The do-everything node. Everything the Patrol has, plus dual-USB expansion that drives cameras, mmWave sensing, and the digiTAK, sdrTAK & loraTAK radios — one box that runs the whole xTAK suite from a forward site.
The base build runs netTAK Standalone + mbtileserver and has the dual-USB expansion built in. Then add only the device for each package you run — HaLow for Mesh, digirig for digiTAK, an RTL-SDR for sdrTAK, a Meshtastic radio for loraTAK — plus optional sensing, GPS, and Wi-Fi.
| Part | Where to get it | Notes & substitutions |
|---|---|---|
| Base build — runs netTAK Standalone + mbtileserver | ||
| ComputeRaspberry Pi 4B | You supply | Must be a Raspberry Pi 4B (4 GB or 8 GB). Other Pi models aren't supported. |
| UPS / power boardPiSugar 3 Plus | Amazon | PiSugar 3 or 3 Plus. Live battery readout in adminTAK depends on this board. |
| Battery10,000 mAh LiPo | Amazon | Any quality LiPo that fits your case and matches the PiSugar connector & polarity. |
| microSD cardA1/U3 · 64 GB–512 GB | Amazon | Any A1/U3 card runs netTAK. For offline maps (mbtileserver), size up: ~64 GB holds one map region, ~512 GB the full map set. |
| USB-C charge cableRight-angle, short | Amazon | Any short right-angle USB-C cable that fits your internal routing. |
| Wi-Fi antenna extensionRP-SMA bulkhead, 2-pack | Amazon | RP-SMA male-to-female bulkhead pigtails to bring antennas to the case wall. |
| USB-A U-shape adapter180°, 2-pack | Amazon | Frees clearance for radios and adapters inside the case. |
| USB-C charge-port mountPanel mount, 23.4 mm | Amazon | Panel-mount USB-C that brings the charge port out to the case wall. The 23.4 mm barrel matches the 3D-printed case cutout; sold in a 2-pack (the build uses one). |
| Dual USB panel mountUSB 3.0, 24 mm | Amazon | The signature Basecamp part — two USB ports at the case wall for field-swappable package add-ons. The 24 mm barrel matches the 3D-printed case cutout. |
| Internal USB cable6 in | Amazon | Short jumper to route the panel-mounted USB to the Pi. |
| Ethernet patch cableCat6, slim | Amazon | Chosen for its thin profile so it packs neatly inside the case. Any equally slim, short Cat6 works. |
| Ethernet panel connectorRJ45 bulkhead, 20 mm | Amazon | Weatherproof RJ45 bulkhead for out-of-band / bridge access at the case wall. The 20 mm barrel matches the 3D-printed case cutout. |
| Power button12 mm momentary | Amazon | 12 mm momentary push button. Wired to the PiSugar for power/shutdown. |
| Heat-set inserts — coversM3 kit | Amazon | M3 heat-set inserts for installing the covers. |
| Heat-set inserts — mounting½" interface | Amazon | Larger inserts for the external ½" mounting interface (tripod / mast / pole). |
| Pi mounting screws2.5 mm plastic | Amazon | 2.5 mm plastic screws to mount the Pi to the PiSugar and the case. |
| Case screws3 mm stainless | Amazon | 3 mm stainless machine screws that thread into the heat-set inserts to close up the case. |
| Add for netTAK Mesh (needs the HaLow radio) | ||
| Wi-Fi HaLow radioVantron VT-USB-AH-8108 | Buy from xTAK → | Required for netTAK Mesh. Sold by xTAK; do not substitute. Skip it if you're not meshing. |
| Optional — GPS (position reports + clock sync) | ||
| GPS moduleBZGNSS BZ-251 | Amazon | Fits the printed case and is known for a fast fix. Any u-blox-based GPS works electrically, but this one is sized for the case. |
| Jumper wiresFemale-female | Amazon | Dupont jumpers to wire the GPS module to the Pi's GPIO UART. |
| Optional — enhanced Wi-Fi (external antenna, dual-band range) | ||
| USB Wi-Fi adapterALFA AWUS036ACS | Amazon | Adds dual-band client coverage. Any RTL8812-based USB Wi-Fi adapter works — the ALFA is just our known-good pick. |
| Antenna8 dBi RP-SMA | Amazon | High-gain RP-SMA antenna for the USB adapter — the adapter uses one; sold in a 2-pack. Match connector to your adapter. |
| Add for digiTAK | ||
| digirig interfaceUSB sound + PTT | digirig.net | Bridges an amateur (VHF/UHF) radio for digiTAK. Sold direct at digirig.net. |
| Digirig shielded cableUSB-C, ferrites | Amazon | Short shielded USB-C cable for the digirig — keeps RF off the data line. |
| Add for sdrTAK | ||
| RTL-SDR dongleUSB SDR receiver | TBD | Pulls ADS-B / AIS off the air for sdrTAK. Recommended part coming. |
| Add for loraTAK | ||
| Meshtastic radioUSB LoRa | TBD | Long-range LoRa mesh for loraTAK. Recommended part coming. |
| Optional — sensing | ||
| Surveillance cameras2× USB | TBD | Live camera feeds to ATAK over the mesh. Recommended part coming. |
| mmWave presence sensorUSB | TBD | Silent presence/motion detection dropped onto the map. Recommended part coming. |
Some links above are Amazon affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate, xTAK earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. We link the exact parts we build with; you're free to source equivalents anywhere.
The Basecamp build starts from the Patrol assembly, then adds the dual-USB panel mount and your accessory modules. Step-by-step photos and instructions are on the way.
