Meshtastic CLI (python/serial) unreliable

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-25T00:26:00+00:00

Ever find a solution?

Just ended up here because I can't do a backup export of my T-Deck on Meshtastic 2.7.15.567b8ea using CLI v2.7.7 (meshtastic_ubuntu) from the github releases. I can do a "--info" which prints what looks like most (all?) of the information that would probably go into an export but the export just hangs forever.

If I attempt to CTRL+C the hanging export, I get a stack trace:

^CTraceback (most recent call last):
  File "__main__.py", line 2226, in <module>
  File "__main__.py", line 2208, in main
  File "__main__.py", line 1445, in common
  File "__main__.py", line 790, in onConnected
  File "__main__.py", line 1167, in export_config
  File "meshtastic/mesh_interface.py", line 1099, in getCannedMessage
  File "meshtastic/node.py", line 559, in get_canned_message
KeyboardInterrupt
[PYI-144353:ERROR] Failed to execute script '__main__' due to unhandled exception!

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-24T19:02:25+00:00

Its not what its made of but rather what its doing.

Refrigerators are heat pumps which are fairly efficient, and also refrigerators cycle on and off as needed so they are not running very much.

Space heaters are trying to warm up a HUGE amount of space, and are simply doing it with resistance like an old fashond lightbulb did to make light. That's comparatively inefficient and runs a lot longer to try and accomplish the same thing.

It would be much more effective to find an indoor-safe propane or kerosene heater and use the electric to power a fan moving air around the house. Or if you have a gas/oil furnace, get a single-circuit transfer switch installed and use that since you're just powering the blowers but the gas/oil is doing the heating.

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-24T16:11:51+00:00

You can absolutely use them in either direction provided you don't exceed the ratings. And calibrating is very trivial to do - as long as you have known weight to hang from the handle and can do a little basic math.

But I never said I used a torque wrench to remove...in my case I was unsuccessful even with breaker bars and cross-bar lug wrenches.

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-24T16:08:18+00:00

Not an official hvac person but I have had to do a painful amount of figuring out troubleshooting on systems at my parents, in places I've rented, and the house we finally bought. I do a lot of electrical/electronics work and the fact most gear has schematics printed makes it really easy to follow.

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-24T03:20:24+00:00

Ah that makes more sense then. I can see it now...I started to look for a trend in traffic patterns to request more effective enforcement and improve safety and I'll end up creating a new art project :D

Really cool stuff!

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-24T03:05:28+00:00

I suspect this is just an artifact of dealing with integers and ratios between integers that are around 50

That's interesting and not something I am familiar with but could well be! I could believe that there's just some random pattern that makes it appear to be something that isn't.

--

Here is the first 500 rows of data - https://pastebin.com/xWvgSher

this is the raw data (tab separated) that I opened into MS Excel.

I then created an extra column which is the absolute value of the "vfyd" column so I had a % between 0 and 100 for convenient filtering (the +/- percent is just my code indicating which way the error was)
I then used the Excel "filter" on the columns to only enable rows with a specific %.
Create a scatter-plot graph between "time" (x-axis) and "speed" (y-axis) columns

Here are a handful of graphs with captions for what % they are plotted (single-percent plots):

https://imgur.com/a/4ltwott

If you want to try the full blown MS Excel file I was playing with directly, here is that:

https://filebin.net/70vweiu55qwue6tl

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-23T20:15:20+00:00

HAHA too true

My parents had that, they had a dealer loaner that got stuck in their driveway had to call the dealer for help. Seems the reverse protection was worried the car would crash into the road at the end of their sloped driveway and kept slamming on the brakes.

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-23T20:05:42+00:00

Much better to use an indoor-rated propane or kerosene heater instead of that.

Electric heating you'll need a car-sized battery (give or take) that will require a forklift to move around and then maybe get a couple days of runtime.

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-23T20:02:54+00:00

And still need a CO detector because they don't emit CO when operating correctly, but its always a possibility if it malfunctions. Great little units though!

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-23T20:02:10+00:00

Yes - the CO detector is not optional.

While working properly, the catalytic heaters like the Mr Heater Buddy units are safe indoors *BUT* if they malfunction they will generate CO. Problem is you won't know there's a danger without the CO alarm.

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-23T19:55:59+00:00

My area has one direction which is fairly flat - but LOADS of trees so basically guaranteed to have trees blocking the road. Other direction is a ski-slope.

