GFN-C Compact Node

1. Overview

A pocket-sized Meshtastic relay: a Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 board, a small lithium cell and an SMA antenna in a two-part printed shell. It extends a mesh; it is not a computer.

In the box

• GFN-C node with SMA whip antenna fitted
• Signed bench test report
• Printed quick card

The signed bench test report is this unit's baseline: what was fitted, what was tested, what it read. Keep it with the serial number; the warranty form asks for both. See a sample report.

2. Specifications

Radio	Semtech SX1262 LoRa on a Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 board, SMA antenna port
Firmware	Meshtastic, flashed and configured at the bench
Display	0.96″ OLED on the board — node name, channel, battery
Power	Single lithium cell, USB-C charge
Enclosure	Two printed shells, TPU button pad
Weight	Under 100 g with antenna
Ingress	Not sealed in this release

3. Getting started

1. Charge before first use. USB-C, any supply. The OLED shows the cell level.
2. Hold the power button. The screen shows the node's name, the channel it is on, and its battery.
3. It joins the mesh it was configured for on the bench. There is nothing to pair. On any terminal, open Radio Config and the node appears within a minute.
4. Place it high. A metre of height beats a metre of power. A ridge, a roof, a mast.

4. Operation

A node is a radio, not a computer. It relays every packet it hears for every other node on the channel and needs no attention while it does. There is no console and nothing to open; the only controls are the power button and a Meshtastic user button on the board.

• Changing channel or key is done from a terminal: open Radio Config, select this node over Bluetooth LE, change the setting, press Apply. Nothing is written to the radio until Apply, and reboot, shutdown and factory reset each confirm first. The node can stay on its mast.
• Checking it is heard: on a terminal, open Comms. If the node is listed, its signal is arriving. If it is not, move it before you turn the power up.
• Range is line of sight. Ridge to ridge, kilometres; through timber or walls, hundreds of metres.

5. Power

Charge over USB-C. A full cell runs for days as a relay; the OLED reports the level. In cold weather cells lose capacity — keep a spare node warm and swap rather than waiting for one to recover.

6. Maintenance and care

• Not sealed. Rain on the shell is fine; submersion is not. Dry it before charging if it has been wet.
• Heat. A printed shell softens in a closed car in summer. Do not leave it on a dashboard for hours.
• Antenna. Hand-tight on the SMA port. Do not carry it by the antenna.
• Cleaning. Damp cloth. No solvents on the printed shell.
• Storage. Charge to about half, power off, store cool and dry. Top up every three months.

Printed and machined parts

Front shell, rear shell, TPU button pad. Under three hours of print time on a 0.4 mm nozzle. Files and kits are on the build page.

7. Troubleshooting

What you see	Try this
Nothing on the OLED	Charge for twenty minutes, then hold the power button.
Not listed in Comms on a terminal	Same channel and key? Check in Radio Config over Bluetooth. Then height and line of sight.
Listed, but messages drop	Marginal signal. Raise it, or add a relay between.
Antenna feels loose	Hand-tighten the SMA nut. Do not use tools.

8. Warranty and support

Thirty-day returns. Every unit is serial-tracked. If a unit is not right, the warranty section on the contact page is the fast path; include the serial and, if you have it, the bench report. General questions: the User Guide, the FAQ, and the community, where other owners are usually there first.

9. Revision history

Rev	Date	Change	Pages
A	2026-09-07	Initial release for the Pelican-case line and screen-size designations.	All

GREYFATHOM Systems, Iowa City. Pelican is a trademark of Pelican Products, Inc.; Raspberry Pi of Raspberry Pi Ltd; Meshtastic of Meshtastic LLC; Heltec of Heltec Automation. GREYFATHOM is not affiliated with any of them.