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Syncrobit Chameleon: CM4 Recovery and Meshpoint Install

Guide for repurposing a Syncrobit Chameleon LoRa miner as a Meshpoint. The Chameleon uses a Compute Module 4 (eMMC) and an onboard SX1302 concentrator. Meshpoint replaces the factory OS; the same install.sh and meshpoint setup flow applies after you flash 64-bit OS to eMMC.

Validated (May 2026): aarch64 Raspbian 13 (Trixie) Lite, Meshpoint v0.7.4+, live Meshtastic RX/TX. Compare with RAK V2 and SenseCap M1 in Hardware Matrix.

For the standard Pi 4 + microSD path, see the Onboarding Guide.

What you need (one-time recovery)

Item Purpose
Waveshare CM4-IO-BASE-B (or similar CM4 carrier) USB access to eMMC for flashing (only for initial setup)
Linux host (NUC, laptop, etc.) Runs rpiboot and writes the OS image
Micro-USB or USB-C data cable Host to carrier (data, not charge-only)
Chameleon (CM4 + SX1302 board) Final deployment hardware
LoRa antenna Connect before applying power to the concentrator

Step 1: Flash CM4 eMMC over USB (on the carrier board)

  1. On the Linux host, install build tools and clone Raspberry Pi usbboot:
sudo apt install -y git libusb-1.0-0-dev build-essential pkg-config
cd ~ && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/raspberrypi/usbboot.git
cd usbboot && make

  1. On the Waveshare carrier: set the BOOT jumper to ON (USB boot), seat the CM4, connect USB from the host to the carrier, and apply 5 V power.

  2. On the host, start mass-storage mode (leave this running):

cd ~/usbboot && sudo ./rpiboot -d msd -v
  1. In a second terminal, confirm the eMMC block device (often /dev/sdb):
lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL,TRAN
  1. Download Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit) or Raspbian Lite 64-bit for CM4 from Raspberry Pi OS downloads. Flash to the eMMC (replace /dev/sdX with your device):
xzcat ~/raspios-*-arm64-lite.img.xz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress conv=fsync

  1. Configure first boot (SSH + WiFi) using Raspberry Pi Imager's advanced options on a separate SD workflow, or mount the boot partition after dd and add cloud-init user-data plus an empty ssh file on the boot partition. Use a strong password.

  2. Stop rpiboot (Ctrl+C), remove USB, set BOOT jumper OFF (eMMC boot), and boot the CM4 on the carrier. Find the device on your network via DHCP and ssh pi@<device-ip>.

Step 2: Install Meshpoint on the carrier (optional check)

You can verify SPI and networking on the Waveshare board before moving the CM4 to the Chameleon:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y git
sudo git clone https://github.com/KMX415/meshpoint.git /opt/meshpoint
sudo bash /opt/meshpoint/scripts/install.sh
sudo reboot

After reboot: sudo meshpoint setup, then open http://<device-ip>:8080.

Continue with Onboarding > Step 7 for API key and wizard steps if you have not run setup yet.

Step 3: Move CM4 into the Chameleon and deploy

  1. sudo poweroff on the CM4 and wait for shutdown.
  2. Move the CM4 module from the Waveshare carrier into the Chameleon SODIMM socket.
  3. Connect the LoRa antenna to the concentrator SMA port.
  4. Power via PoE or Ethernet + injector (per your hardware).

Wait about 60 seconds, SSH in at the same or new DHCP address, and confirm the service:

sudo systemctl status meshpoint
grep sw_reg1 /opt/sx1302_hal/libloragw/src/loragw_sx1302.c

Non-empty sw_reg1 output means the Meshtastic HAL patch is present. If install.sh was already run on the carrier, you do not need to re-run it unless you changed OS or HAL paths.

Chameleon-specific notes

  • /opt/meshpoint and git: sudo git clone into /opt/meshpoint keeps a git checkout for sudo git pull updates. Cloning elsewhere and running install.sh only rsyncs files: /opt/meshpoint has no .git. Use Settings > Updates on the dashboard (v0.7.3+) or re-clone to /opt/meshpoint and run install.sh again.
  • Dashboard port: http://<device-ip>:8080 (not port 5000).
  • SPI latch: Same guidance as RAK2287: use sudo poweroff before unplugging PoE or power. See Hardware Matrix.
  • Vendor firmware: Reflashing erases the original Chameleon image. Back up eMMC first if you need to restore vendor software.
  • PoE: Ensure your injector or switch supplies enough current for CM4 + concentrator (plan for up to ~2-3 A at 5 V equivalent).

Troubleshooting

Symptom Things to try
eMMC not visible during rpiboot Data-capable USB cable; BOOT jumper ON; power-cycle carrier with USB connected
No network after flash Check cloud-init or netplan; cloud-init status --long; verify WiFi credentials
install.sh fails uname -m must be aarch64; need ~1 GB free on eMMC; check internet for apt/pip
No packets on dashboard Antenna connected; region matches local mesh; nodes in range
lgw_start() failed after hard power cut sudo poweroff, unplug 10+ seconds, power on (SPI latch)

See also Common Errors and Troubleshooting.

References