LILYGO T-Beam Supreme ESP32-S3 LoRa 868MHz - L76K GPS & 1.3" OLED

Specifications

• Microcontroller: ESP32-S3FN8 (Dual-core LX7, 240 MHz)

• LoRa Transceiver: Semtech SX1262

• Operating Frequency: 868 MHz

• GNSS / GPS Module: Quectel L76K

• Flash Memory: 8MB

• PSRAM: 8MB

• Display: 1.3-inch OLED (SH1106)

• Power Management: AXP2101 PMU

• Battery Support: Rear-mounted 18650 Li-Ion battery holder

• Onboard Sensors: BME280, QMI8658 (IMU), QMC6310 (Compass), RTC PCF8563

• Expansion: MicroSD Card Slot (SPI)

Key Applications and Projects

• Meshtastic Off-Grid Communications: Flashing the open-source Meshtastic firmware to create a decentralized, encrypted, text-messaging mesh network completely independent of cellular infrastructure.

• SoftRF Aviation Tracking: Utilizing the onboard sensors and GPS to build a collision-avoidance tracker for gliders, paragliders, and general aviation.

• High-Altitude Weather Balloons: Logging temperature, barometric pressure, and precise 3D GPS coordinates to the MicroSD card while beaming live telemetry down to a ground station via LoRa.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution) The Ultimate Hiking Companion: Evolve this bare circuit board into a rugged survival tool. Print a heavy-duty, weather-resistant 3D case for the T-Beam Supreme. With Meshtastic installed, you can pair the board via Bluetooth 5.0 to your smartphone. When hiking in deep forests or mountainous terrain without cell service, you can use the Meshtastic app to send your precise L76K GPS coordinates and text messages to your friends' T-Beams miles away. The integrated BME280 will also supply you with live weather data, while the 18650 battery provides days of continuous operation!

PACKAGE INCLUDED

• 1 x LILYGO T-Beam Supreme Board (L76K, 868MHz)

• 1 x 868MHz SMA Antenna

• 2 x Male Pin Headers (Unsoldered)

• (Note: 18650 Li-Ion battery is strictly not included).

Downloads & Links

• LILYGO LoRa series Github Link

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What makes the "Supreme" version different from the classic T-Beam? The Supreme upgrades the main MCU to the ESP32-S3, adds more memory (8MB Flash/8MB PSRAM), upgrades the power management IC to the AXP2101, integrates a larger 1.3" OLED, and adds a full suite of environmental sensors (BME280, IMU, Magnetometer) directly onto the PCB.

2. Which LoRa chip does this version use? This board utilizes the highly efficient Semtech SX1262 LoRa transceiver.

3. What frequency does this specific board operate on? This model is tuned for the 868 MHz band, which is the standard license-free ISM band for LoRa in Europe and India.

4. What GPS module is installed on this board? This specific variant features the Quectel L76K GNSS module, which supports concurrent tracking of GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, and QZSS.

5. Can I run Meshtastic on this board? Yes! The T-Beam Supreme is incredibly popular for Meshtastic. Be sure to select the correct ESP32-S3 firmware target when flashing.

6. Does the board have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth? Yes. The ESP32-S3 provides 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) and Bluetooth 5.0 (LE). Note that unlike the older ESP32, the S3 supports Bluetooth LE only (no Bluetooth Classic).

7. Does it come with a battery? No. Shipping regulations restrict the inclusion of bare lithium batteries. You must provide your own high-quality 18650 Li-Ion cell.

8. Will the USB-C port charge my 18650 battery? Yes. The onboard AXP2101 power management chip will safely charge the 18650 battery when you plug the board into a USB-C power source.

9. Can I log data locally? Yes. There is a MicroSD card slot located on the board for storing GPS logs, sensor readings, or telemetry data.

10. What kind of antenna connector does it have? The board features a standard SMA Female connector for the LoRa antenna.

11. Is the GPS antenna included? Yes, a ceramic patch antenna for the L76K GNSS module is pre-installed directly on the front of the PCB.

12. How much RAM does it have? It features 512 KB of internal SRAM and an additional 8MB of external PSRAM to handle memory-intensive applications.

13. What is the BME280 sensor used for? The BME280 is an environmental sensor that measures ambient temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure (which can be used to calculate altitude).

14. Does the screen come pre-installed? Yes, the 1.3-inch OLED screen (SH1106 driver) comes pre-soldered and attached to the front of the board.

15. What logic voltage do the GPIO pins use? Like all ESP32 microcontrollers, the GPIO pins operate strictly on 3.3V logic. Supplying 5V to a GPIO pin will destroy the chip.

16. How do I put the board into bootloader mode manually? Press and hold the "Boot" button, press and release the "Reset" button, and then release the "Boot" button. The board will then accept new firmware via USB.

17. Do I need to solder anything? The board is fully functional out of the box. However, if you wish to use the GPIO expansion ports, you will need to solder the included male header pins yourself.

18. Can I program this with the Arduino IDE? Yes, the ESP32-S3 is fully supported by the Arduino IDE via the official Espressif core. Make sure to set "Flash Mode" to DIO and enable OPI PSRAM in the tools menu.

19. What do the physical buttons do? The board features a Power button (tied to the AXP2101 PMU), a Reset button, and a Boot button (IO00) which can also be used as a programmable user input during normal operation.

20. Why does my GPS take a long time to get a fix indoors? GPS signals from satellites are very weak and generally cannot penetrate roofs or thick walls. You must take the board outside or place it directly on a windowsill with a clear view of the sky to achieve a 3D lock.