femtofox/README.md

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# Femtofox &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<sub><sub>The tiny, low power Linux Meshtastic node
### &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[Click here for the Femtofox store](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1861858340/femtofox-pro-v1-kit-compact-arm-linux)

**Femtofox is a Linux-based mesh development platform - a Raspberry Pi sized computer with onboard LoRa radio, capable of being run with only 0.3w, making it *ideal* for solar powered nodes.**

The Luckfox Pico Mini is the postage stamp sized heart of the Femtofox - a compact and power efficient Linux board, running Foxbuntu, our own customized version of Ubuntu. Femtofox is an expansion of the Luckfox's capabilities, utilizing a custom PCB with a 30db LoRa radio (over 6x the transmit power of a RAK Wisblock or Heltec V3) to create a power efficient, tiny and highly capable Meshtastic Linux node.

Find out more in the sections below, or in the [Wiki](https://github.com/femtofox/femtofox/wiki).

- [Features](#features) and [Specifications](#Specification)
- [Supported hardware](https://github.com/femtofox/femtofox/wiki/Supported-Hardware)
- [Installation guide](https://github.com/femtofox/femtofox/wiki/Getting-Started)
- How to order
   - [Etsy (USA)](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1861858340/femtofox-pro-v1-kit-compact-arm-linux)
   - [Tindie (UK)](https://www.tindie.com/products/nomdetom/femtofox-pro-v1-kit-linux-meshtastic-node/)
   - [Etsy (UK)](https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1866094154/femtofox-pro-v1-kit-linux-meshtastic)
- [DIY instructions](https://github.com/femtofox/Femtofox_Community_Hardware)
- [USB configuration tool](https://github.com/femtofox/femtofox/wiki/USB-Configuration-Tool)
- [Building your own Foxbuntu image](https://github.com/femtofox/femtofox/wiki/Building-Foxbuntu-%28WSL%29)

### Features
* Tiny size (63x54mm for Femtofox, 65x30mm for the Smol Edition). Equivalent to a standard Raspberry Pi hat and Pi Zero respectively.
* Power efficient (~0.27-0.4w average, depending on radio and mesh congestion)
* Full Linux CLI (Ubuntu) via our pre-built Foxbuntu image
* Meshtastic native client support via SPI
* USB host support - attach USB peripherals
* USB wifi support
* RTC support for timekeeping

### Specification

| Feature      | Specification                                           |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| Processor    | Rockchip RV1103, Cortex A7 \@1.1GHz                     |
| Memory       | 64MB DDR2                                               |
| OS           | Foxbuntu (based on Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS Jammy)            |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 Host/Device                                     |
| Network      | RJ45 Ethernet with filtering<br>                        |
|              | WiFi ready                                              |
| GPIO         | 17x GPIO pins (of which 8 are required for Lora module) |
| IO           | 2x I2C JST PH                                           |
|              | 1x UART JST PH                                          |
| Debug        | 1x CH340 USB to serial adapter (Pro only)               |
| Mesh         | 30dB LoRa Radio 868-915MHz                              |
| Storage      | Micro-SD slot                                           |
| Power        | 3.3-5V.dc via JST PH or USB-C                           |
| Dimensions   | 63 x 54 x 19mm                                          |

**Accomplished:**
- [x] Meshtastic native client controlling a LoRa radio (see [supported hardware](https://github.com/femtofox/femtofox/wiki/Supported-Hardware))
- [x] WIFI over USB (see [supported hardware](https://github.com/femtofox/femtofox/wiki/Supported-Hardware))
- [x] Ethernet over pins (see *Networking* below and wiring diagram at bottom of page)
- [x] UART communications with Meshtastic nodes (2 pin pairs) such as RAK Wisblock
- [x] USB serial communications with Meshtastic nodes (see [supported hardware](https://github.com/femtofox/femtofox/wiki/Supported-Hardware))
- [x] USB mass storage
- [x] Real time clock (RTC) support (see [supported hardware](https://github.com/femtofox/femtofox/wiki/Supported-Hardware))
- [x] Activity LED disabled. User LED will blink for 5 seconds when boot is complete
- [x] Short pressing the "BOOT" button toggles wifi, 2-5 second press triggers reboot, 5+ second press shuts system down
- [x] Ability to reconfigure wifi via USB flash drive
- [x] Meshtasticd to run LoRa radio over SPI (accomplished, updated image and instructions coming soon)
- [x] Allow editing of config files by plugging in thumb drive
- [x] Ability to activate or deactivate WIFI via Meshtastic admin
 
> [!NOTE]
> The information on this page is given without warranty or guarantee. Links to vendors of products are for informational purposes only.
> Meshtastic® is a registered trademark of Meshtastic LLC. Meshtastic software components are released under various licenses, see GitHub for details. No warranty is provided - use at your own risk.
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