Hardware Guide

Reference configurations at three performance tiers for building a GroundWave field kit.

Overview

GroundWave runs on any hardware that supports Docker with a 64-bit Linux OS (or Docker Desktop on macOS/Windows). The platform is intentionally lightweight — the Node.js server, PostgreSQL database, and tile server comfortably share a single low-power device. The limiting factor is usually storage for tile data and concurrent client count.

Three reference tiers are documented below: a budget ARM build centered on the Raspberry Pi 5, a standard x86 mini-PC suited to most deployments, and a premium tier for high user counts and extended-range radio integration.

Budget Tier

The Raspberry Pi 5 8GB is the minimum recommended ARM build. It runs the full GroundWave stack on a <30W power budget, making it compatible with small battery banks and solar panels. Ideal for lightweight reconnaissance or training exercises where user count stays under 10.

Compute Specifications

Accessories

• microSD card — Samsung Pro Endurance 64 GB or larger
• Case with heatsink — Argon ONE V3 or official Pi 5 active cooler
• Power supply — Official Raspberry Pi 5 USB-C PSU, 5 V / 5 A

Portable Power

Anker 737 Power Bank (24,000 mAh) — provides 8–12 hours of runtime for the Pi 5 plus router. Charges via USB-C PD at up to 140 W so it refills quickly when grid power is available.

Field Router

TP-Link TL-WR902AC — compact travel router in AP mode. Powered via USB from the battery bank. Supports up to 32 concurrent wireless clients at 5 GHz 802.11ac.

Supports 5–10 concurrent users. Suitable for small teams and extended field duration thanks to the low power draw.

Standard Tier

The Beelink Mini S12 Pro (Intel N100) delivers a significant step up in performance. The N100 is an x86 Alder Lake-N chip with four efficiency cores, hardware video decode, and fanless thermal design. The x86 architecture removes any ARM compatibility edge cases and offers better single-core performance for PostgreSQL query throughput.

Compute Specifications

Portable Power

EcoFlow RIVER 2 (256 Wh) — provides 12–18 hours of runtime for the mini-PC and router combined. Charges at 360 W AC input. LiFePO4 cells rated to 3,000 charge cycles. USB-A + USB-C outputs for peripheral devices.

Field Router

GL.iNet Beryl AX (MT3000) — Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) travel router. 2.4 + 5 GHz dual-band, 2.5 Gbps Ethernet uplink port, OpenWrt based for advanced configuration. Connects to the mini-PC via Ethernet; wireless clients get Wi-Fi 6 speeds.

Supports 15–25 concurrent users. The NVMe SSD accommodates large national tile sets (multi-GB) without microSD reliability concerns.

Premium Tier

The premium tier targets large-team operations with 30+ users, long runtimes, solar charging, and potential integration with high-bandwidth data sources (video feeds, CoT network bridges, Meshtastic relay nodes). The Intel NUC 13 Pro or Beelink SER7 (AMD Ryzen 7840HS) provides desktop-class multi-core performance in a 0.5 L form factor.

Compute Specifications

Portable Power & Solar

EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max (512 Wh) — provides 6–10 hours of runtime for the premium compute unit plus router and peripherals. Pairs with a 100 W rigid solar panel (Renogy or EcoFlow brand) to sustain indefinite daytime operation in good conditions and partially recharge overnight loads.

Field Router

GL.iNet Flint 2 (MT6000) — Wi-Fi 6 router with four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, 2.5 Gbps WAN, and a 1.8 GHz quad-core CPU capable of routing at line speed. Supports mesh networking with additional GL.iNet nodes for extended coverage areas.

Supports 30+ concurrent users. Suitable for multi-day sustained operations, integration with CoT bridge hardware, and high-density tile datasets.

Storage Planning

Offline tile storage is the dominant driver of storage requirements. Vector tiles (Protomaps .pmtiles) are substantially more compact than raster tiles at equivalent zoom levels. Raster satellite tile sets are significantly larger.

Performance Expectations

The following figures are from benchmarks run against reference hardware with 100 MB/s tile throughput, a full tile set loaded, and authentication enabled. Results will vary based on tile data size, network conditions, and client behavior.

Assembly Tips

Follow these steps when preparing a field kit for deployment:

1. Connect Ethernet first. Always cable the compute unit to the router via Ethernet before configuring wireless. This avoids any chicken-and-egg problem with Wi-Fi setup and keeps the management path reliable.
2. Label all cables and connectors. Field environments are dark and stressful. Color-coded cable ties and printed labels on power cables save significant time during rapid setup.
3. Conduct a full test before deployment. Simulate field conditions — unplug from AC, connect to battery, connect 5+ client devices, and run for at least one hour. Verify GPS tracking, chat, and tile serving all function correctly.
4. Pre-load tiles for your area of operations. Download the tile set via the setup wizard or admin panel while internet is available. Tile downloads can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on area size and connection speed.
5. Fully charge all batteries before leaving. EcoFlow and Anker units display charge percentage. Depart with 100%. Carry a USB-C PD charger as a backup if vehicle or generator power is available in the field.
6. Include the quick-start card in the kit. Print docs/QUICKSTART.md and laminate it. New operators should be able to connect a client device without any prior training using only the card.