RBaken
Off-grid team radar
Meshtastic EU868 device with custom on-device radar firmware, built-in GPS, orientation sensor, one-button activation, frequency-optimized antenna, and 24-hour battery life - built for instant team awareness in the field.
On-device radar
Glance at your screen - see every teammate's position and distance on a radar view. No phone, no pairing, no app. Just press the button.
MeshtasticFirmware
Runs a custom Meshtastic build with the radar view added. All standard Meshtastic features still work. The radar firmware is currently under review for inclusion in the main Meshtastic project.
Built for the field
Built-in GPS and 6-axis orientation sensor feed your position and heading directly into the radar. 170 g, 24-hour battery, MOLLE and belt carry in two positions. Water-resistant.
The name
RBaken
For centuries, travelers and crews used baken (markers, beacons) to stay oriented in difficult terrain and on uncertain routes. A baken did not try to do everything. It did one job well: it showed the way, marked a position, and helped people find each other again.
RBaken is built on that same idea, but for modern field use. Instead of a stone marker or a distant light, it gives your team a shared position picture. One button. A clear radar view. No phone in your hand, no extra steps, no unnecessary friction. Just the signal, the map, and the people you are moving with.
Baken - Dutch word for marker, beacon, point of reference · R - radar, direction, situational awareness
In action
Closed beta
5 units. Closed beta.
Five RBakens are built and sitting on the bench in Amsterdam. I cannot sell them: RBaken has no CE marking yet, and I would rather say that plainly than dress it up. So I am not selling them. I am asking five people to chip in towards what comes next, the certification work and the next iteration, and one of these five prototypes goes out to each of them as a thank-you. €70 is what a unit costs me in parts. I make nothing on it. What I want back is real feedback from real use, so the next version is built on evidence instead of my own assumptions.
Supporter
contribution, + postage €6–14 depending on country
- –Thank-you: 1 RBaken (Light Brown), built and ready to go
- –5 dBi antenna + cable + manual
- –Pick one unit only if you already have another Meshtastic node
Team supporter
contribution · 3 units · postage covered
- –Thank-you: 3 RBakens (Light Brown), built and ready to go
- –5 dBi antennas + cables + manuals
- –Postage covered
Check your RBaken settings against your team size before you start using it, or play with the configuration planner to find the best setup for your team.
Next batch
Coming next
Leave your email and tell me what you want - color, quantity, feature requests.
Right now I'm gathering everything needed to put a proper batch in place, and a big part of that is getting CE certification. Join the waiting list and I'll keep you informed.
Interest so far
171 devices from 40 people
Configuration planner
Find your Meshtastic setup
There is no single best configuration. Longer range means slower packets and staler positions; faster updates crowd the channel and drain the battery. The right balance depends on your team size and how far apart you spread. Set yours and the planner works out the range, the position lag, the airtime and how long the battery lasts.
All seven LoRa modes, from a compact team to ten spread over open ground.
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