This month, Rokland Technologies joins RAKwireless as a Meshtastic Backer, and we are also proud to be the first Meshtastic Recommended Marketplace as well! What does this mean?
While Meshtastic is open source, maintaining the code and providing constant firmware updates for new hardware support and new features does not come without a high cost.
Until now, Meshtastic was made up of a group of hardworking volunteers. To make the software stronger, more stable, and ready for commercial adoption, a core group of Meshtastic founders have formed Meshtastic Solutions LLC to put more attention on all of the above.
Watch the official Meshtastic Solutions video announcement
In Q4 2024, they began working with hardware makers to arrange agreements with a portion of each hardware sale going to Meshtastic Solutions to help fund their endeavors. Think of backer hardware as authorized hardware, where proceeds from each sale are going to fund the future of Meshtastic.
While Rokland was the #2 donor to the Meshtastic project in 2023 and 2024, the system of donations is being replaced by proceeds from each sale.
Rokland ONLY sells Backer hardware
We have long been partners with RAKwireless & LILYGO, two members of the Meshtastic Backers program. When you purchase RAK or LILYGO hardware, you know that some of your purchase is going back to fund the Meshtastic community. You are also buying hardware that will be officially supported by Meshtastic, meaning firmware will be developed and tested specifically for that hardware. No guesses as to how well it will work, or if it will be compatible with the latest releases!
We also back our OWN hardware!
Rokland is more than a marketplace, we make hardware too, with assembly and support taking place here in the USA. So all Meshtastic compatible hardware sold on our site is authorized, certified, and a part of the Meshtastic Backer and Recommended Marketplace programs!
We are thankful to the Meshtastic team for all of their hard work and lofty ambitions for the future. When you are shopping, you make sure your hardware comes from a Meshtastic Partner, Backer, or Associated Marketplace so we can all move this project forward at light speed!
What does this mean for prices?
It's natural to think that when a company starts sending proceeds of sales onto a cause, they are going to just increase your price to offset. If we do that, we aren't really helping- you are the only ones helping. We all need to help, so Rokland is not increasing prices proportionally to the amount of proceeds going to Meshtastic solutions.
We did encounter cost headwinds this year however, including tariffs (love em or hate em). We also do all of our assembly, techncial support and fulfillment right here in the USA, creating American jobs (our newest hire was three weeks ago!). We pay a living wage and offer full time staff benefits, as well as raises to keep up with inflation. We may have some price adjustments in the coming weeks as we feel the impact of cost increases, but it won’t be proportional, and if we see a refund in tariffs, we will act accordingly.
More information about tariff impact on prices
The new administration is adding tariffs to bring manufacturing to the USA. We support this and have worked closely with RAKwireless, LILYGO, and others to eventually bring production here. For now, a number of popular Meshtastic compatible items are still made outside the USA simply because there aren't factories in the USA that can produce the parts. We are working on a 3 year investment timeline to change that. Here's what to know:
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