# LILYGO Helium T-Beam

> ESP32 + SX1276 LoRa T-Beam variant optimized for the Helium IoT network — with NEO-6M GPS, AXP2101 PMU, and 18650 battery support for portable LoRaWAN network mapping and sensor nodes.

## Quick Facts

- **Brand:** LILYGO
- **Board Type:** dev-board
- **Price:** ~$30.52
- **Product Readiness:** developer
- **CPU:** ESP32 Xtensa LX6 dual-core @ 240MHz
- **CPU Architecture:** Xtensa LX6
- **CPU Cores:** 2
- **RAM:** 520KB SRAM
- **PSRAM:** 8MB
- **Flash:** 4MB
- **USB:** Micro-USB (CH9102)
- **Power:** 5V + Li-Ion 18650
- **Operating Voltage:** 3.3V
- **Battery:** 18650 (user-supplied)
- **Charging Port:** Micro-USB

## Connectivity

- **Wifi:** 802.11 b/g/n
- **Bluetooth:** BLE 4.2
- **Lora:** SX1276 868/915MHz

## Open Source

- **Firmware:** Yes
- **Schematics:** No
- **PCB Layout:** No

## Compatible Firmware

arduino, platformio

## Use Cases

- lora-mesh-networking
- gps-tracking
- iot-gateway
- asset-tracking

## Components

- **ESP32** (mcu): Espressif ESP32 dual-core Xtensa LX6 at 240MHz with 4MB flash, 8MB PSRAM, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, and Bluetooth 4.2. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espressif.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fdocumentation%2Fesp32_datasheet_en.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=lilygo-helium-t-beam&source=md-export)
- **SX1276** (radio): Semtech SX1276 LoRa transceiver for 868/915 MHz with -148 dBm sensitivity and 300 kbps maximum data rate. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fsemtech.com%2Fuploads%2Fdocuments%2FDS_SX1276-7-8-9_W_APP_V7.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=lilygo-helium-t-beam&source=md-export)
- **NEO-6M** (gps): u-blox NEO-6M GPS module with RTC crystal, wakeup interrupt support for low-power positioning. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.u-blox.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fproducts%2Fdocuments%2FNEO-6_DataSheet_%28GPS.G6-HW-09005%29.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=lilygo-helium-t-beam&source=md-export)
- **AXP2101** (battery-charger): X-Powers AXP2101 PMU providing power regulation, 18650 battery charging, and power path management. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.x-powers.com%2Fen.php%2FInfo%2Fproduct_detail%2Farticle_id%2F95&ref=openhardware.directory&product=lilygo-helium-t-beam&source=md-export)

## Protocols

- **SPI**
- **I2C**
- **UART**

## Description

## Overview

The LILYGO Helium T-Beam is a specialized variant of the T-Beam development board designed for deployment on the Helium decentralized LoRaWAN IoT network. Built around the ESP32 dual-core SoC with 4MB flash and 8MB PSRAM, it combines a Semtech SX1276 LoRa radio (868MHz or 915MHz) with a u-blox NEO-6M GPS module featuring RTC crystal and interrupt/wakeup support for low-power positioning. The AXP2101 power management unit handles efficient power regulation and 18650 lithium battery charging via USB. Three hardware buttons (Power, IO38, Reset) allow user interaction. The board is ideal for building Helium network coverage mappers, LoRaWAN sensor nodes, and GPS asset trackers that earn HNT tokens by providing network coverage.

## Where to Buy

- [LILYGO Official](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Flilygo.cc%2Fproducts%2Fhelium-t-beam&ref=openhardware.directory&product=lilygo-helium-t-beam&source=md-export) — $30.52

## Resources

- [product](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Flilygo.cc%2Fproducts%2Fhelium-t-beam&ref=openhardware.directory&product=lilygo-helium-t-beam&source=md-export)
- [github](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2FXinyuan-LilyGO%2Ftbeam-helium-mapper&ref=openhardware.directory&product=lilygo-helium-t-beam&source=md-export)

## Tags

`esp32`, `lora`, `gps`, `helium`, `lorawan`, `lilygo`, `18650`, `t-beam`, `iot`

## Images

![LILYGO Helium T-Beam](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/lilygo-helium-t-beam/6c34f9f4bace.jpg)
![LILYGO Helium T-Beam](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/lilygo-helium-t-beam/09e728e54036.jpg)
![LILYGO Helium T-Beam](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/lilygo-helium-t-beam/ecfce3996b42.jpg)
![LILYGO Helium T-Beam](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/lilygo-helium-t-beam/f7f7198a1353.jpg)
![LILYGO Helium T-Beam](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/lilygo-helium-t-beam/04f553a8dd96.jpg)
![LILYGO Helium T-Beam](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/lilygo-helium-t-beam/aa15f39401df.png)

> **Battery Powered:** 18650

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