SEEEDpod Ultimate

The SEEEDpod Ultimate is a comprehensive ecosystem of solutions to create standalone nodes that can sustain themselves without relying on the grid. The system has three tiers: Ultimate Off-grid for harsh backcountry environments, Ultimate Urban for low profile city use, and Ultimate EDC, which serves as a sort of peripheral to the primary node.

The SEEEDpod Ultimate versions are as follows:

Version 1: SEEEDpod Ultimate Off-grid

Meshtastic is designed for off-grid communications, and as such it's to be expected that nodes will be taken to remote locations, where they will be exposed to rough handling, inclement weather, and infrequent -- or nonexistant -- opportunities to recharge from a power grid.

Therefore, it's important for nodes to be rugged, dust and water resistant, and capable of operating for long periods without the need to be recharged from an outlet.

Unfortunately, despite being an affordable alternative to Gotenna and Beartooth, there are virtually no Meshtastic devices designed to withstand off-grid use.

The SEEEDpod Ultimate Off-grid is a phone-sized node that's ruggedized, water resistant, self-sustaining with a built in high efficiency solar panel, and has a very generous battery compartment that -- drumroll please -- can serve as a 5v solar power bank to charge other devices in a pinch (including other nodes)!

Since the node can power itself indefinitely, it can be left in a fixed location as an impromptu repeater to extend the range of ground teams during disaster relief, search and rescue, and humanitarian missions.

The list of potential users is long: non-profits, volunteers, NGOs, international relief organizations, developing countries...anyone who needs off-grid location and communication services in a remote or disaster impacted location.

Moreover, this one system works for all three Tracker L1 devices; you simply remove the appropriate punchout from the faceplate (or leave them intact in the case of the L1 Lite).

That unrivaled versatility will be welcomed by users who upgrade their device by adding a screen or upgrading from the OLED to E-Ink.

There's also a lot of room for expansion of this system. For example, optional faceplates could expand the battery capacity to 10,000mah with only a marginal sacrifice in weight and dimensions. In a larger format, it could be a very formidable power bank, or run for very long periods of time in locations where the sun is scarce, such as near the poles.

Perhaps best of all, the DFM (design for manufacturability) is highly optimized for the casual 3d printer. It can be printed on virtually any printer with nearly any filament with no special settings, no supports, minimal post processing, etc. Just slice it, rip it off the print bed, and assemble it!

It also requires virtually nothing in the way of special hardware or tools. In fact, it doesn't specifically require any hardware or tools at all! If hardware isn't available due to local supply chain issues, you can simply super glue it together, thanks to the fact that all components are self-aligning by design (the device's board can be fixed in place using bits of filament as posts)!

Last but not least, the case has unrivaled versatility. It can accommodate a wide range of batteries and boost boards, and gives full access to the connector ports on the Tracker's board so plug-and-play components can be used if the user doesn't have access to a soldering station.

Version 2: SEEEDpod Ultimate Urban

The SEEEDpod Ultimate Urban is a deconstructed version of this concept, designed for use in city environments that are less demanding, where users prefer a lower profile device that can be easily carried in a pocket.

The Ultimate Urban solution packages the node itself in the smallest possible footprint, while still giving easy access to peripherals if they should be needed. Thus, the user can carry the node in their pocket and keep peripherals in a vehicle or bag, and they can be easily utilized on the go if needed.

Like it's big brother, the Ultimate Urban can be configured for all three versions of the Wio Tracker L1, thanks to its user-configurable front panel that features two different punchouts for each screen option. For the L1 Lite, you would simply leave the punchouts fully intact, and for the versions with screens you will simply remove one of the two punchouts, with the small one being for the OLED screen, and the large one for the E-Ink screen. This means that users can upgrade their device with a screen and simply reconfigure their SEEEDpod case to accommodate their new screen.

