# ThinkNode M1 (Elecrow)

> An e-paper LoRa handheld with GPS and a companion-phone connection.

- **Category:** Radio & mesh
- **Availability:** Listed by maker
- **Price:** US$53.90 (at elecrow.com), checked 2026-09-15
- **Good for:** Carry a Meshtastic node with an e-paper status display.
- **You'll need:** A phone for messaging and the correct regional band.
- **Trade-off:** MeshCore support and quoted runtime were not verified.
- **Page:** https://gadgets.sh/devices/thinknode-m1/

## Where to buy

| Shop | Status | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Elecrow | Orderable | https://www.elecrow.com/thinknode-m1-meshtastic-lora-signal-transceiver-powered-by-nrf52840-with-154-screen-support-gps.html?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=thinknode-m1&utm_content=api |
| Rokland | Orderable | https://store.rokland.com/products/elecrow-thinknode-m1-lora-meshtastic-radio-1-54-epd-screen-gps-nrf52840?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=thinknode-m1&utm_content=api |
| Amazon | Orderable | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPLWYB8R?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=thinknode-m1&utm_content=api |

## Blueprint

**Open firmware.** Elecrow publishes a datasheet, manual, and STEP 3D model for ThinkNode M1, but no schematic or PCB source; firmware support comes from community Meshtastic.

### Design files

- datasheet: [ThinkNode M1 Datasheet v1.0 (PDF)](https://www.elecrow.com/download/product/CIL12901M/ThinkNode%20M1_LoRa_Meshtastic_Transceiver_DataSheet.pdf) (PDF)
- manual: [ThinkNode M1 User Manual (PDF)](https://www.elecrow.com/download/product/CIL12901M/ThinkNode-M1_User_Manual.pdf) (PDF)
- 3d-model: [ThinkNode M1 mechanical 3D model (STEP)](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Elecrow-RD/ThinkNode-M1-LoRa-Meshtastic-Transceiver-With-1.54-EPD-Screen-GPS-function-nRF52840/master/3D%20file/thinknode-m1-20250221.stp) (STEP)

### Source repositories

- [Elecrow-RD/ThinkNode-M1-LoRa-Meshtastic-Transceiver-With-1.54-EPD-Screen-GPS-function-nRF52840](https://github.com/Elecrow-RD/ThinkNode-M1-LoRa-Meshtastic-Transceiver-With-1.54-EPD-Screen-GPS-function-nRF52840) — docs, ★7
- [meshtastic/firmware](https://github.com/meshtastic/firmware) — firmware, GPL-3.0, ★8351

### Key parts

| Part | Role | Datasheet |
|---|---|---|
| Nordic nRF52840 | MCU (Cortex-M4F) / BLE radio | https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF52840 |
| Semtech SX1262 | LoRa radio transceiver | https://www.semtech.com/products/wireless-rf/lora-connect/sx1262 |
| Solomon Systech SSD1681 | e-paper display driver (1.54in, 200x200) | https://www.crystalfontz.com/controllers/SolomonSystech/SSD1681/ |

_Notes:_ Official Elecrow-RD GitHub repo (gh api tree, master) holds Datasheet/ (same two PDFs as elecrow.com), '3D file/thinknode-m1-20250221.stp' (raw URL HTTP 200), two Home Assistant YAML examples and product images. Its readme mentions example/ and factory_firmware/ folders that are not in the tree. No schematic, KiCad/Altium/Gerber, or BOM on the repo, product page, or elecrow.com downloads (manual, datasheet, CE/FCC/IC/UL reports only). The ELECROW-ThinkNode-M1 platformio.ini variant (verified at commit 6d41e27) lives in community meshtastic/firmware, listed as official:false and not used as the openness driver. SSD1681 link is a Crystalfontz controller page (Solomon Systech site not reachable); nRF52840 page verified via WebFetch (curl gets 403).

