Janknode Review Guide — solar repeater from $39.19

	Role	Item	$/node	Buy
Winner	Board	Mini starter kit (RAK19003 + RAK4631)	$31.97	Buy $31.97
Winner	Antenna	915 MHz 20 cm omni + U.FL pigtail (2×)	$6.50	Buy 2-pack $12.99
Winner	Glue	E6000+ adhesive 0.9 oz	$0.40	Buy $8.29
Winner	JST PH	JST PH 2.0 mm 2-pin pigtails	$0.17	Buy 100-pack $16.99
Winner	Solder	Sn63/Pb37 rosin-core solder 0.8 mm	$0.15	Buy $8.99
Total	$39.19	$79.23

Shells

Solar lights we ranked. Passing shells first; the rest are still under evaluation. See the winning setup above for our current pick.

Bench pass or strong 1S Li-ion signals from the listing.

Shell	Works?	Cell	Chemistry	V	mAh	$/unit	Buy
CLAONER PIR wall	likely	18650	Li-ion	—	1,200	$4.17	Buy 6-pack $24.99
VOLISUN spotlight	pass	—	—	—	—	—	Not available
VOLISUN spotlight	pass	—	—	—	—	—	Not available
NACINIC spotlight	pass	—	—	—	—	—	Not available

Harvested from Amazon. Teardown or field test still pending.

Shell	Works?	Cell	Chemistry	V	mAh	$/unit	Buy
AUDERWIN fence step	maybe	14500	Li-ion	3.7	500	$2.75	Buy 12-pack $32.99
TECKNET fence cap	maybe	—	—	—	600	$2.75	Buy 12-pack $32.99
NIORSUN fence wedge	maybe	—	—	—	500	$3.83	Buy 12-pack $45.99
NIORSUN fence step	maybe	—	Li-ion	3.7	1,200	$4.50	Buy 8-pack $35.99
Toeuitie fence wedge	unknown	—	—	—	—	$5.00	Buy 12-pack $59.96
FLITI fence wedge	maybe	—	—	—	1,200	$5.00	Buy 12-pack $59.99
JOFIOS fence step	maybe	—	Li-ion	3.7	1,200	$5.00	Buy 12-pack $59.99
Tadyreal spotlight	maybe	—	Li-ion	3.7	—	$5.70	Buy 10-pack $56.99
WENATY spotlight	maybe	—	Li-ion	—	1,500	$5.42	Buy 12-pack $64.99
Bridika fence wedge	maybe	18650	Li-ion	—	—	$6.67	Buy 12-pack $79.99
LECLESTAR flood	maybe	—	—	—	4,400	$15.99	Buy 2-pack $31.98

4 failed shells

Bench checked. Sealed shut, wrong chemistry, or otherwise not viable for a janknode build.

Shell	Works?	Cell	Chemistry	V	mAh	$/unit	Buy
SOLPEX fence wedge	NiMH	AAA	NiMH	1.2	700	$2.50	Buy 12-pack $29.99
HMCITY wall wedge	sealed	18650	Li-ion	3.7	1,200	$3.33	Buy 6-pack $19.98
ROSHWEY fence wedge	NiMH	—	NiMH	1.2	—	$4.67	Buy 6-pack $27.99
NACINIC spotlight	sealed	—	—	—	1,800	$6.25	Buy 8-pack $49.99

Swap the winning board if you want a different WisBlock base or a tighter fit.

	Board	Notes	Buy
	Mini starter kit (RAK19003 + RAK4631) RAKwireless	30×35 mm mini base. Best fit for tight shells. Kit antenna is bench-only; deploy with a field whip below.	Buy $31.97
	WisBlock starter kit (RAK19007 + RAK4631) RAKwireless	30×60 mm base with IO slot. Official 1.0 pick for SD storage and extra WisBlock modules.	Buy $34.97

Swap the winning whip if you want a different 915 MHz option. Gain is the listing claim. VSWR sweeps when we have them.

