AT Labs

RM-2 Ruggedized Mesh Radio

Regular price: $795.00
Sale price: $795.00
Regular price

NEW: Every RM-2 now ships standard with the RC-2 Quick Charge Adapter — full charge in about 3 hours, plus a 12V DC i...

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Description

NEW: Every RM-2 now ships standard with the RC-2 Quick Charge Adapter — full charge in about 3 hours, plus a 12V DC input for solar, vehicle, or power station charging.

This is a made-to-order product — please allow 8 weeks for assembly and shipping!

Bulk / International Orders, please reach out on our contact for or email sales@constellationresponse.com for assistance!

FIRMWARE: The RM-2 now has optional custom firmware for Meshtastic, MeshCore, and Reticulum. This firmware mirrors what's available from each project's own site, but adjusts settings to protect your radio. We recommend using this firmware to make sure your settings are in spec. You can download the firmware here.

The RM-2 from AT-Labs is the next evolution of the ruggedized mesh radio that changed the game. Building on the proven platform of the RM-1, the RM-2 brings professional-grade performance to the same compact, bombproof form factor — delivering unmatched range, reliability, and a doubled 2-watt transmit power for improved signal penetration.

At its core is a new, American-made LoRa PCB designed by AT-Labs, increasing bandwidth significantly to push data and GPS traffic through the mesh faster and cleaner than ever before. The RM-2 runs Meshtastic, MeshCore, and Reticulum through AT-Labs' custom firmware, which pre-tunes your settings to keep the radio operating safely in spec. Download the firmware here.

Wrapped in the same extruded-aluminum housing that made the RM-1 legendary, the RM-2 is every bit as tough: rubberized shock bumpers at both ends, a gooseneck antenna tuned for maximum durability and gain, an accurate GNSS antenna for location tracking, and sealed waterproof I/O protected by an IP-68 / MIL-STD-810H-pending enclosure. A 10 Ah internal battery keeps the radio alive for days in the field, even under constant use.

Built for search and rescue teams, field medics, and community responders, the RM-2 remains priced within reach of civilians who simply expect their gear to work when everything else fails.

Why We Love It

2-Watt Output Power: Doubled transmit power for licensed HAM operators and improved signal penetration.
Field-Proven Ruggedness: Extruded aluminum chassis with shock-absorbing bumpers, IP-68 / MIL-STD-810H pending.
Days-Long Runtime: 10 Ah internal battery keeps the mission going without constant charging.
Made in America: Designed and assembled in the U.S. using domestically manufactured and allied-sourced components.

FAQ

What's the difference between the RM-1 and RM-2?
The RM-1 is a 1-watt LoRa radio. The RM-2 is a 2-watt version of that.
Portable or Infrastructure — which one do I need?
Portable is worn or carried and built for individual field use. Infrastructure is a fixed repeater with mounting brackets and a solar panel, meant to run unattended and extend your team's coverage. Most teams start with a mix: portables for personnel, infrastructure for fixed high points.
Do I need a license to run the RM-2 at full power?
The RM-2 is a Part 97 device. Enabling Ham Mode disables encryption and puts you under Part 97, which requires a valid HAM callsign to transmit its fixed 2W output legally. Leaving Ham Mode off still transmits the same 2W — it just isn't Part 97 compliant without a callsign. It's on the individual operator to run the radio within local and federal compliance standards.
Does the RM-2 handle video?
No — the RM-2 isn't a video platform. It supports voice, but it's not voice-first either; text and GPS come first. If your team needs video over mesh, look at NATAK Mesh's Nucleus.
Can I upgrade my RM-1 to an RM-2?
No retrofit path — the RM-2 runs a different radio module, not a firmware unlock. Every RM-1 accessory is still compatible with the RM-2 if you're buying new.
Is this the right radio for a SAR team?
Yes—when you need a pouch-compatible LoRa mesh node with days of battery, open firmware (Meshtastic / MeshCore / Reticulum), and US-assembled hardware you can hand to volunteers without a subscription. Match power to licensing: RM-1 for legal 1W unlicensed encrypted mesh; RM-2 when you need 2W under Part 97 rules.
How is this different from a $30 Meshtastic board?
A $30 board is a starter node. These are duty radios: filtered power, aluminum housing that fits standard radio pouches, ~10 Ah battery for multi-day missions, and an ~8-week made-to-order build. Same open mesh idea; different job.

