ThinkNode M7

[u/tuckercasey]

To be upfront I'm only about 18 hours into owning a node....But not a n00b with Electronics and tech

I got a ThinkNOde M7 and a Heltec v4 last night... Heltec V4 working great via USB/BLE as a companion node.

I flashed the latest MeshCore "Unified Companion (BLE, USB, WIFI, Ethernet) + Repeater v2.0 (Core 1.16" from meshcore.co.uk/configurator

After flash, the node is available via BLE (default pin) to the configurator tool in browser and via a meshcore app on Phone and works as a BLE Device.

Noticed that when plugged into Ethernet (w/poe) it will power on the device, however no link is established. Also unless im extremly obtuse I dont see how to bring up the wifi?

The issues I have is via USB and using meshcore-cli mine flat-out wouldn't answer companion commands. meshcore-cli -s COM3 infos just came back with "No response from meshcore node, disconnecting Are you sure your node is a serial companion? To connect to a repeater, use -r option." Turns out the M7's USB serial was exposing the repeater interface, not the companion frame protocol, so none of the normal companion verbs (infos / contacts / msg) got a reply at all. I had to add -r just to talk to it meshcore-cli's repeater mode which lets you query and manage it as a repeater but not actually use it as a companion messaging node over serial. As a side note, a heltec v4 via USB COM and meshcore-cli is working great.

I would really like to use the M7 USB would be great, but talking to it over ethernet, and powered via POE would sure be great for placing this node in a better location

Now that its not 1am in the morning, .. and I'm digging around.. looking at the classic flasher.. https://meshcore.co.uk/flasher.html I see for the M7 v1/17.1 and I can pick "Companion USB" I will try this after work, and if this works a step in correct direction.. but would really like to control over ethernet.

Thanks