rsCardputer

Dual-mode Ratspeak firmware for the M5Stack Cardputer Adv.

Ratspeak | Docs | Downloads | rsReticulum

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rsCardputer turns the M5Stack Cardputer Adv into a two-mode Reticulum handheld. Standalone mode is an on-device Ratspeak/LXMF messenger. RNode mode makes the Cardputer Adv a host-controlled radio for Ratspeak, Sideband, or another Reticulum client over BLE or USB serial.

Hardware

The supported target is the M5Stack Cardputer Adv with:

• ESP32-S3FN8.
• 8 MB internal flash.
• Built-in keyboard and 240x135 display.
• microSD slot.
• SX1262 LoRa cap/module.

LoRa requires the Cardputer Adv LoRa cap. Without it, the device can still run the app with WiFi/BLE features, but it cannot transmit or receive LoRa.

Install

Use the Ratspeak web flasher: ratspeak.org/download.html.

Connect the Cardputer Adv over USB, put it in download mode if needed, then flash rscardputer-full. The standalone-only and RNode-only images are release artifacts for launcher users or focused testing.

Modes

On boot, the launcher lets you choose:

• Standalone: a local Reticulum/LXMF messenger with identity management, contacts, peer discovery, messages, LoRa, and WiFi TCP access.
• RNode: a host-controlled RNode-style radio target for Ratspeak or other Reticulum clients over BLE or USB serial.

RNode mode self-provisions the Cardputer Adv RNode product/model/default config and running firmware hash on first boot, so users should not need a separate rnodeconf setup step for the bundled release images.

Basic Use

On first boot, Standalone mode generates a Reticulum identity and asks for a timezone so GPS-provided time can be displayed locally. Your LXMF address is the 32-character hex string you share with contacts.

• Navigation: built-in keyboard and OK/Enter.
• BLE pairing in RNode mode: hold p or OK for three seconds.
• BLE toggle in RNode mode: hold b for three seconds.
• The RNode radio stays idle until a host client connects and configures it.

Radio Presets

Long Fast is the compiled-in default. Host clients can change RNode radio parameters through normal RNode commands, and Standalone mode exposes radio settings on-device.

Preset	SF	BW	CR	TXP	Bitrate	Link budget
Short Turbo	7	500 kHz	4/5	14 dBm	21.99 kbps	140 dB
Short Fast	7	250 kHz	4/5	14 dBm	10.84 kbps	143 dB
Short Slow	8	250 kHz	4/5	14 dBm	6.25 kbps	145.5 dB
Medium Fast	9	250 kHz	4/5	17 dBm	3.52 kbps	148 dB
Medium Slow	10	250 kHz	4/5	17 dBm	1.95 kbps	150.5 dB
Long Turbo	11	500 kHz	4/8	22 dBm	1.34 kbps	150 dB
Long Fast (default)	11	250 kHz	4/5	22 dBm	1.07 kbps	153 dB
Long Moderate	11	125 kHz	4/8	22 dBm	0.34 kbps	156 dB

The supported SX1262 cap is an 850-950 MHz radio target. 868 MHz and 915 MHz are valid software profiles for that hardware range. 433 MHz requires 433 MHz radio hardware. You are responsible for operating within local laws and radio regulations.

Build From Source

git clone https://github.com/ratspeak/rsCardputer
cd rsCardputer
python3 -m pip install platformio esptool
make prep-cardputer_adv
make package
make flash port=/dev/cu.usbmodem3101

Useful build targets:

make build-launcher      # launcher only
make build-standalone    # standalone messenger app
make build-rnode         # host-controlled RNode target
make full-image          # launcher + Standalone + RNode
make standalone-image    # standalone merged image
make rnode-only-image    # standalone RNode merged image
make package             # release zips and launcher bins

Release artifacts are written to dist/:

dist/rscardputer-full.zip
dist/rscardputer-standalone.zip
dist/rscardputer-rnode.zip
dist/rscardputer-standalone-m5launcher.bin
dist/rscardputer-rnode-m5launcher.bin

Use the .zip files with the Ratspeak web flasher. The *-m5launcher.bin files are app images for M5Launcher/M5Burner-style launchers that boot Standalone or RNode directly from SD.

License

rsCardputer standalone firmware, launcher, partition tables, and packaging tools are licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 or later. See LICENSE.

The bundled RNode firmware under vendor/rnode_firmware/ is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0. See LICENSE-RNODE.

Standalone mode uses a custom fork of microReticulum, which was originally written by Chad Atterman.