Really a hard item to review. The hardware is very capable and I am willing to give the software some time to become "complete". However, the complete lack of information anywhere but in a freaking Discord (which is not an acceptable replacement for a wiki or Git) which I refuse to use on moral and security grounds. There's no complete pinout available anywhere; why are there 5 pins on one of the GPS headers? Which pins are which? Why is there only 3 on another GPS header? Why are there 3 GPS headers? Can the unused headers be used as normal UARTS if a single GPS is used? Which of the Tab5 header pins are used by the Monster and thus unavailable for use? On top of all that my unit showed the RF options with a CC1101 module attached for the first couple times I used it but now the options don't even show and I've tried at least 4 different confirmed working modules of various styles. When this store page went up (which was well after the unit was available) the amount of information on this device available went up around 5x - but the above info and much more still isn't available. Also would be nice if there was some kind of guidance on how firmware flashing is supposed to go between the primary CPU, the second on-board ESP32, and the C5 in the module. My unit arrived with mismatched firmware to what was available for the Tab5 also which was pretty irritating. Honestly the only reason I gave it 3 stars at all is because of what the hardware could (hopefully will?) be capable of someday. I'm trying to be understanding that it's a new product, pretty new business, etc. - but the "just come and give Discord all your personal information for them to sell and hope someone is online that is willing to answer all your questions (accurately - not a given) and if not just wait around for hours because if you leave good luck finding where the answer is when you come back" thing really irks me. So yeah. Good idea, lacking in community outreach / posting the most basic of documentation.
Store owner replied: Hi Blake, Thank you for taking the time to write such detailed feedback, and for recognizing the hardware’s potential. You have identified several things we need to make clearer, especially the documentation and initial setup. Here are the relevant resources and some clarification: - **Ports and connections:** The [Monster RF product page](https://lab5-11.myshopify.com/products/monster-rf) includes an infographic showing the connectors and their intended uses. However, we recognize that identifying the ports does not fully answer your more detailed questions about individual pins, shared connections, UART reuse, and which Tab5 pins are occupied. Those details need clearer documentation. - **Documentation:** Monster RF builds on JanOS and inherits its core functionality. The existing documentation is available through the [projectZero repository](https://github.com/C5Lab/projectZero) and its [wiki](https://github.com/C5Lab/projectZero/wiki). We have not made that connection clear enough in the product information, and we will correct this, alongside clearer guidance for the RF-specific features. - **Monster RF firmware and CC1101:** Full CC1101 functionality requires the dedicated JanosRF build, a fork of our JanOS with additional CC1101 support. Please use the [JanosRF web flasher](https://elpadrino26.github.io/janosrf-web-flasher/) for the ESP32-C5 in Monster RF. If standard JanOS was installed during an update, that would explain why the RF options disappeared. If you are already running JanosRF, please contact us so we can investigate further. - **Tab5 firmware:** The Tab5’s main ESP32-P4 uses a separate [JanOS_TAB web flasher](https://c5lab.github.io/M5MonsterC5-Tab5/janos_flash.html). These two flashers target different processors. We understand your request for one clear guide explaining the processors, which firmware belongs where, and how to update the complete setup. - **Versions on arrival:** New releases can become available between shipment and delivery, so the installed firmware may be older than the version available when the package arrives. That alone does not establish an incompatibility. We can help check the exact versions in your setup and resolve any compatibility issue. **You do not need Discord to receive support.** You can email us directly at **sale@lab5.eu.com**. The packaging should also include QR codes linking to GitHub, Discord, and the store, but those links need to be supported by information that is easy to find and follow. We appreciate the time you put into explaining the difficulties you encountered. Your feedback gives us specific gaps to address and will help us make getting started easier for other users too.