Antenna	Gain	915 MHz VSWR	Notes	$/unit	Buy
915 MHz 20 cm omni + U.FL pigtail (2×) XWXGG	6 dBi	1.00 @ 915	Straight 20 cm whip, SMA male. Pigtail in box. Current deploy pick.	$6.50	Buy 2-pack $12.99
915 MHz whip antenna, 17 cm muzi WORKS	—	1.45 @ 915	Longer field whip, SMA male. E6000 on nut only; keep silicone off SMA mating surface.	$9.98	Buy 4-pack $39.90
915 MHz short omni + U.FL pigtail (2×) Tenmory	3 dBi	1.10 @ 916	Short ~7.6 cm duck, SMA male. Pigtail in box.	$5.99	Buy 2-pack $11.99
915 MHz 19.5 cm omni + U.FL pigtail (2×) XWXGG	5 dBi	1.18 @ 915	Right-angle rubber duck ~19.5 cm, SMA male. Pigtail in box.	$5.00	Buy 2-pack $9.99

1S Li-ion cells for shells that ship an undersized 18650 or 14500. Days column uses ~220 mAh/day RAK4631 slim repeater average (powersaving on).

	Cell	Form	Chemistry	V	mAh	Top	Protected	Days	$/unit	Buy
	INR18650-25R (25R) Winner Samsung SDI	18650	Li-ion	3.6	2,500	flat	No	11	$4.99	Buy $4.99
	INR21700-58E (58E) Winner Samsung SDI	21700	Li-ion	3.6	5,330	flat	No	24	$4.99	Buy $4.99

Glue, connectors, and bench tools. Budget consumables per node. Tools are buy-once.

Per-node supplies for the build.

Item	Notes	$/unit	Buy
U.FL to SMA female pigtails, 15 cm optional	Optional spare. RAK4631 kit ships with a U.FL pigtail; XWXGG antenna box includes one too.	$1.56	Buy 5-pack $7.79
E6000+ adhesive 0.9 oz	IPEX dab + SMA nut seal. Not a structural glue for the whole enclosure.	$8.29	Buy $8.29
JST 1.25 mm 2-pin pigtails optional	Optional. JST 1.25 mm pigtails for solar or small-board jumpers (~80 mm leads).	$0.23	Buy 30-pack $6.99
JST PH 2.0 mm 2-pin pigtails	RAK19003 battery JST-PH and similar (~120 mm leads).	$0.17	Buy 100-pack $16.99
No-clean rosin flux pens (3×) optional	Optional. Rosin flux pen for stubborn joints. Pairs with solder wire below.	$3.33	Buy 3-pack $9.99
Sn63/Pb37 rosin-core solder 0.8 mm	50 g spool. Leaded 63/37. Wash hands after use.	$8.99	Buy $8.99

Soldering, measure, fabrication, hand tools.

Tool	Notes	Buy
90W digital soldering iron kit (10-in-1)	Corded 90W, ceramic heater, LCD temp, auto sleep. Tips, stand, starter solder tube included.	Buy $14.95
S-160 silicone soldering mat	Heat-safe bench surface; magnetic trays for screws.	Buy $12.99
AM33B digital multimeter	Solar keep-up DMM checks (I_load, I_net). No AC current mode.	Buy $14.59
NanoVNA-H antenna analyzer optional	Optional. Tune 915 MHz whips; overkill for a first node.	Buy $52.99
20V cordless drill kit, 3/8 in.	SMA bulkhead holes and shell mods. 10 drill + 10 driver bits.	Buy $39.99
Ti-coated step drill set (5 pc)	Step bits + center punch for sized enclosure holes.	Buy $24.99
Handheld battery spot welder optional	Optional. Custom 18650 packs only; janknodes use single cells + BMS.	Buy $34.99
KWS-103 wire stripper	Self-adjusting 10–24 AWG strip/cut/crimp.	Buy $13.99
6-piece pliers and wrench set	10" water pump, 10" slip joint, 8" long nose, 8" linesman, 6" diagonal, 8" adjustable wrench.	Buy $22.79