TTGO T-Internet-PoE ESP32 Gets LoRa Modem Integration
Designed for use as an APRS iGate for LoRa APRS, the board features a 0.96" OLED and a pair of programmable buttons.
The Raspberry Pi is a versatile development board that can utilize any number of different add-ons for increased functionality, including those for LoRa APRS applications. Ham radio enthusiast Peter Buchegger agrees that the Pi is an excellent board for almost any project but is still too expensive for use as an iGate. To that end, he designed the LoRa APRS iGate around an ESP32 microcontroller and a T-Internet-PoE board from TTGO.
Beyond the ESP32-equipped TTGO T-Internet-PoE board, the APRS iGate uses an additional LoRa module outfitted with a Ra-02 modem, a 0.96-inch OLED screen, and a pair of pushbuttons. Buchegger created custom firmware for the platform, which currently only supports the LoRa APRS iGate, but it makes his platform more stable than those using Wi-Fi. It’s also available on Tindie in kit form for $15 (doesn’t include the TTGO T-Internet-PoE board), as well as a DIY version on Buchegger's project page, complete with schematic and link to the firmware on GitHub.