# Using an RNode with phone... through USB

_Help · started by cave on Fri, Sep 4, 2026 3:10 AM_

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## Original post

**cave** · Fri, Sep 4, 2026 3:10 AM

Hello! Long time lurker of Reticulum, first time do-er.

I have a Heltec t114 rnode put together and flashed, but is there a way to use it via USB instead of bluetooth on an old Android phone in Sideband? Considering the nature of flock cameras and hoovering up bluetooth/other signals I'd like to keep it wired.

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## Reply 1

**aetherlab** · Fri, Sep 4, 2026 5:00 AM

I would also love to see this in SB. I have tested it with Columba, works fine there. This way you can hush the phone in Flight Mode and just go all LoRa. And would also allow for a battery-pack to be added to the in-bag part. :)

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## Reply 2

**Mark** · Fri, Sep 4, 2026 7:49 AM

Has worked fine is Sideband since the very early days, as far as I'm aware ;) Plug in the RNode over USB, allow permission for Sideband to use the USB device, and make sure "Connect via Bluetooth" is disabled in the RNode hardware settings in Sideband.

If that still doesn't work, it may be because the specific device you're using has a new USB vendor/product ID that's not included in the filter list. Sideband uses a VID/PID filter, so it doesn't try to open all kinds of non-relevant USB devices.

You can plug in the device on a linux machine and use `lsusb` to get the VID/PID, then post it here, I can check if it's in the filter list.

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## Reply 3

**Mark** · Fri, Sep 4, 2026 7:51 AM

The filter list is here, btw:

a8d24177d946de4f1f0a0fe1af9a1338:/page/blob.mu`g=reticulum|r=sideband|ref=HEAD|path=sbapp%2Fpatches%2Fdevice_filter.xml

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## Reply 4

**aetherlab** · Fri, Sep 4, 2026 10:59 AM

Wow! Nice to hear! I am starting to modify an Aethermobi to turn it into a Pixel7Pro RNode backpack straight away! Thank you!

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