Most of the time, users will simply read and respond to messages with the onboard screens and joystick controls, and, in the event they need to type out a message, will likely choose to use the Bluetooth application via their smart device. However, in certain instances where that's unavailable or infeasible, the keyboard can be employed in a matter of seconds. This deconstructed approach keeps the device as small as possible while maintaining its full capabilities. Examples where this might be necessary are if the smart device's battery dies, or in situations where the smart device cannot be used for safety reasons, such as by aid workers in Ukraine, who might risk their smart devices being targeted by drones.

Likewise, the solar panel can charge the device in the event that grid power isn't available, and, like the keyboard, it, too, has a very slim protective housing that contains its voltage regulator board, putting out a clean, constant 5 volts no matter how much or how little sun there is. The solar panel can be easily waterproofed with silicone, so if the device needs to be left stationary as an impromptu repeater, the solar panel can be left in the open with the device itself placed under a cover, such as a bit of plastic or a rain jacket. The solar panel's leads may be terminated in either JST or USB-C, since the 5 volt output can be utilized from either of the Tracker's ports. A JST to USB-C adapter can also be used to charge other devices like cell phones or other Meshtastic nodes from the solar panel, adding to its versatility. If terminated in JST, that leaves the Tracker's USB-C port free, which creates the opportunity to use two panels if available, in conditions where sunlight is too limited for a single panel to provide the maximum current.

Despite its small size, the Ultimate Urban housing has enough room for an onboard 400mah battery, which can power the device for several days!

Version 3: SEEEDpod EDC

Since the SEEDpod Ultimates are designed to potentially be left as an impromptu repeater, the SEEEDpod EDC is intended to be a backup node to be used in that event.

Based on the NRF52840, it's tiny and ultra low cost, and its onboard 3500mah battery will power it for a week or more straight. Because of its small size and low cost, everybody can carry one as a backup to their primary node, and it will serve in the event of the main node losing power, being damaged, or needing to be left behind as an emergency repeater.

It can also extend the range of your primary node. For example, let's say you can't hit the local mesh from inside your building due to a metal roof (a situation I myself am in). You can leave the primary node in a window, perhaps plugged into power or solar to keep it ready, and carry the EDC node around with you. This can also be done in a backcountry setting. For example, let's say your tent is obstructed from accessing the mesh by a boulder. You can place the primary node on that boulder, and keep the EDC in your tent with you.

The 5V out on the Off-grid node can charge this device, and the solar panel that's part of the Urban peripherals can be adapted to charge it, as well, by using a JST to USB-C adapter.

Experiment to evaluate viability of solar charging:

The experiment was conducted in downtown OKC on the 24th of August, starting at 10am central time. The battery had been allowed to run down to dead (which took approximately 72hrs from full charge), and the battery's protection circuit kicked in at 3.25v, and the device lost power.

As soon as the solar panel was placed in partial sun, the device powered on (heard power chime and noted blinking LED indicating device is on), and the partial morning sun was producing enough wattage to power the device and initiate the charging circuit (as seen by the solid red and green lights indicating external solar power), and the battery leads read 3.66v).

Messages were successfully sent to the local mesh, and quickly acknowledged by the OKC Downtown repeater. This fully confirms that the solar panel is capable of powering the device in average conditions, such that messages can be sent even if the battery is completely dead.

The conditions for the test were on the poor side of average, with partial sun in the early morning and cloudy conditions for the afternoon, when the sun was at its highest point.

As you can see, the results are very promising! This is with a 1.2w, 20% efficient panel that costs $15 USD retail, and there are currently commercially available panels up to 30% efficiency (albeit at higher prices). So, currently available cost effective panels are very useful, and even more capable panels are guaranteed to be available at lower prices soon, meaning this concept is fully viable at present, and will only continue to become better in the near future with subsequent generations!

We got some sun today later in the evening, so I took the opportunity to see how fast the battery can charge in good conditions. I turned off the power, and let the solar panel recharge the battery for a few hours. This was in the waning evening sun, as it was overcast during mid day, but the results are still very promising!