LoRa / LoRaWAN / Meshtastic Antenna Holder

LoRa / LoRaWAN / Meshtastic Antenna Holder

A simple and robust 3D-printable holder designed for the common external whip antennas used with LoRa, LoRaWAN, Meshtastic and other sub-GHz IoT projects.

I originally designed the holder around a commonly available 868 MHz / 915 MHz 5 dBi omnidirectional LoRa antenna, typically supplied with an SMA/U.FL connection cable and used with Meshtastic and LoRa development boards.

The holder keeps the antenna mechanically supported while leaving the antenna and cable easily accessible.

Typical applications

• LoRa and LoRaWAN nodes

• Meshtastic devices

• IoT gateways and telemetry devices

• ESP32 LoRa projects

• Heltec LoRa boards

• RAKwireless / WisBlock projects

• Seeed Studio LoRa modules

• DIY sensor nodes

• Experimental RF and telemetry enclosures

Dimensions

Approximate overall dimensions:

• Length: 70 mm

• Width: 30 mm

• Height: 23 mm

• Main antenna opening: Ø12 mm

• Smaller opening: Ø6 mm

• Typical wall thickness: 3–5 mm

The model was designed around the antenna linked in the description/reference photos.

⚠ Please check the dimensions of your antenna before printing.

Many visually identical LoRa antennas are sold by different manufacturers and their mechanical dimensions may vary slightly.

Printing

The model is intentionally simple and should be easy to print on almost any FDM printer.

Recommended settings

• Material: PETG recommended

• PLA: suitable for indoor use

• ASA / ABS: recommended for outdoor or high-temperature installations

• Layer height: 0.20 mm

• Perimeters: 3–4

• Infill: 20–30%

• Supports: not normally required

• Brim: not required in most cases

For outdoor IoT installations I recommend PETG or ASA rather than PLA.

Orientation

Print the holder with the flat bottom surface directly on the print bed.

This provides:

• good dimensional accuracy,

• high mechanical strength,

• simple printing,

• minimal or no support material.

Compatibility

Designed for the common cylindrical LoRa/Meshtastic antenna style sold as:

868 MHz / 915 MHz LoRa Antenna, 5 dBi, omnidirectional, SMA/U.FL cable

Typical applications include Meshtastic radios and LoRa/LoRaWAN IoT devices.

Because these antennas are available from many manufacturers, verify the important dimensions—particularly the Ø12 mm and Ø6 mm openings—before printing.

Design notes

The holder uses a compact reinforced geometry with raised end supports and side ribs.

The goal was to create a part that is:

• simple,

• mechanically strong,

• quick to print,

• easy to integrate into custom IoT installations,

• and usable without additional complicated hardware.

Feel free to remix the model for different antenna diameters, mounting methods or enclosure geometries.

Hardware

No special hardware is required for the basic holder itself.

Depending on your installation, the holder can be attached to an enclosure, mounting plate or custom carrier using your preferred fastening method.

Reference antenna

The original design was made around a commonly available 868/915 MHz 5 dBi LoRa / Meshtastic antenna.

Search terms for compatible antennas:

868MHz 915MHz LoRa Antenna 5dBi SMA U.FL Meshtastic IoT

Always compare the mechanical dimensions before printing.