# mesh-detect v2 (Colonel Panic)

> A Remote ID detection project with mesh-connected alerts.

- **Category:** Radio & mesh
- **Availability:** Listed by maker
- **Price:** US$110 assembled / US$20 bare PCB (at colonelpanic.tech), checked 2026-09-15
- **Good for:** Relay Remote ID detection alerts over Meshtastic.
- **You'll need:** The documented detector and Heltec arrangement.
- **Trade-off:** Detection range and mesh-relay range are different.
- **Page:** https://gadgets.sh/devices/mesh-detect-v2/

## Where to buy

| Shop | Status | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Colonel Panic | Orderable | https://colonelpanic.tech/?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=mesh-detect-v2&utm_content=api#products |
| Colonel Panic | Source repository | https://github.com/colonelpanichacks/mesh-detect?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=mesh-detect-v2&utm_content=api |

## Blueprint

**Open firmware.** All firmware variants (dual-core, node-mode, OUI sniffer) and a companion mapper app are open source; the mesh-detect repo itself has no hardware files and no PCB schematic was found.

### Source repositories

- [colonelpanichacks/mesh-detect](https://github.com/colonelpanichacks/mesh-detect) — docs, ★148
- [colonelpanichacks/drone-mesh-mapper](https://github.com/colonelpanichacks/drone-mesh-mapper) — firmware, ★232
- [colonelpanichacks/drone-mesh-mapper](https://github.com/colonelpanichacks/drone-mesh-mapper) — firmware, ★232
- [colonelpanichacks/Esp32-oui-sniffer](https://github.com/colonelpanichacks/Esp32-oui-sniffer) — firmware, ★71

### Key parts

| Part | Role | Datasheet |
|---|---|---|
| Seeed XIAO ESP32-S3 | detector MCU / Wi-Fi + BLE | https://www.espressif.com/sites/default/files/documentation/esp32-s3_datasheet_en.pdf |
| Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3.2 (SX1262 + ESP32-S3) | Meshtastic LoRa mesh node | https://resource.heltec.cn/download/WiFi_LoRa_32_V3/HTIT-WB32LA_V3.2.pdf |

_Notes:_ colonelpanichacks/mesh-detect repo (148 stars) contains only a README and a logo image — it is a landing page pointing to the separate firmware repos above and to 'Full kits, PCBs, pre-flashed boards' sold at colonelpanic.tech; no schematic, Gerbers or BOM for the custom 'DIGI'-style PCB were published or linked anywhere I could verify.

## Specifications

### V2 hardware & package choice

| | |
|---|---|
| Detector socket | Seeed XIAO ESP32-S3 |
| Mesh connector | Heltec LoRa32 V3 connection |
| Power | USB-C with voltage regulation; battery operation advertised |
| Mounting | Four M3 holes |
| Buying options | Finished kits and bare PCBs are separate listings |
| Radio roles | Wi-Fi/BLE detection feeds a separate Meshtastic LoRa node |
| Other targets | S3, C5 and C6 projects exist; these are different firmware/hardware targets |

### Choose a firmware role

| | |
|---|---|
| Standard Dualcore | One S3 detector forwards Wi-Fi/BLE Remote ID over USB and UART |
| Remote role | Field detector tags reports with its node identifier |
| Home role | Base bridge filters duplicate reports and feeds USB to the mapper; it does not scan |
| Install requirements | Desktop Chrome, Edge or Opera; Web Serial and a USB-C data cable |
| Serial receiver | Heltec serial enabled; TEXTMSG, 115200 baud, RX19/TX20; matching mesh channel/key |
| Standard S3 UART | Reviewed remoteid-mesh-dualcore source: GPIO5 TX, GPIO6 RX, 115200 baud |
| Node S3 UART | Reviewed node-mode-dualcore source: GPIO5 TX, GPIO6 RX, 115200 baud |
| Region setting | Configure the appropriate Meshtastic radio region |

### Host, maps & accessories

| | |
|---|---|
| Standalone path | Detector-to-mesh operation does not require a laptop or Raspberry Pi |
| Map host | Optional Python Flask/Leaflet mapper runs on a computer; web interface defaults to port 5000 |
| Exports | CSV, KML and GeoJSON detection/history outputs |
| Offline map preparation | Cache or import MBTiles first; a fresh clone has no basemap tiles |
| Online extras | Place search and network aircraft feeds require internet access |
| Printable enclosures | Hub links case, keychain and modular enclosure designs |
| Other firmware projects | Hub links OUI detection and wireless-baseline projects |

## Documentation

- [Maker hardware and firmware hub](https://github.com/colonelpanichacks/mesh-detect)
- [Maker v2 hardware listing](https://colonelpanic.tech/#products)
- [S3 installer and role selection](https://colonelpanichacks.github.io/drone-mesh-mapper/flasher/)
- [Drone Mesh Mapper](https://github.com/colonelpanichacks/drone-mesh-mapper)
- [WiFi RemoteID to Mesh](https://github.com/colonelpanichacks/WiFi-RemoteID)
- [BLE/WiFi OUI Detection](https://github.com/colonelpanichacks/Esp32-oui-sniffer)
- [Mapper documentation at reviewed commit](https://github.com/colonelpanichacks/drone-mesh-mapper/blob/3373e4e83da30f34af321a27815d74bc543ff5e0/README.md)
- [Standard S3 UART source at reviewed commit](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/colonelpanichacks/drone-mesh-mapper/3373e4e83da30f34af321a27815d74bc543ff5e0/remoteid-mesh-dualcore/src/main.cpp)
- [Node S3 UART source at reviewed commit](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/colonelpanichacks/drone-mesh-mapper/3373e4e83da30f34af321a27815d74bc543ff5e0/node-mode-dualcore/src/main.cpp)

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Source: gadgets.sh · https://gadgets.sh/devices/mesh-detect-v2/ · JSON: https://gadgets.sh/api/v1/devices/mesh-detect-v2.json