Technical Specs

Power Output: 2 W (max, HAM licensed)
Frequency Band: 868/915 MHz ISM band (LoRa / Meshtastic)
Compatibility: Backward-compatible with RM-1 and standard Meshtastic channels
Chipset: Ebyte E22-900M33S, Seeed Studio Xiao nRF52 kit, U.S. manufactured PCB
Battery: 10 Ah Li-ion internal battery • Days of operation per charge
Enclosure: Extruded aluminum with rubber shock bumpers
Ingress Protection: IP-68 / MIL-STD-810H (pending certification)
Antenna: High-gain gooseneck LoRa antenna • Dedicated GNSS antenna for accurate location tracking
I/O: Waterproof USB-C (port for charging and data I/O) • Pogo port for cradle charging, Power Indicator, RX Indicator
Controls: Power button • Reset button
Dimensions: Same as RM-1 portable model • All RM-1 accessories fully compatible
Software: Meshtastic, MeshCore, Reticulum
Countries of Origin: U.S.A. - China - Taiwan - Japan

!!!SPECIAL NOTICE!!!

The radio core on the RM-2 is sensitive to input thresholds. What this means is that the radio core CANNOT accept input signals above 8db. In your firmware settings, you MUST set the transmit power to 8 or below. FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN IRREPAIRABLE DAMAGE TO THE RADIO AND WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

For Meshtastic users, this means that during a firmware upgrade/reinstall, before setting the region, the LoRa transmit power must be set at 8.

I do not normally write reviews

I do not normally write reviews, but Constellation Response earned this one.

After ordering two RM2 radios, I noticed that both had an excessive power-drain issue. I contacted Rob and Kenny, explained what was going on, and sent both radios back for evaluation. They addressed the problem immediately, corrected the issue, and got the radios returned and back in service quickly.

What stood out most was the customer support. Whether I have called or emailed with a question, Rob has been quick to respond with a clear, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful answer. It is refreshing to deal with a company that stands behind its equipment and treats customers like their concerns matter.

The RM2 radios are a valuable part of my communications setup, and it gives me confidence knowing Constellation Response is responsive, capable, and committed to taking care of its customers. Highly recommended.

A genuinely American-made product, backed by people who care

I recently purchased an RM-2 and wanted to share my experience, because both the product and the people behind it deserve the recognition.

The RM-2 is American-designed, manufactured, and tested in Tennessee — and that matters. I ordered through an authorized retailer, starting with the stock infrastructure configuration. Midway through the order, I asked Rob at Constellation Response if a small custom deviation was possible. Not only did he accept the request without passing along any additional cost, he also took the time to ask about my specific usage so he could better understand how customers are actually putting the RM-2 to work. That kind of curiosity from a vendor is rare.

The custom request did push out the delivery timeline, but honestly it never felt like a problem. Rob was completely transparent throughout — clear updates, realistic expectations, no guesswork on my end. And knowing that Kenny and his team at AT Labs were heads-down doing what they do best, manufacturing and testing a genuine American-made product, made the wait feel worthwhile.

When the RM-2 arrived, it was carefully wrapped and packaged. One small detail I appreciated: a fine layer of red clay dust on the unit itself — a quiet signal that it had almost certainly been individually tested before being boxed up and sent my way. That kind of attention to detail tells you everything you need to know about how this product is made.

The included documentation was helpful, but what I valued most was the post-purchase Q&A correspondence with Rob and Kenny. They patiently walked me through where I had misinterpreted certain aspects of the RM-2, reset my understanding, and made sure I had the right expectations going in. On top of that, the Bluetooth connectivity has been outstanding — better than I expected.

If you're considering an RM-2, you're getting a thoughtfully built American-made product and a team that genuinely stands behind it. I couldn't recommend Rob, Kenny, and the work coming out of Constellation Response and AT Labs more highly.

I don't normally do reviews-- HOWEVER the RM-2 is IMPRESSIVE.

I don't normally do reviews; however, I purchased a RM-2 to evaluate and was impressed with it. Not only is it solid and ruggedly built but it punches through when other equipment doesn't connect in side by side comparisons. The support has been outstanding ... I had questions before and after my purchase. I highly recommend this radio!

Goes the distance when needed.

Aside from its absurdly rugged appearance and capabilities, this thing punches through RF when nothing else will. Some people say higher power defeats the purpose of MeshCore or Meshtastic but people don’t realize that sometimes extremely RF dense environments are impossible to get through. The RM-2 allows me to hit an antenna site, flooded with 900mhz RF and get through the noise. This things awesome.

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RM-2 Ruggedized Mesh Radio