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Meshtastic on the RG35XX Plus: A Mesh Communication for Handheld Retro Devices

I’m excited to share my latest open-source project: Meshtastic_RG35XXPlus — a practical helper application that brings Meshtastic mesh communication tools to the Anbernic RG35XX / RG Cube handheld family.

🎮 Why? Because these devices have great displays, Python support, and network connectivity — ideal for lightweight field tools.

➡️ Source code and details: https://github.com/error0327/Meshtastic_RG35XXPlus (GitHub)

What Is Meshtastic?

Meshtastic is an open-source, decentralized mesh networking platform built on inexpensive LoRa radios. It lets you send messages (text, telemetry, and small data) over long distances without relying on cellular or internet networks. (GitHub)

At the core, Meshtastic devices form a mesh network — where each node forwards messages to others, extending communication reach far beyond what a single radio could do on its own. (Wikipedia)

Common use cases include:

  • Outdoor expeditions (hiking, biking, camping) where cellular coverage is poor. (Meshtastic)

  • Emergency communication in low-infrastructure environments. (GitHub)

  • DIY IoT networks, telemetry, and sensor sharing. (seeedstudio.com)

Meshtastic works on inexpensive microcontrollers (like ESP32 or nRF52) with LoRa transceivers, and pairs with phones or computers for user interaction. (Meshtastic)

Why RG35XX / RG Cube?

The Anbernic RG35XX Plus and similar retro handhelds (often Linux-based) are popular with hobbyists — not just for games but also for custom tools. They offer:

  • A color display suitable for menus and lists. (GitHub)

  • Python 3 support out of the box. (GitHub)

  • Wi-Fi / SSH access for installation and remote control. (GitHub)

  • Enough storage and performance for user apps.

These qualities motivated me to port a Meshtastic client experience onto the device, with a launcher and helper scripts leveraging the existing Meshtastic CLI.



What This Project Does

The Meshtastic_RG35XXPlus repository includes a set of tools designed specifically to integrate Meshtastic into the RG35XX handheld workflow:

1. Python Framebuffer UI

A UI powered by Python provides:

  • A graphical, on-screen interface to interact with Meshtastic CLI tools. (GitHub)

  • Easy navigation of nodes and channels using the handheld’s buttons. (GitHub)

2. App Center Launcher

The project installs the Meshtastic helper as an App Center entry on the device, so it appears like a native app:
Meshtastic.sh acts as a launcher from the handheld interface. (GitHub)

3. Installation Automation

Scripts like install.sh and check_meshtastic.sh automate:

  • Setting up dependencies (Python packages, Meshtastic CLI). (GitHub)

  • Uploading the helper files via SSH. (GitHub)

  • Verifying device readiness. (GitHub)

Users only need to run a single install command from their host machine to get everything in place.

Getting Started with the Project

Here’s a simple setup outline:

  1. Clone the repository:

    git clone https://github.com/error0327/Meshtastic_RG35XXPlus
cd Meshtastic_RG35XXPlus

    (GitHub)

  2. Run the installer against your RG35XX device on the same network:

    ./install.sh --host <DEVICE_IP> [--password <root_password>]

    (GitHub)

  3. Launch from App Center

    • Disconnect USB so the device can write the SD card.

    • Open “Meshtastic” from the handheld App Center.
      (GitHub)

  4. Enjoy integrated mesh messaging

    • Browse mesh nodes and channels.

    • Send messages using the built-in UI.

    • Monitor node presence and message flow.

Future Enhancements

Potential directions for this project include:

  • Adding local mesh mapping and heatmaps.

  • Integrating voice or sensor telemetry support.

  • Making the UI more extensible for community plugins.

If you have ideas or want to contribute, check the GitHub repo — pull requests and issues are welcome.

Summary

The Meshtastic_RG35XXPlus project brings decentralized, long-range communication tools to handheld Linux devices. It builds on Meshtastic’s powerful off-grid mesh capabilities and tailors the experience for the RG35XX ecosystem with UI helpers and install automation.

Whether you want to use your handheld for field communication or as a platform for mesh networking experiments — this project makes Meshtastic easier to use on an unconventional but capable device.

➡️ Explore the project on GitHub: https://github.com/error0327/Meshtastic_RG35XXPlus (GitHub)

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