LILYGO's Latest T-Device Is the Compact, All-In-One T-LoRa Pager
Handheld tool features a compact keyboard, display, rotary encoder, audio support, and flip-out antennas.
Embedded and hobbyist hardware specialist LILYGO is expanding its LoRa-capable device range with the launch of the T-LoRa Pager — a compact handheld designed for long-range wireless text and audio communications without the need for a host device.
"T-Lora Pager is the new member of the LILYGO T series," the company says of its latest launch. "The compact exterior and foldable external antenna design fully utilize the wireless performance while keeping the device aesthetically pleasing. [A] built-in UI [User Interface] demo designed by LILYGO supports smooth interaction through [a rotary] encoder. Based on the demo, you can learn to develop programs for different application scenarios."
The gadget, brought to our attention by Linux Gizmos, is based on an Espressif ESP32-S3 microcontroller module with 8MB of pseudo-static RAM and 16MB of flash storage expandable via microSD Card. To this, LILYGO has added a Semtech SX1262 LoRa transceiver, an STMicroelectronics ST25R3916 Near-Field Communication (NFC) radio, an unspecified "ultra-low power" Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, a real-time clock (RTC), haptic driver, and a Bosch Sensortec BHI260AP "smart sensor" inertial measurement unit (IMU) with integrated microcontroller for on-device self-learning artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Finally, an RCH RC01812 codec provides support for up-to-24-bit audio at sampling rates from 8–96kHz.
Externally, the handheld device includes a compact curved QWERTY-layout rubber keyboard below a 2.3" IPS LCD panel with a 480×222 resolution. To the right of the screen is a rotary encoder, while the left has a speaker grille. The back of the device, meanwhile, has two flip-out antennas, one for sub-gigahertz LoRa and the other for 2.4GHz, along with mounting holes and a tripod mount. There's USB Type-C for data and power plus a 16-pin expansion port for additional hardware.
The T-Lora Pager is listed on the LILYGO store at $82.67, though at the time of writing was shown as unavailable to order.