• Compatibility
• Handheld vs Badge
• Screen pages
• Disclaimer
• Bill of materials
  • Required
  • Optional
• Quick start
• Settings
• Knob
• Buttons
• GNSS switch
• LEDs
• Buzzer
• Bluetooth LE
• Two seater
• Aircrafts database
• Battery life
• Display care
• Links

Handheld Edition is a variant of SoftRF DIY GA proximity awareness device been implemented in a small, lightweight product form factor.

The Handheld is a synergy of two leading edge technologies in one miniature unit:

1. SoftRF advanced radio, GNSS and air traffic processing core with data stream output, and
2. SkyView air traffic visualization engine for an e-Paper display.

It is supposed to require minimal skills from a builder to begin with and gives an opportunity to evaluate if the SoftRF technology is appropriate for your needs.

The Handheld is based on third-party's hardware - Elecrow® ThinkNode M1 product, which is available for direct purchase from manufacturer at more or less reasonable price (50+ USD).

ThinkNode M1 is:

• a multipurpose ,
• DIY-friendly ,
• low power ,
• lightweight

- LoRaWAN GNSS assets tracker product.

The ThinkNode M1 is an example of cutting edge technology. It contains:

• Nordic nRF52840 Low Power MCU ;
• Semtech SX1262 Long Range Low Power RF Transceiver ;
• Quectel L76K Low Power GNSS (GPS/GLONASS/BD) Receiver module ;
• GooDisplay® 1.54" SPI e-Paper display with backlight;
• Macronix MX25R1635F 2 Mbytes QSPI flash memory storage

Type	Protocol	FLARM	OGN tracker	PilotAware	Skytraxx	SoftRF
Radio	FLARM AIR V7
	OGNTP
	P3I
	FANET+
	SRD 860 ADS-L
Data	FLARM NMEA
	Garmin GDL90
	Dump1090

¹ - it is necessary for a reader to feel the difference between statement "compatible" and statement "fully compatible".
     SoftRF implements only a reasonable minimum of the protocols specs. No "bells and whistles" so far.

This is a picture of Badge and Handheld Editions, side by side.

Edition	Badge	Handheld
First appearance	2021	2025
Manufacturer	LilyGO	Elecrow
SoC	Nordic nRF52840	Nordic nRF52840
QSPI flash memory	2 MB	2 MB
sub-1GHz radio	Semtech SX1262	Semtech SX1262
sub-1GHz antenna	external, SMA	external, RP-SMA
NFC antenna	internal, PCB
Battery	Li-Ion 850 mAh	Li-Ion 1200 mAh
GNSS receiver	HZM AT6558	HZM AT6558
Display	1.54" e-Paper with backlight	1.54" e-Paper with backlight
USB	2.0 device	2.0 device
LED	visible - red, green, blue obscured - CHARGE, GNSS PPS	red, blue
Buzzer		1 pc.
Sensors	touch air pressure Bosch BME280  optional TDK MPU-9250 IMU optional TDK ICM-20948 IMU optional Bosch    BHI260 IMU
Expansion	power and GPIO adapter
Certificates	FCC  CE	pending

There are four different screens available:

• Radar
• Text
• Status
• UTC Clock

You can use Function button to switch between these screens.

The screens are better explained on this page.

SoftRF firmware for Handheld Edition is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

In general a lot of Chinese DIY electronics manufacturers are known to behave this way:

• sometimes they may not apply necessary Q.C. before releasing of a product from factory ;
• they may arbitrary change schematics and electronic components from one batch to the next one.

Author of SoftRF firmware:

• will reject any hardware related claims associated with Elecrow® ThinkNode M1 product. Ask for support from seller or manufacturer ;
• reserves the right to suspend or terminate support of Elecrow® ThinkNode M1 in the firmware at any time.

