adingbatponder  👾
How can one retro-fit a #USBA port to a 10 year old #thinkpad when the #minipcie internal USB port card device (see link below) is not on the #lenovo #whitelist e.g. of a #thinkpad_x230
BTW the #usb port is for then fitting a #lora #rnode or #meshtastic #note inside the #laptop case. This video shows the problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRrUMra7it0
#bios
This is the device in question:
https://www.reichelt.de/de/de/shop/produkt/mini_pcie_1x_intern_usb_2_0_typ-a-354619
Thanks for an help on this!
Internal USB Port for Thinkpad x230 for Meshtastic or Reticulum RNode

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Jan 31, 2025 at 9:04pmWeb
Show threadEugene account has movedJan 31, 2025

@adingbatponder Interesting, which #meshtastic node can be easily fit inside laptop's case without milling and drilling? And has an USB interface?

I search in AliExpress, but almost all nodes were pretty big to fit inside #thinkpad case in the place at photo:

Show threadadingbatponder  👾Jan 31, 2025
@evgandr Sorry, forgot to mention.... this is the one https://www.seeedstudio.com/Wio-SX1262-with-XIAO-ESP32S3-p-5982.html
It really is very small indeed.
This video relates to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShZFMHxM6R0
XIAO ESP32S3 & Wio-SX1262 Kit for Meshtastic & LoRa

This thumb-sized LoRa dev kit, featuring the XIAO ESP32S3 and Wio-SX1262 LoRa module, is an ideal starter kit for Meshtastic and LoRa/LoRaWAN projects. Supporting WiFi, BLE, and LoRa, it includes a built-in power management chip and can be extended via IIC, UART, and other GPIO interfaces, with compatibility for Arduino development.

Show threadEugene account has movedFeb 1, 2025
@adingbatponder Aw, it's prerty small, thank you 
Show threadDoppelmembran-WürgenippelFeb 1, 2025

@evgandr @adingbatponder

The smallest is this one: heltec ht ct62

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005005508556514.html

Be aware that theese little modules doesnt have the additions like 5v ldo regulator and usb-serial ic onboard

Its esp32 and lora in one stamp

There is also a little bigger (16.1x38.4x2.8mm) module from heltec with the faster esp32s3 and lora sx1262 integrated in one module, but idk if it is supported from meshtastic firmware yet.
Maybe one need to set up the hardware pin definitions first to get correct firmware compiled.
Search for "htit wsh" if interested

Show threadfotografmFeb 2, 2025
@evgandr @adingbatponder