RAK3112 Breakout Board

What is the RAK3112 Breakout Board?

The RAK3112 Breakout Board is an evaluation platform designed to simplify development with the RAK3112 WisDuo Module for Edge AI with LoRa®. It breaks out all module pins onto accessible headers, providing developers with a straightforward way to prototype, connect peripherals, and test different configurations. With the ESP32-S3 MCU and the SX1262 LoRa transceiver, it supports powerful processing and long-range communication in a compact form factor.

Key hardware features include:

• 3-pin headers for GPIOs, SPI, and I2C of the ESP32-S3
• 1 pin header for multiple supply options (3.3V or 5V)
• 1 USB connector for easy flashing and debugging of the RAK3112
• 1 jumper to switch between 5V and 3.3V power supply
• 1 reset button
• 1 boot mode button for the ESP32-S3

For added flexibility, this LoRa development board is available with pin headers pre-soldered or loose for manual soldering, depending on project needs.

Why You Need the RAK3112 Breakout Board?

Build smarter IoT devices with one powerful module. Whether you're creating a Meshtastic-connected handheld terminal, an edge AI sensor, or a graphical control panel for remote systems, the RAK3112 Breakout Board gives you the performance and flexibility to do it all.

Why it’s useful:

• All-in-one wireless: Combines LoRa, WiFi, and BLE in one compact module
• Ready for edge AI: Run lightweight neural networks directly on the device
• Supports displays: Ideal for interactive dashboards, status panels, and Meshtastic mUI devices
• Built for mesh networking: Perfect for Meshtastic and long-range communication setups

Key Features of RAK3112 Breakout Board

• Powered by ESP32-S3: Dual-core 240 MHz CPU with vector instructions, AI acceleration, and LCD controller support
• Built-in SX1262 LoRa Transceiver: High-performance long-range communication
• 3-in-1 Connectivity: LoRa + WiFi + BLE
• USB connector for easy programming, debugging, and optional 5V power supply
• Edge-AI Ready: Supports lightweight neural networks (ESP-DL)
• Ideal for Meshtastic: Mesh-ready platform for secure, decentralized communication
• Onboard Flash: Up to 16MB for custom firmware and storage
• Compact Form Factor: 29x40x4.28mm breakout board
• Supply Voltage: 3.0 V ~ 3.6 V, optional 5V supply through USB
• Operating Temperature: -40 °C to +85 °C
• LoRaWAN Bands: EU868, US915, AU915, AS923, and more
• Firmware: Programmable via ESP-IDF, Arduino, PlatformIO

Use Case Examples for RAK3112 Breakout Board

The RAK3112 Breakout Board allows developers to concentrate on solving application problems rather than dealing with hardware limitations.

Use Case #1: Smart Agriculture Trial

Farm engineers used the RAK3112 Breakout Board to test soil and climate sensors across large fields. It helped them design a system that reduced wasted resources while keeping costs low in the testing stage.

Use Case #2: Remote Monitoring Setup

An engineering group applied the RAK3112 Breakout Board to create a local dashboard for factory equipment. It allowed them to monitor performance on-site and cut downtime through faster problem detection.

Comparison Table: RAK3272, RAK11161, and RAK3212

What’s in the Box?

• 1 pc RAK3112 Breakout Board
• 1 pc PCB WiFi/BLE Antenna (MHF4 Connector)
• 1 pc PCB LoRa Antenna  (MHF4 Connector)
• 4 pc PIN Header(1x9PIN)
• 1 pc USB Cable
• 1 pc Flat Ribbon Cables（40PIN） 

How to Get Started with the RAK3212 Breakout Board?

• Overview of RAK3212 WisDuo LoRaWAN + BLE + WiFi Breakout Board
• Quick Start Guide of RAK3212 WisDuo LoRaWAN + BLE + WiFi Breakout Board
• Datasheet of RAK3212 WisDuo LoRaWAN + BLE + WiFi Breakout Board

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the breakout board help during prototyping?

It exposes all key pins of the core module on headers, which makes it straightforward to attach sensors, displays, or external controllers without designing a custom PCB. Developers can quickly test hardware ideas by connecting via GPIO, SPI, or I2C. This reduces iteration time and lowers risk before moving to a dedicated hardware design, while still allowing performance testing under realistic conditions.

How does the board operate independently without a host controller?

The ESP32-S3 processor on the LoRa Bluetooth WiFi module can run full applications on its own. It supports custom firmware written with ESP-IDF, Arduino, or PlatformIO. This allows the board to perform sensing, computation, or mesh routing locally without depending on an external microcontroller. The onboard flash storage provides space for programs and lightweight databases, making the breakout board usable as a complete edge device in many deployments

What role does LoRa play compared with WiFi or BLE on this board?

LoRa provides long-range, low-throughput links suited for transmitting data over kilometers with low power. WiFi and BLE offer higher bandwidth but shorter coverage. The combination lets developers choose based on deployment: LoRa for wide-area telemetry, WiFi for LAN integration, and BLE for nearby device pairing. Applications can even switch dynamically, where LoRa handles remote updates while WiFi or BLE enables local configuration and diagnostics.

How do developers program and debug the board?

The board includes a USB connector that provides both power and a direct interface for flashing and debugging. It supports standard workflows with ESP-IDF, Arduino IDE, and PlatformIO. Debugging can use serial output or integrated tools, depending on the environment. Since all GPIO pins are accessible, external JTAG adapters may also be used if deeper hardware-level debugging is needed. This flexibility makes it practical across beginner and advanced development setups.

Is the board suitable for low-power applications?

The ESP32-S3 includes optimized sleep modes that can reduce consumption when active processing is not required. LoRa transmissions consume more during send events but remain efficient for infrequent updates. Developers must balance duty cycles, peripheral use, and wake-up frequency to extend battery life. While it is not as power-conservative as STM32WL-based modules, it can still support battery-powered devices if the firmware is designed carefully around sleep scheduling.