Handheld use and recovery
Ratspeak Handheld runs on T-Deck Plus, T-Pager, Cardputer Adv and ThinkNode M9. Use Standalone mode to send encrypted messages over LoRa or WiFi without a phone.
For installation and backups, see Flashing firmware. Device controls are covered in the T-Deck, T-Pager and Cardputer guides.
Sending and reading messages
Open a peer or contact to start a conversation. Messages are saved before sending. If a save fails, your text stays in the composer; check the displayed error before trying again.
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
queued / sending | Waiting to send, or sending is in progress. |
sent | Transmission has started; receipt is not yet confirmed. |
delivered | The recipient confirmed delivery. This is not a read receipt. |
unconfirmed | No delivery confirmation arrived in time. The recipient may still have received it. |
failed | The send could not complete. Check the connection and any displayed error before resending. |
A brief failure to refresh a delivery status keeps its last known label. If the problem persists, a separate retry action appears outside the message bubble.
The chat list shows two conversations per page. Use the first, previous, next and last arrows to move between pages. Previews update automatically.
Inside a conversation, scroll to read earlier messages. On T-Deck, T-Pager and M9, continuing past the top or bottom loads the next part of the history. T-Deck also supports swiping at the edge. Read full opens a long message. On Cardputer, press Tab to select a message, then Enter to open it. New messages leave your place in older history intact.
Message dates
The clock syncs through GPS or WiFi. Set your timezone in Settings to display local time. GPS reception can take longer indoors.
Before the clock syncs, sent messages can appear dated near January 1970 in other clients. Once it syncs, new messages get the correct date; messages already sent keep their original timestamps.
Discovering peers
The Peers screen uses one continuous list. Scroll to browse it; incoming updates keep the selected peer in place. Open a peer to save it as a contact or send a message.
Network and radio settings
For LoRa, match the other device's frequency, bandwidth, spreading factor, coding rate and preamble. Choose a region suited to your hardware and location. See LoRa radio settings for presets and tuning.
For WiFi, join a network and configure a TCP peer, or enable LAN discovery to find nearby nodes. A local hotspot is also available; it does not provide internet access. WiFi client and hotspot modes are alternatives.
Auto Announce can be set to OFF, or an interval of 30 minutes and up. Manual Announce remains available when automatic announcements are off.
Wait for settings to finish saving and follow any restart prompt. Standalone uses LoRa and WiFi; USB/BLE radio connections use RNode mode, which is coming soon for M9.
Storage and SD cards
An SD card is optional for messaging. Identity and settings are stored in internal flash, so copying the SD card alone is not a complete backup. Follow the backup instructions before replacing firmware or erasing a device.
Initialize SD prepares the card for Ratspeak. Wipe SD Data removes only
Ratspeak's files from the card: /ratdeck on T-Deck, /ratpager on T-Pager,
/ratcom on Cardputer and /m9 on M9. Internal data remains and may be copied
back to the card later. To remove a conversation, delete it from Chats.
Wait for saves or deletions to finish before switching off or removing the card. If a read or deletion fails, keep the data intact and retry before considering a reset.
Restart, erase and recovery
Use the device's restart or shutdown controls when available so pending saves can finish. Turning off the screen on Cardputer does not shut it down.
Erase Device / Factory Reset deletes internal data and Ratspeak's SD files if the card is included in the reset. Check the confirmation screen and keep power connected until it finishes.
If power is lost during a reset, the device opens Reset recovery:
- Press R to review what will be erased, then Enter to confirm.
- Press B to go back, or X to restart with the reset still pending.
- Reinsert the SD card if the interrupted reset included it.
For other startup problems, note the error and check power and the SD card. Download mode lets you restore a full backup or reinstall firmware. Reinstalling clears internal data, so keep that as a last step when recovering messages or an identity.