LoRa APRS iGate for T-Beam
Open-source LoRa APRS internet gateway firmware for the LILYGO T-Beam that bridges local LoRa tracker packets to the global APRS-IS network with bidirectional Rx/Tx support.
Overview
The CA2RXU LoRa APRS iGate is a companion project to the LoRa APRS Tracker, turning a LILYGO T-Beam into a fixed internet gateway (iGate) or digital repeater (digipeater) for the APRS network. When installed at a home or high location with internet access, it receives LoRa APRS packets from nearby trackers and uploads them to APRS-IS servers — extending the reach of the LoRa APRS ecosystem.
How It Works
The iGate listens continuously on the configured LoRa frequency and, upon receiving a valid APRS packet, forwards it to the APRS-IS network via WiFi. In digipeater mode it also retransmits received packets over LoRa to extend range for trackers without direct internet gateway coverage. The OLED display shows gateway status, received packet counts, and network connectivity. Configuration is done through a web portal served by the ESP32.
Key Features
The project supports pure iGate, pure digipeater, and hybrid operation modes. It includes MQTT integration for local home-automation dashboards, OTA firmware updates, environmental sensor support (BME280/Si7021/AHT20) for weather station operation, battery monitoring for solar-powered deployments, and eco-mode for reduced power consumption. A web-based flasher at richonguzman.github.io allows one-click installation without needing to set up a development environment. The firmware explicitly supports LILYGO T-Beam V1.0 through V1.2 (including SX1262 and SX1268 variants) and T-Beam Supreme V3.
