32 V4 board 1 pc, selected as V4-R2 or V4-R8 LoRa antenna 1 pc 1.25x2 connector 2 pcs, for battery and solar connection 2.54x18 header pin 2 pcs 2.54x2 header pin 2 pcs GPS module 1 pc, included in this package The product list above follows the current package information for this listing. The included GPS module is part of the package, not a separate optional product in this offer. Other Content How to choose between V4-R2 and V4-R8: choose V4-R2 if you are building a normal Meshtastic node, a simple LoRaWAN sensor, a compact telemetry unit or a classroom project where 2MB PSRAM is enough. Choose V4-R8 if the project may use larger buffers, heavier protocol logic, richer screen menus, more complex application code or future firmware that benefits from 8MB PSRAM. Firmware note: for Meshtastic, check the device target and firmware version before flashing. The HELTEC V4-R2 path is different from the V4-R8 resource path, and MeshCore also requires choosing the correct hardware target. For LoRaWAN work, configure frequency plans and output power according to your region and network rules. GPS and antenna note: the GPS module is included for location-aware nodes, but position accuracy depends on antenna placement, firmware settings and outdoor signal conditions. Always connect a suitable LoRa antenna before transmitting at high power, and verify the battery or solar connector polarity before field deployment. Board layout and main areas: This detail image identifies the key sections of the HELTEC WiFi LoRa 32 V4, including the ESP32-S3, SX1262 LoRa section, OLED area, USB-C connector, battery connector, solar input, antenna interfaces and expansion pins. It is useful when the board is being mounted in an enclosure, tracker, sensor housing or field node.Pinout and interface reference: The pinout helps confirm I2C, UART, SPI, GPIO, reset, boot, power and expansion connections before wiring sensors or accessories. When migrating from an older LoRa board, check the V4 pin map instead of assuming a direct pin-for-pin match.V4-R2 and V4-R8 variant note: The major variant difference is the ESP32-S3 memory profile: V4-R2 uses ESP32-S3R2 with 2MB PSRAM, while V4-R8 uses ESP32-S3R8 with 8MB PSRAM. This affects memory headroom for larger firmware builds, buffers and application logic.LoRa and antenna section: The SX1262 radio section covers 863-928MHz LoRa operation. Attach the correct LoRa antenna before high-power transmission, especially for Meshtastic nodes, LoRaWAN tests and long-range outdoor telemetry.Power and field deployment: USB-C, lithium battery input and solar input support both bench development and remote node deployment. Check connector polarity, voltage range and firmware sleep settings when building a battery-powered LoRa device.GNSS/GPS integration: The included GPS module makes this HELTEC WiFi LoRa 32 V4 package suitable for location-aware Meshtastic nodes, mobile mesh devices, trackers and outdoor data loggers. Firmware, antenna placement and the GNSS interface must be configured for reliable position reporting.Firmware and resource overview: The resource overview helps choose the correct firmware path for V4-R2 or V4-R8. Use the matching documentation and firmware package for Meshtastic, MeshCore or LoRaWAN instead of mixing files between variants. Resources The following official technical resources are useful when confirming the exact board variant, flashing firmware, checking schematics or building Meshtastic, MeshCore and LoRaWAN projects. WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R2 Resources WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R2 official user manual WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R2 schematic folder WiFi LoRa 32 V4.3 schematic PDF WiFi LoRa 32 V4.3.1 datasheet WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R2 downloadable resources WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R8 Resources WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R8 official user manual WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R8 schematic folder WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R8 datasheet folder WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R8 downloadable resources WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R8 firmware resources Firmware, Libraries and Development WiFi LoRa 32 V4 3D model resources Heltec ESP32 development framework and board manager examples Heltec ESP32 libraries for LoRa, LoRaWAN and sensors LoRaWAN code for ESP32 Arduino framework Meshtastic documentation for HELTEC LoRa 32 V4 MeshCore flasher MeshCore V4.3 LNA disabled firmware package MeshCore V4.3 LNA configurable firmware package Heltec Docs home Heltec community forum Heltec GitHub repositories FAQ What is the difference between WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R2 and WiFi LoRa 32 V4-R8? V4-R2 uses ESP32-S3R2 with 2MB PSRAM, while V4-R8 uses ESP32-S3R8 with 8MB PSRAM. V4-R2 is enough for many standard nodes; V4-R8 is better when the project needs extra memory headroom. Is the GPS module included? Yes. This package includes one GPS module, so it can be used for GNSS-aware Meshtastic nodes, tracking experiments and location-based LoRa projects after firmware configuration. Can this board run Meshtastic? Yes. HELTEC WiFi LoRa 32 V4 is supported by Meshtastic, but you should select the firmware for the exact V4-R2 or V4-R8 variant and follow the current Meshtastic device documentation. Can I use it for LoRaWAN? Yes. The SX1262 radio and ESP32-S3 platform can be used for LoRaWAN end-node development. Configure the regional frequency plan, keys and transmit power according to your network. Which version should I buy for a future-proof project? If the budget difference is acceptable, V4-R8 provides 8MB PSRAM and is the safer choice for heavier firmware, more buffering and experiments that may grow later. Certificates and Compliance Documents Available certification and compliance documents for this product can be reviewed as PDF files below. RoHS Document CE / RoHS Document Show more