FAQ

MuleCube is a small, battery-powered computer that carries the internet's most useful information — Wikipedia, maps, books, and an AI assistant — without needing any internet connection.

Just turn it on, connect with your phone or laptop over WiFi, and start using it. Everything runs locally on the device. No signal required.

Anyone who might find themselves without reliable internet:

• Sailors and overlanders crossing remote areas
• Campers and hikers in the backcountry
• Families preparing for power outages or emergencies
• Field researchers and humanitarian workers in remote locations
• Educators in areas with limited connectivity
• Privacy-conscious users who want their data to stay local

Yes. MuleCube is built on open-source technology. All the software, configurations, and documentation are available at github.com/nuclearlighters. You can source your own components and build from scratch if you prefer.

Yes. Everything runs locally on your device. No cloud services, no telemetry, no tracking. Your conversations with the AI never leave the Cube. Your searches stay on the device.

There are no accounts required, no terms of service to accept, and no data is ever sent anywhere unless you explicitly enable internet connectivity.

Three simple steps:

1. Press the power button. Wait about 60 seconds for it to boot.
2. On your phone, tablet, or laptop, connect to the WiFi network called "MuleCube"
3. Open any web browser and go to http://mulecube.net/

No apps to install. Works on any device with WiFi and a browser.

The default password is printed on the credentials card included in the box. You can change it anytime through the settings panel.

Up to 10 devices can connect simultaneously.

"Heavier use" that benefits from extra memory (Cube 16) includes:

• Multiple people using AI at the same time
• Streaming video or loading large map tiles concurrently
• Running resource-intensive services like translation + AI together
• Teams of 5+ with frequent AI queries

For typical camping trips or family emergency prep, the Cube 8 handles 10 devices comfortably.

Approximately 30-50 meters (100-150 feet) indoors, and up to 100 meters (300 feet) outdoors with clear line of sight. Range varies based on obstacles and interference.

For extended range, you can connect an external antenna (antenna port included on all models).

Yes, all of them. MuleCube works with any device that has WiFi and a web browser. There's nothing to install — just connect to the WiFi and open your browser.

10-15 hours depending on what you're doing. Light use (browsing Wikipedia, occasional AI questions) lasts longer. Heavy AI use drains faster.

With spare batteries and solar charging, you can run indefinitely off-grid.

Yes. The battery pack uses four standard rechargeable cells (18650 type — the same used in many flashlights and power banks). You can hot-swap fresh ones without shutting down the device.

Yes. You can use the MuleCube while it's plugged in. It will charge the batteries and power the device simultaneously.

Yes. Any USB-C power source that provides at least 15W will work. A portable solar panel with USB-C output can keep the Cube running indefinitely during daylight hours.

We recommend panels rated 20W or higher for reliable charging even in partial sun.

Yes! The MuleCube has 2× USB-A 5V power output ports that can charge phones, tablets, or other USB devices. It doubles as a power bank.

Each port provides up to 2.4A output — enough for fast charging most phones. You can charge devices while the MuleCube is running or while it's powered off.

No. Keep it dry. The aluminum case is rugged but not sealed against water.

For marine or wet environments, use a waterproof enclosure or dry bag. The device runs cool enough that a sealed container works fine — just ensure you can access the power button and see the status LEDs.

Memory. The Cube 8 has 8GB RAM, the Cube 16 has 16GB RAM.

More memory helps when:

• Running AI while others use other services
• Multiple heavy users at once
• Larger AI models (future-proofing)

For most users, 8GB is plenty. The 16GB version is for power users or larger groups.

The MuleCube Sat includes an Iridium satellite modem that can send and receive short text messages anywhere on Earth — even in the middle of the ocean or deep in the wilderness.

Messages from your local mesh radio network are automatically relayed to the satellite network, which delivers them to any email address or phone number worldwide.

The satellite modem uses Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD) service through Rock Seven. Typical costs:

• Line rental: ~€13/month
• Messages: ~€0.04-0.10 per message (depending on plan)

Total monthly cost for moderate use is typically €15-25/month. You can pause service when not needed.

