MeshCore/RAKCustomDisplay

Compiling MeshCore Firmware for RAK4631 with MakerFocus 1.3" OLED (SH1106)

Device: These instructions are specifically for the RAK4631 with the MakerFocus 1.3" SH1106 OLED. OS: This guide was completed on Red Hat 9.6.

Note: MeshCore does not natively support the MakerFocus SH1106 OLED out of the box on the RAK4631. The steps below modify the PlatformIO configuration to add SH1106 display support.

Install PlatformIO

cd ~
curl -fsSL -o get-platformio.py https://raw.githubusercontent.com/platformio/platformio-core-installer/master/get-platformio.py
python3 get-platformio.py 
export PATH=$PATH:/home/linuxuser/.platformio/penv/bin

Clone the MeshCore Repository

git pull https://github.com/ripplebiz/MeshCore.git
git clone https://github.com/ripplebiz/MeshCore.git
cd MeshCore/

Edit the PlatformIO Configuration

vi variants/rak4631/platformio.ini

Replace the OLED-related lines as shown below. Every line marked with “<============= CHANGED” is different from the default configuration.

[rak4631]
extends = nrf52_base
platform = https://github.com/maxgerhardt/platform-nordicnrf52.git#rak
board = wiscore_rak4631
board_check = true
build_flags = ${nrf52_base.build_flags}
  ${sensor_base.build_flags}
  -I variants/rak4631
  -D RAK_4631
  -D RAK_BOARD
  -D PIN_BOARD_SCL=14
  -D PIN_BOARD_SDA=13
  -D PIN_GPS_TX=16
  -D PIN_GPS_RX=15
  -D PIN_GPS_EN=-1
  -D PIN_OLED_RESET=-1
  -D RADIO_CLASS=CustomSX1262
  -D WRAPPER_CLASS=CustomSX1262Wrapper
  -D LORA_TX_POWER=22
  -D SX126X_CURRENT_LIMIT=140
  -D SX126X_RX_BOOSTED_GAIN=1
build_src_filter = ${nrf52_base.build_src_filter}
  +<../variants/rak4631>
  +<helpers/sensors>
;  +<helpers/ui/SSD1306Display.cpp> <============= CHANGED 
  +<helpers/ui/SH1106Display.cpp> <============= CHANGED 
  +<helpers/ui/MomentaryButton.cpp>
lib_deps =
  ${nrf52_base.lib_deps}
  ${sensor_base.lib_deps}
;  adafruit/Adafruit SSD1306 @ ^2.5.13 <============= CHANGED 
  sparkfun/SparkFun u-blox GNSS Arduino Library@^2.2.27
  adafruit/Adafruit SH110X @ ^2.1.13 <============= CHANGED 
  adafruit/Adafruit GFX Library @ ^1.12.1 <============= CHANGED 


[env:RAK_4631_companion_radio_ble]
extends = rak4631
board_build.ldscript = boards/nrf52840_s140_v6_extrafs.ld
board_upload.maximum_size = 712704
build_flags =
  ${rak4631.build_flags}
  -I examples/companion_radio/ui-new
  -D PIN_USER_BTN=9
  -D PIN_USER_BTN_ANA=31
;  -D DISPLAY_CLASS=SSD1306Display <============= CHANGED 
  -D DISPLAY_CLASS=SH1106Display <============= CHANGED 
  -D MAX_CONTACTS=350
  -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=40
  -D BLE_PIN_CODE=123456
  -D BLE_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
  -D OFFLINE_QUEUE_SIZE=256
;  -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
;  -D MESH_DEBUG=1
build_src_filter = ${rak4631.build_src_filter}
  +<helpers/nrf52/SerialBLEInterface.cpp>
  +<../examples/companion_radio/*.cpp>
  +<../examples/companion_radio/ui-new/*.cpp>
lib_deps =
  ${rak4631.lib_deps}
  densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0

Build the Firmware

set FIRMWARE_VERSION=1.9.0
./build.sh build-firmware RAK_4631_companion_radio_ble

Rename and Move the Firmware

cd .pio/build/RAK_4631_companion_radio_ble/
mv firmware-merged.bin RAK_4631_companion_radio_ble_1.9.0-merged.bin
mv firmware.bin RAK_4631_companion_radio_ble_1.9.0.bin
mv RAK_4631_companion_radio_ble* /home/linuxuser/

Next Steps

• Flash the compiled firmware (`RAK_4631_companion_radio_ble_1.7.3.bin` or `RAK_4631_companion_radio_ble_1.7.3-merged.bin`) to your RAK4631.
• Connect your MakerFocus 1.3" OLED (SH1106) at I²C address **0x3C** (jumper on **0x7A** side).
• Power only with **3.3 V** — this module is **not 5 V tolerant**.
• Once flashed, the SH1106 display should initialize normally on boot.