For the time being ( Apr'25 ) there were no critical hardware issues reported for current version of the ThinkNode M1 product. However things my change over the time...
If you have issues with bringing up your new Elecrow® ThinkNode M1 or just not happy with the product - be prepared to execute your Purchase Protection plan.

Number	Part	Qty	Picture	Source
1	Elecrow® ThinkNode M1 2	1		AliExpress 1 2 Elecrow Store

² - 868 MHz variant is applicable for these world regions: EU, RU, NZ, SA, IN ;
     915 MHz - US, CA, AU, KR, IL.

Number	Part	Qty	Picture	Source
2	LilyGO® T-Dongle	1		AliExpress
3	ST-LINK V2 adapter 3	1		AliExpress

³ - ST-LINK V2 is able to operate with 3.3V logic levels only. For 1.8V logic levels - you should consider to use genuine SEGGER J-LINK or similar equipment.

1. follow these instructions to install the firmware ;
2. use instructions for Badge Edition to start operating with your delivered Handheld device.
   

Procedure of settings change is explained on this page.

Basic (radio) settings description is located here.
e-Paper UI settings description is located there.

If you are an application developer and you think about to add the Handheld configuration menu into your software, please, use:

• C/C++ header file and
• example of usage (in SkyWatch)

The knob has two features:

1. it connects or disconnects battery terminal(s) to turn the device On or Off
2. it helps to adjust brightness of e-Paper display backlight

When unit is in Sleep:

• press and release Function button to turn the unit On.

When unit is On:

• press and release Function button to cycle between display view modes, or
• press and release Function button 2 times to toggle display backlight On/Off, or
• press and keep holding Function button for 2-3 seconds to put the unit into Sleep.

• Radar view - cycle between zoom levels
  
• Text view    - cycle between aircraft info pages
  

• press and release reset button one time to restart the SoftRF unit, or
• press and release reset button 2 times to proceed into firmware download mode.

The switch controls power supply for built-in GNSS receiver component.

When unit is On:

• steady red LED indicates unit power on status ;
• flashing red LED indicates low battery charge level.

When unit is Off:

• red LED indicates charging status.

The buzzer makes a four-tone sound at boot time to indicate completion of initialization sequence.

It plays a short melody at very first GNSS fix. A positive GNSS fix is required to start transmitting of radio packets and to decode received ones properly.

When air traffic situation needs attention from a pilot - the Handheld makes one tone beep.

Factory default data output setting is to deliver GNSS and air traffic information over Bluetooth LE in NMEA plain-text format.

This data is sufficient for an app (such as XCSoar) to facilitate a Radar view:

These Bluetooth LE services are available:

• UART (both HM-10 and Nordic ones)
• Battery
• Bluefruit device information
• OTA firmware update

This is a list of mobile applications that are known good to operate with the Handheld Edition over Bluetooth LE:

• SoftRF Tool
• SoftRF Configurator
• XCSoar
• LK8000
• Bluefruit Connect
• nRF Connect for Mobile
• Serial Bluetooth Terminal
• FlySkyHy
• XCTrack
• Enroute Flight Navigation

For more information, please, read this Bluetooth LE page.

One may consider to use SkyView EZ as a second traffic display in a multiple seat aircraft.

Recommended wireless connection method of the SkyView to the Handheld is: Bluetooth LE
This is an example of the EZ settings:

The Handheld Edition is able to use internal 2 Mbyte flash memory storage to operate with 'Aircrafts Database' ( OGN DDB ):

  

For details, please, read this Aircrafts database page

Current consumption from 3.7 Volt battery:

Mode	Average current
Active backlight OFF	60 mA
Active backlight FULL	95 mA
Sleep	0.3 mA
Off	0 mA

Operating time from a full charge depends on your actual battery capacity.

For e-Paper display care recommendations, please, read this page.

1. Elecrow® ThinkNode M1 Wiki
2. User Manual
3. Datasheet
4. Reddit thread
5. Unboxing Elecrow ThinkNode M1 & M2 video