Powering the RAK 1W Booster (RAK13302)
There has been much confusion about how to power the RAK Wireless 1W Booster (RAK13302). This guide explains your options. The 1W Booster pushes a node up to 30 dBm (1 W) output, which makes it a strong choice for a stationary or solar repeater on both the Meshtastic and MeshCore mesh. Atlavox also has a helpful YouTube walkthrough.
There are three ways to power the 1W Booster:
RAK Wireless 1W Booster (RAK13302). See the RAK Wireless quick start guide.
Heads up: Running at 1 W pulls noticeably more current than a stock node, so power and battery sizing matter. In the solar and battery configurations a battery is required — the base board cannot supply enough current to the booster on its own.
5V Power Directly to the Booster (jumper to external)
In this setup you provide 5V at 1.5A of DC current directly to the booster chip itself. Connect the 5V source to the back of the RAK13302 board and make sure the jumper on the front is contacting the pins closest to the antenna port. This powers the whole unit and can still charge a battery.
Both the 1W Booster Kit and the stand-alone RAK13302 module come with the external power connector cable.
5V DC connected to the external power port on the back of the RAK13302.
A battery can still be plugged into the battery port on the RAK19007 base board to maintain connectivity during a power outage. A battery is optional in this configuration.
Solar / USB-C / 5V DC and 3.7V Battery (jumper to internal)
The 1W Booster can also draw from the base board power connections. The jumper on the RAK13302 needs to be on the two pins farther away from the antenna port.
USB-C power, 5V solar power, or 5V DC power can be connected to power the board and charge the battery. A larger battery and solar panel are recommended.
Battery required: A battery is mandatory in this configuration because of the higher current draw of the booster. Charging via the solar port is recommended over USB-C, since the USB-C port has a lower maximum current capacity.
The battery connector is a JST PHR-2 2 mm pitch female connection. The solar connector is a JST ZHR-2 1.5 mm pitch female connection.
| Connector | Voltage | Amp Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 3.7V | At least 500 mA (2.5 W) output |
| Solar | 5V | Not specified by RAK Wireless; port type rated for 1 A (5 W) |
| USB-C | 5V | Max 350 mA (1.75 W) [1] |
3.7V Battery Only (jumper to internal)
The RAK base board and 1W Booster can run from a battery alone. Set the jumper to internal and connect the battery to the battery port on the RAK base board.