Radio Option Guide
Learn more about Photon-1W.
Photon-1W is the MeshSmith 1W LoRa radio path for compact solar and embedded mesh builds. In the Canopy Signal lantern, it is the Photon-specific option for buyers who want 30 dBm headroom with flexible external power support.
What It Changes
A compact 1W LoRa board for higher-headroom builds.
Compared with the lower-draw options, the Photon-1W path is about transmit headroom and power-system flexibility. It is a better fit when the deployment plan can support the draw and the buyer specifically wants the MeshSmith Photon platform.
Open MeshSmith Photon-1WHardware Notes
What the Photon option is for.
This page summarizes the public MeshSmith Photon-1W information in our own words so Canopy Signal buyers can understand the radio option before choosing it in the lantern selector.
Choose Photon-1W when compact 1W hardware is more important than the lowest possible draw.
1W LoRa output
MeshSmith positions Photon-1W as a compact board with full-watt LoRa output, listed at 1000 mW / 30 dBm for projects that need more link headroom than common lower-power boards.
Xiao MCU ecosystem
The board is designed around Xiao-format microcontrollers, which keeps the radio platform compact while leaving room to choose the controller and firmware path that fit the deployment.
External power support
Photon-1W is meant to work with external battery and charging hardware instead of forcing one battery pack. MeshSmith also calls out support for the Waveshare Solar Power Manager Module D.
Fuel gauge and GPS capable
The platform includes onboard fuel-gauge support and ATGM336H GPS support. MeshSmith notes that the GPS function requires an active antenna.
Deployment Fit
Where it makes sense.
Photon-1W is not the universal low-power choice. It is the higher-headroom compact option for builds where the power budget, antenna plan, and RF rules have already been considered.
Best use cases
- Remote solar placements where extra transmit headroom matters.
- MeshCore or Meshtastic repeater and client-node experiments.
- Longer rural, woodland, or obstructed links where a 1W path may help.
- Shared-power sensor networks and telemetry projects.
Important notes
- Always connect an antenna before powering a high-power LoRa board.
- Follow regional RF limits, especially with high-power output and directional antennas.
- For our lantern product, Photon-1W remains a selectable internal radio path inside the shared Canopy Signal enclosure.