The ChatterBox SAMD51 platform is designed specifically for ChatterBox firmware. It features a custom PCB, a SAMD51 processor, non-removable low power FRAM storage, a realtime clock, and an RFM95 LoRa transceiver.
How ChatterBox Works
ChatterBox Communication Protocol
ChatterBox communicates securely by combining mesh, encryption, and digital signatures with LoRa and MQTT.
Message Types
A direct message is targeted to a specific person/device, and uses asymmetric encryption.
A broadcast is sent to the entire cluster, using symmetric encryption, so all devices can read it.
Message expiry (you select) controls how long a message stays "alive".
MQTT and Cloud Connectivity
Any device in your cluster/channel can become an MQTT/cloud-enabled bridge, allowing your messages to
securely travel across a hop of any distance, while still maintaining device-level payload encryption and signatures.
Private Clusters vs Channels
Your devices can exist within private clusters and/or they can utilize open (but secure) channels.
Clusters offer much more functionality and better performance, but are limited to 90 devices.
Channels can be unlimited in size, but are limited to broadcast messages.
View a video demonstration of flashing a T-Deck Plus
1. If using an SD card (recommended), ensure you have a compatible card installed
These devices ARE VERY PICKY about SD cards. Consider buying a new SD card from the known compatible list.
SD cards are cheap, and your time is not. The cards on that list typically work right out of the box. However, if your device seems to have trouble using the SD card (gets stuck mounting/decrypting),
reformat the card using these instructions.
2. Open a supported browser
You must be using a "standard" browser, such as Chrome, etc.
3. Plug your device into a USB connection
IMPORTANT: You must be using a good quality data transmission cable, not just a power cable. I use these.
4. Put the device in "boot mode"
T-Deck or T-Deck Plus
Power off the device
Press and hold trackball button
Power on the device
Release the trackball button
Device is now in boot mode
5. Use the Flashing Tool to execute the flash
When prompted, select the USB port that is connected to your device.
The firmware flashing tool should properly recognize the device, and you should be able to click through the prompts to complete the install.
If it fails or of your device doesn't come back on properly after the flashing, it doesn't mean your device is destroyed, just repeat the steps
carefully again from start to finish, and make sure you select the proper device.
For instance, if you have a T-Deck with the M100 module onboard, and you select to install the ChatterBox Custom firmware, the flashing
tool will happily install the wrong firmware, and then your device won't boot. It's no problem, just repeat the instructions with the correct options.
6. Restart the device
The flashing tool doesn't normally restart the devices properly, so wait for the flasher to say it's done, then disconnect your device, then power it off and back on.
Demo Videos
Flash Instructions
Download SAMD51 Node Firmware
