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Choose a compatible radio to message and share locations with Nelos when cell service is unavailable. Create a private network for your group at an affordable cost.
Getting started for 2 people
The simplest way to try Nelos with someone else: the free Nelos app on two phones, each paired to its own compatible radio. Pick a radio that ships pre-flashed with MeshCore and there's no firmware setup at all.
Wio Tracker L1 Pro (MeshCore) × 2
Best for beginners READY- Ships pre-flashed with MeshCore - no firmware setup needed
- Pairs to Nelos over Bluetooth in a few taps
- US$47.90 each, US$95.80 for two
Price checked directly from Seeed Studio at time of writing; excludes shipping and tax, and may change - see the exact price at checkout.
This link opens the listing for one radio - the same device listed individually under Handhelds below. Set the quantity to 2 in your cart to get the pair.
Install Nelos free on both phones from the App Store or Google Play, pair each phone to its own radio, then create a team and invite the second person - see the step-by-step guide.
What do I need?
Nelos runs on iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets. Offline maps, movement history and waypoints work right away on your phone without a radio; to message, create groups and track, you need a compatible LoRa radio for each person or tracker.
Planning a hiking trip? See how Nelos works for hiking groups →
Recommended devices
A short list of devices we recommend for common Nelos setups - not the only hardware Nelos works with. See Compatible devices below for the fuller list.
Handhelds for each person
A handheld is the normal starting point for families and outdoor groups. Each person carries one alongside their phone so Nelos can send messages and share locations when cell service is unavailable.
Wio Tracker L1 Pro
Recommended handheld READY- GPS and Bluetooth connection to your phone
- Up to 5 days of battery life; actual use varies
- Reasonably priced for each person in a family or outdoor group
Setup: Ships pre-flashed with MeshCore firmware - pair it with Nelos over Bluetooth, no firmware flashing needed.
Elecrow ThinkNode M1
E-ink display alternative SETUP REQUIRED- GPS and a low-power e-ink display
- Up to 2 days of battery life; actual use varies
- External antenna for improved range
Setup: This device ships with different firmware. Install the official MeshCore firmware using the MeshCore Web Flasher before connecting to Nelos.
Using a compatible device as a tracker
Some compatible devices can report their own location independently, with no phone attached - useful for a pet, child, vehicle, backpack, or other gear. It's not a replacement for a person carrying a phone and device to message the group.
No SIM or data plan needed: GPS tracker without a SIM card explains how the location reaches your group.
With Nelos you can request a tracker's position, use Find Mode and set Safe Zones - see how off-grid tracking works. Setting up a T1000-E? Follow the T1000-E tracker guide.
RAK WisMesh Tag
Recommended tracker READY- Multi-constellation GPS/GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo) with motion sensing
- Up to 5-6 days of battery life with GPS off, less with GPS active; actual use varies
- IP66 weather resistance, charges over a magnetic USB cable
- Best for a backpack, vehicle, or other gear
Setup: Choose the MeshCore version when ordering. No firmware flashing required. Important: select MeshCore when ordering - it is not the default option.
SenseCAP Card Tracker T1000-E
Alternative tracker SETUP REQUIRED- Reasonably priced, slim, and card-sized
- Up to about 2 days of battery life - an approximate upper figure; it varies with GPS conditions, how often the tracker is asked for its position and Find Mode use
- GPS/GNSS with IP65 weather resistance
- Best for a backpack or other gear
Setup: This device ships with different firmware. Install the official MeshCore firmware using the MeshCore Web Flasher before connecting to Nelos.
Repeaters for a larger coverage area
A repeater helps compatible devices communicate across a larger area. You can place one outdoors; it does not need a phone or internet connection, and solar models can operate without wall power. Coverage depends on terrain, placement, antennas, and radio settings.
Do you need a repeater? See also our field notes from installing a repeater on a mountainside.
SenseCAP Solar Node P1 Pro
Recommended solar repeater READY- Large battery, solar charging, and built-in GPS
- Solar charging supports long-term use; uptime depends on sunlight and settings
- IPX6 weather resistance; best for longer-term outdoor installations
Setup: Ships pre-flashed with MeshCore firmware - no firmware flashing needed.
Atlavox Beacon
Premium repeater alternative SETUP REQUIRED- Larger solar panel and battery, built for long-term outdoor installations
- IP67 enclosure for better dust and water resistance
- Integrated frame with multiple mounting options (pole, wall, tree)
Setup: This device ships with different firmware. Install the official MeshCore firmware using the MeshCore Web Flasher before connecting to Nelos.
New to MeshCore? What Is MeshCore? explains the LoRa, MeshCore, and app layers for someone who just bought a radio.
Compatible devices
The picks above are a starting point, not the limit. Nelos works with a wide range of other compatible LoRa radios beyond what's listed here, as long as the device runs the official MeshCore firmware.
More compatible devices
Popular devices that work with Nelos include:
- LILYGO T-Echo
- Heltec T114
- Heltec T1
- Seeed SenseCAP T1000-E
- Seeed Wio Tracker L1 Pro
If you already have a compatible radio, flash it with the official MeshCore firmware and Nelos will detect it automatically over Bluetooth. See the MeshCore project for current firmware and supported boards.
Learn more
What is an off-grid communication device, and how does it work?
An off-grid communication device is a small radio that pairs to your phone or tablet over Bluetooth so your family or group can send messages and share location when there's no cell service. Your phone or tablet stays the screen, the keyboard, and the map; the radio carries the messages over the air instead of a carrier network. Nelos uses LoRa mesh radios, which are low-power and talk directly to each other within range. To reach further, a repeater - or a compatible radio switched to Companion Repeater mode, on supported hardware and frequencies and at the cost of extra battery - relays messages; ordinary radios don't relay for each other by default.
Your phone connects to a LoRa radio over Bluetooth; that radio talks directly to the other radios in your group, or through a repeater when they're out of direct range; each radio hands its messages to the phone it's paired with. No tower, no internet, and no subscription for the group to reach each other. The guide to off-grid communication explains the full picture, and what a LoRa mesh radio is covers the hardware from scratch.
What are the device types, and can one device do more than one job?
Handheld communicator - one per person, paired to a phone. Send and receive messages and share your location. See handhelds above.
Tracker - reports its own location with no phone attached, for a child, pet, vehicle, or gear. See trackers above.
Repeater - left at a high point to relay for the others and extend useful range. See repeaters above.
Many compatible GPS-equipped devices can serve as either a handheld or a tracker depending on how you use them - carry one with your phone today, then use that same device to track a pet, child, vehicle, or bag another day. You don't necessarily need separate hardware for each role.
When is LoRa mesh the right choice - and when isn't it?
A LoRa mesh device fits when a group travelling together needs to message and see each other with no signal, with no monthly fee. It is not a rescue beacon: it can't call emergency services and doesn't reach anyone outside your group. If you need to send an SOS or message someone far away from a remote area, a satellite messenger or PLB is the right tool. If you only need short-range voice in open terrain, two-way radios are simpler and cheaper. Many people carry a LoRa mesh device for group coordination and a satellite messenger for emergencies - the methods are compared in full here.