## Specifications

### Hardware and radio

| | |
|---|---|
| Processor | Nordic nRF52840; Cortex-M4F at 64 MHz |
| Memory | 256 KB RAM; 1 MB internal flash plus 2 MB external QSPI flash |
| Display | Frontlit 1.54-inch monochrome e-paper; SSD1681, 200 × 200 pixels |
| LoRa | SX1262; 868/915 MHz variants; maker specifies +22 dBm |
| Phone connection | Bluetooth LE; Meshtastic preinstalled |
| Positioning | Quectel L76K; GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and QZSS |
| Clock | RTC supports interrupt wake-up |
| LoRa antenna | RP-SMA connector |

### Power and enclosure

| | |
|---|---|
| Battery | Rechargeable lithium, nominal 3.7 V / 1200 mAh |
| USB input | USB-C; 5 V / 1 A |
| Manual current figures | 85 mA CPU+LoRa; 5.6 µA low-power claim |
| Datasheet current figures | At 4.2 V: 5.825 µA sleep/GPS off; 54.06 mA messaging/GPS on; 300 mA with all functions enabled |
| Manual dimensions | 82 × 51.6 × 26.3 mm; 81 g cased |
| Datasheet dimensions | 118.5 × 52.1 × 25 mm including antenna; 82.5 g cased; ABS+PC |
| Manual environment | Operating −10 to 50 °C; storage −20 to 60 °C; 10–95% RH non-condensing |
| Datasheet environment | Operating −20 to 70 °C; storage −40 to 80 °C |

### Setup and firmware

| | |
|---|---|
| Controls | Rotary power/frontlight, GPS switch, previous/next buttons, reset and buzzer |
| GPS use | Enable its physical switch and acquire a fix outdoors |
| First configuration | Pair through the Meshtastic app; set the LoRa region and matching channel configuration |
| Upstream build target | thinknode_m1; separate thinknode_m1-inkhud build also exists at the pinned commit |
| Firmware upload | Connect USB, double-press reset, then copy the ThinkNode M1 UF2 to ELECROWBOOT |
| Debug access | SWD clock/data, ground and 3.3 V connections documented |

### Included and source differences

| | |
|---|---|
| Manual package | Device, LoRa antenna, USB-A–USB-C cable, belt clip, lanyard, four M2×2 screws and manual |
| Display refresh | Current manual specifies a 2-second full refresh |
| Bluetooth version | Current manual states Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Runtime claims | Older wiki claims over 48 hours; maker estimate |
| Manual runtime range | 6–100 hours; maker estimate varies by operating conditions |

## Documentation

- [Maker specifications and product details](https://www.elecrow.com/thinknode-m1-meshtastic-lora-signal-transceiver-powered-by-nrf52840-with-154-screen-support-gps.html)
- [User Manual of ThinkNode M1 for Meshtastic](https://www.elecrow.com/download/product/CIL12901M/ThinkNode-M1_User_Manual.pdf)
- [IC Report of ThinkNode M1](https://www.elecrow.com/download/product/CIL12901M/IC_Report_for_ThinkNode_M1.pdf)
- [UL Report of ThinkNode M1](https://www.elecrow.com/download/product/CIL12901M/UL_Report.pdf)
- [ThinkNode M1 LoRa Meshtastic Communication Device DataSheet](https://www.elecrow.com/download/product/CIL12901M/ThinkNode%20M1_LoRa_Meshtastic_Transceiver_DataSheet.pdf)
- [Elecrow M1 wiki](https://static-cdn.elecrow.com/wiki/ThinkNode-M1_Transceiver_Device%28Meshtastic%29_Power_By_nRF52840.html)
- [Pinned Meshtastic M1 build definitions](https://github.com/meshtastic/firmware/blob/6d41e279f1f51bd59f687b9d441c1bf47b1594fc/variants/nrf52840/ELECROW-ThinkNode-M1/platformio.ini)
- [Meshtastic firmware selector and web flasher](https://flasher.meshtastic.org/)
- [Official Meshtastic apps and firmware downloads](https://meshtastic.org/downloads/)

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Source: gadgets.sh · https://gadgets.sh/devices/thinknode-m1/ · JSON: https://gadgets.sh/api/v1/devices/thinknode-m1.json