Yes, you need an active Rock Seven account to use the satellite modem. There's no lock-in — you can pause or cancel anytime.

Garmin inReach is a standalone satellite messenger designed for individual use. MuleCube Sat is a communications hub that bridges your entire group's radio network to satellite — plus provides offline knowledge services.

Think of it this way: inReach is a personal device. MuleCube Sat is infrastructure that makes everyone's devices satellite-capable.

ACR Bivy MESH is a handheld mesh communicator with Iridium satellite. MuleCube Sat takes a different approach — it's a base station that bridges any Meshtastic network to satellite while also serving as a complete offline knowledge server.

If everyone needs their own satellite device, ACR Bivy MESH works. If you want one hub that gives satellite access to your whole team's existing Meshtastic radios — plus offline Wikipedia, AI, and maps — MuleCube Sat is the better fit.

No. Satellite communication requires a clear view of the sky. The antenna needs to be outdoors or near a window with good sky visibility. Thick cloud cover is fine — buildings and dense tree canopy are not.

Knowledge & Reference: Wikipedia (6+ million articles), offline maps, 5,000+ books, medical references.

AI & Productivity: Three AI assistants, 49-language translation, collaborative documents, password manager.

Communications: Long-range radio gateway, local chat, email archive viewer.

Infrastructure: Easy WiFi, ad blocking, system dashboard.

See the What's Included page for the full list with screenshots.

Several ways:

• Maps: Download .mbtiles files from OpenMapTiles, upload via File Browser
• Wikipedia: Download .zim files from Kiwix, add through the Kiwix interface
• Books: Upload EPUB/PDF files to Calibre via File Browser
• Documents: Drag and drop into File Browser from any browser

Yes. It's a standard Linux computer (Raspberry Pi OS). You have full root access to install whatever you want via apt, Docker, or manual installation.

When you have internet access, you can pull updates through the system settings. We'll provide instructions for major releases. You can also re-flash from a fresh image if needed.

Re-flash the SD card / NVMe with a fresh image from our GitHub releases page. This restores everything to factory defaults. Back up anything important first.

Yes. Connect a monitor (via micro-HDMI), keyboard, and mouse, and you have a full Linux desktop. However, MuleCube is optimized for headless operation via WiFi — most users never need to connect a display.

Yes! MuleCube is built on Raspberry Pi 5 — the world's most versatile mini-computer. By swapping the SD card, you can transform it into a completely different device:

• Retro gaming console — Play classic Nintendo, SEGA, and arcade games (RetroPie)
• Full desktop PC — Browse the web, write documents, check email (Raspberry Pi OS)
• Media center — Stream your movie collection to any TV (Kodi/LibreELEC)
• Smart home hub — Control lights and sensors (Home Assistant)
• Battery-backed NAS — File storage with built-in UPS protection (OpenMediaVault)
• Marine navigation — Full chartplotter system for boats (OpenPlotter)

Your MuleCube hardware — the battery, case, and cooling — works with any Raspberry Pi operating system. One device, endless possibilities.

See our Beyond MuleCube guide for detailed instructions.

MuleCube is currently in pre-production. Register your interest to be notified when units are available.

• MuleCube (fully assembled and configured)
• 27W USB-C power adapter (EU plug, US/UK adapters available)
• Quick start guide
• Access credentials card
• Sticker pack

Yes. EU, US, UK, and worldwide shipping available. See Shipping & Returns for rates and delivery times.

2-year warranty against manufacturing defects. This covers the hardware — Raspberry Pi, battery pack, case, and included accessories. Software support is provided on a best-effort basis.

30-day returns for unopened products. For opened products, returns within 14 days if defective or not as described. See Shipping & Returns for details.

Email hello@mulecube.com — we typically respond within 48 hours on business days. For software issues, you can also open an issue on our GitHub repository.

MuleCube is built on standard Raspberry Pi hardware. Most components are replaceable: broken case (replacements available), dead battery cells (standard 18650, replace yourself), damaged Pi (contact us for repair options). Because it's open hardware, parts are available worldwide.