by HowTekno | 2025-05-22 08:19:14+00:00
In this guide, we'll walk you through adding a telemetry sensor (BME280) module to your existing FakeTec Meshtastic Node to measure air pressure, temperature, and humidity.

DIY Meshtastic - How To Build Your Own Meshtastic Device with FakeTec PCB & NRF52840 This guide details building a low-cost Meshtastic node using an NRF52840 Pro Micro, HT-RA62 LoRa module, and FakeTec PCB. Total cost is around $11. Assembly requires SMC soldering skills, followed by bootloader updates and Meshtastic firmware installation.

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Hardware Now let's get started with the hardware you need:

BME280 sensor comes in two flavors 5V and 3.3V. Choose either 5V or 3.3V based on your system requirements 1x BME280 Module - AliExpress Price: 4.20USD | Amazon US Price 8.99USD 4x Female to Female Pin Connector AliExpress Price: 0.42USD | Amazon US Price 5.49USD 1x Soldering Iron + 60/40 Solder Wire (Optional - You can go to a nearby electronic shop to solder the headers on the board)

When ordering from AliExpress, consider consolidating your purchases from a single seller to maximize savings. For instance, if you're purchasing an antenna from seller X, check if they also offer an IPEX to SMA-K cable. By sourcing all your items from one seller, you can significantly reduce shipping costs. While you can modify this hardware selection, we've chosen readily available components. Note that soldering is only required to attach headers to the FakeTec Node and the BME280 module. This step can be outsourced to a local electronics shop if you prefer to avoid soldering yourself.

Assembly The hardware is all ready and set now to the wiring. For this, we will follow the following Schematics.

Please keep in mind we are assuming here you already soldered the headers on the board so it will be a matter of connecting pins to the right place. BME280 Telemetry Module → FakeTec Meshtastic Node

BME280-3.3V For The 3.3V Module

BME280-5V For The 5V Module VCC/VIN → 5V For BME280-5V OR 3.3V For BMP280-3.3V SCL → SCL Pin SDA → SDA Pin GND → GND Pin

If you have a display connected to the same I2C pins, you can connect the BME280 in parallel with the display.

Adding decoupling capacitors is good practice to isolate different parts of the circuit from each other.

Important Note: The exact pin layout may vary on your specific FakeTec board. Always follow the labels and pin designations on your components and the provided schematics to ensure accurate connections. Double-checking these details will help prevent potential issues or component damage. After completing all connections, verify that they match the recommended configuration before proceeding to the next stage.

Meshtastic Settings Open Meshtastic App (IOS for this guide) Go to the Settings page In the module configuration section go to Telemetry (Sensor) Scroll down to the Sensor Options Toggle the switch Enable and other switches according to your preference Conclusion Adding a Telemetry module to your FakeTec Meshtastic Node is a straightforward process that significantly enhances your device's capabilities. The BME280 module provides reliable environmental monitoring at an affordable price. While some soldering may be required, this can be easily delegated to a local electronics shop if needed. By following this guide, you can successfully integrate environmental sensing functionality into your Meshtastic network, enabling the collection and sharing of temperature, humidity, and air pressure data.