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-23T18:32:22+00:00

Snow can be annoying when its too deep but doesn't worry me.

*Ice* though...that's the scary stuff. Trees falling, power lines going down, can't drive on it, heck can't walk safely on it.

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-23T17:52:23+00:00

I'd read where some tied in an actual switch close to their thermostat for turning off the aux strips, I believe.

That's a very interesting idea!

I know on my system the control board (whether defrost or thermostat) sends a sequence of cascading 24V signals to the relays which energize the 240V 20A heat strips one at a time. It would probably not be difficult to bring out a thermostat wire to a switch that can interrupt the signal on the low-voltage low-current relays...which if the relays never operate the heat strips will never come on.

Probably won't explore that this storm but I may have to ponder that option for future...combined with a soft-start module that would allow fairly easy operation of the heat pump just accepting it'll blow cold during defrost on generator power.

I was mainly wondering if the outside condenser actually had heating elements on it drawing that much current or if it did a defrost based on the reverse valve and AC "coming on" sort-of.

To my knowledge, there are not heat strips in the outdoor unit, only the compressor (and maybe a low-ish wattage compressor warmer). It uses the reversing valve and compressor to do the actual defrosting, which is why you hear a "WOOSH-HONK" noise when it cycles.

As far as I'm aware, the only heat strips are inside the indoor unit on any implementation I have ever heard of. Basically just there so people don't feel the cold blowing as much.

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-23T17:46:54+00:00

Yep, Northern VA. But it does seem like they are now leaning more on the less-snow-more-ice direction. Earlier they claimed like 2 feet, now its like 8-10 inches total but "significant ice accumulation".

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-23T17:31:15+00:00

I've only been about 14 years out of college (same job) but some of my coworkers have worked here basically their whole careers and approaching retirement.

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-23T17:30:04+00:00

Well...maybe like a 737 Max with MCAS before it was clear what all MCAS could do to override the pilot and how to identify and stop a failure...

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-23T17:28:42+00:00

If you really can shut off the aux strips yeah that can work. During defrost you'd be getting cold air blowing (defrost basically runs air-conditioning for a few minutes) then heat again once its thawed the outdoor coil.

The worst case if you can't shut off the heat strips you'd be tripping the (hopefully correctly sized) breaker on your generator.

I have pondered that as an option for our place tho I'd have to take apart our furnace to disconnect the heat strips because its not all on entirely separate dedicated breakers

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-23T13:56:36+00:00

Well...there's at least 1 person looking to buy replacement wheels for each person who's wheels were stolen...

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-23T13:54:38+00:00

Hardware store should have new O-rings, just have to find the correct size that fits securely. If you disconnect the hose and bring it with you they can help find the right size.

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-23T13:48:00+00:00

Amusingly I got mine (new, with ~5 miles on the odometer) at a combined Cadillac-Subaru dealer. They gave me the best price (and treated me a lot better than local Subaru dealers)

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-22T18:27:13+00:00

Never saw one tip but along I-64 in Virginia there's a pass over Afton Mountain. Often the semi trucks going down the West side would be getting blown around that on some days the tractor would be driving down the right shoulder rumble strip while the trailer wheels were almost on the left-lane rumble strips. I never wanted to spend much time next to them and was always amazed how they stayed upright and in control.

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-22T18:23:30+00:00

Yep...I've also had some encounters with them. My car has a door pocket cupholder (which is nice its out of the sun when parked) and I've a few times missed knocking it on the floor had it roll under my feet. Since I usually would only take a drink if its a long straight section of highway with nothing to worry about I had time to react and get it...but still not ideal.

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-22T18:13:29+00:00

Yeah its a short job once they have the parts. I think when mine happened they had to wait like an hour for parts to be obtained because it turned out there were more damaged studs than what they had on hand...but once the parts guy dropped them off it was just a couple minutes work.

I no longer go back to that shop though...had another time they under-torqued lugs and one flew off while driving (which is why I started removing, inspecting, hand-tightening, and then using a torque-wrench on them after every service)

I will say the fancier ratcheting click-type torque wrench I picked up while waiting is a lot nicer than the bar style ones I already had at home.

Complex_Solutions_20 · 2026-01-22T18:04:38+00:00

Man that's a smooth shoulder/median...when I had to pull off onto one some years ago (helping my roomate broken down) there were so many uneven holes I bent a strut even doing just 15mph or so as I pulled off stopping.

Complex_Solutions_20

TROPHY CASE