STS Collective OpenMANET SenseCAP HaLow Mesh Gateway – Modded M1 (WM6108, 915MHz Off-Grid Node, Pre-Flashed)

STS Collective OpenMANET SenseCAP Gateway – High-Power Off-Grid Mesh Node

The STS Collective OpenMANET SenseCAP Gateway is a high-performance, modified mesh networking device built on the proven SenseCAP M1 platform, upgraded from LoRa to Wi-Fi HaLow (802.11ah) using a WM6108 radio module and preloaded with OpenMANET firmware.

This conversion transforms a traditional LoRaWAN gateway into a long-range, IP-based mesh communication node, enabling fully off-grid, infrastructure-free networking with significantly higher bandwidth and real-time capabilities compared to LoRa.

What Makes This Different

This is not a standard SenseCAP M1.

• The original LoRa (WM1302) module has been replaced with a Wi-Fi HaLow (WM6108) radio

• Fully repurposed for OpenMANET mesh networking

• Designed for real-time IP communication, not low-bandwidth LoRa telemetry

Result: a true long-range mesh network node, not just a sensor gateway.

Core Capabilities

📡 Wi-Fi HaLow (915 MHz) Long-Range Networking

• WM6108 HaLow radio operating in 902–928 MHz (US)

• Extended range with strong obstacle penetration

• External antenna support for optimized deployments

🔗 Self-Forming Mesh (BATMAN-V)

• Automatic node discovery and routing

• Multi-hop communication across distributed nodes

• Flat network architecture: 10.41.0.0/16

• Add nodes to scale coverage seamlessly

🔒 Private, Off-Grid Communications

• No dependency on ISPs, cellular, or centralized infrastructure

• Fully local, user-controlled network

• Supports standard IP-based tools, services, and integrations

🌐 Full Linux-Based Platform

• Powered by Raspberry Pi 4 (2–8GB RAM variants)

• 64GB storage for firmware, logs, and expansion

• Capable of running additional services alongside mesh networking (as long as they are installable on openwrt)

❄️ Built for Continuous Operation

• Aluminum enclosure with active cooling (heatsink + fan)

• Designed for long-term uptime in real-world environments

Important Deployment Notes

• Single Ethernet port only

  • Cannot act as both client access and upstream gateway simultaneously without additional configuration

   

• Minimum of 2 nodes required to form a functional mesh network

• Best used as part of a multi-node deployment

Hardware Overview

• Platform: Modified SenseCAP M1

• CPU: Raspberry Pi 4 (Quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 @ 1.5GHz)

• RAM: 2GB / 4GB / 8GB (varies by unit)

• Storage: 64GB MicroSD

• Radio (Modified): WM6108 Wi-Fi HaLow (replaces LoRa module)

• Wi-Fi: 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz (client/AP access)

• Ethernet: 1x RJ45

• Power: USB-C (5V, 3A)

• Antenna: External RP-SMA (sub-GHz)

Pre-Flashed with OpenMANET Firmware

• OpenWRT-based OpenMANET firmware pre-installed

• Preconfigured for immediate mesh deployment

  • BATMAN-V routing

  • DHCP + local access

  • Optimized HaLow drivers

No flashing, compiling, or setup required.

Use Cases

• Off-grid communications networks

• Emergency / disaster response

• Rural or large-area deployments

• Privacy-focused local networking

• Field teams and mobile coordination

• Airsoft / milsim command networks

Setup & Documentation

For setup, configuration, and advanced use:

👉 https://openmanet.github.io/docs/

STS Collective Notes

• Professionally modified and configured for OpenMANET operation

• Converts legacy LoRa hardware into a high-performance mesh node

• No subscriptions, no cloud dependency

• Designed for users who want control over their communications infrastructure