feat(dashboard): send-test-message + MeshCore channel list

Add POST /api/mesh/test-send (fire a labeled test broadcast on a chosen
mesh+channel via the live transport) and GET /api/meshcore/channels
(surface the companion's enumerated channel names). "Send test message"
cards on both Connection pages, with the MeshCore one listing real
channels. Lets the operator confirm a mesh's send path on demand.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

work/dashboard-frontend/src/lib/api.ts

@@ -481,3 +481,26 @@ export async function fetchHotspots(): Promise<HotspotsResponse> {
 export async function fetchRegions(): Promise<RegionInfo[]> {
   return fetchJson<RegionInfo[]>('/api/regions')
 }
+
+export interface MeshcoreChannels { active: boolean; channels: string[] }
+export interface TestSendResult { sent: boolean; detail: string }
+
+export async function getMeshcoreChannels(): Promise<MeshcoreChannels> {
+  return fetchJson<MeshcoreChannels>('/api/meshcore/channels')
+}
+
+export async function sendTestMessage(body: {
+  transport: 'meshtastic' | 'meshcore'
+  channel: string | number
+  text?: string
+}): Promise<TestSendResult> {
+  const response = await fetch('/api/mesh/test-send', {
+    method: 'POST',
+    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+    body: JSON.stringify(body),
+  })
+  if (!response.ok) {
+    throw new Error(`API error: ${response.status} ${response.statusText}`)
+  }
+  return response.json()
+}

work/dashboard-frontend/src/pages/MeshCoreConnection.tsx

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { Link } from 'react-router-dom'
 import { Save, RotateCcw, RefreshCw, Check } from 'lucide-react'
 import { TextInput, NumberInput } from './Config'
 import { notifyRestartRequired } from '@/components/RestartBanner'
-import { fetchConfig as apiFetchConfig, updateConfig as apiUpdateConfig } from '@/lib/api'
+import { fetchConfig as apiFetchConfig, updateConfig as apiUpdateConfig, getMeshcoreChannels, sendTestMessage } from '@/lib/api'
 import { useDirty } from '@/context/DirtyContext'
 
 // Only the fields this page edits are typed explicitly; the rest of the
@@ -29,6 +29,14 @@ export default function MeshCoreConnection() {
   const [success, setSuccess] = useState<string | null>(null)
   const [hasChanges, setHasChanges] = useState(false)
 
+  // Test send state
+  const [channelsActive, setChannelsActive] = useState(false)
+  const [channels, setChannels] = useState<string[]>([])
+  const [selectedChannel, setSelectedChannel] = useState('')
+  const [testText, setTestText] = useState('')
+  const [testSending, setTestSending] = useState(false)
+  const [testResult, setTestResult] = useState<{ sent: boolean; detail: string } | null>(null)
+
   const fetchConfig = useCallback(async () => {
     setLoading(true)
     try {
@@ -49,6 +57,35 @@ export default function MeshCoreConnection() {
     fetchConfig()
   }, [fetchConfig])
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    getMeshcoreChannels()
+      .then((res) => {
+        setChannelsActive(res.active)
+        setChannels(res.channels)
+        if (res.channels.length > 0) setSelectedChannel(res.channels[0])
+      })
+      .catch(() => {
+        setChannelsActive(false)
+      })
+  }, [])
+
+  const handleTestSend = async () => {
+    setTestSending(true)
+    setTestResult(null)
+    try {
+      const result = await sendTestMessage({
+        transport: 'meshcore',
+        channel: selectedChannel,
+        text: testText.trim() || undefined,
+      })
+      setTestResult(result)
+    } catch (err) {
+      setTestResult({ sent: false, detail: err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Send failed' })
+    } finally {
+      setTestSending(false)
+    }
+  }
+
   useEffect(() => {
     if (config && originalConfig) {
       setHasChanges(JSON.stringify(config) !== JSON.stringify(originalConfig))
@@ -190,6 +227,51 @@ export default function MeshCoreConnection() {
           </Link>
         </div>
       </div>
+
+      {/* Send test message card */}
+      <div className={`bg-bg-card border border-border p-6 space-y-4${!channelsActive ? ' opacity-60' : ''}`}>
+        <div className="text-xs text-slate-500 uppercase tracking-wide">Send Test Message</div>
+        {!channelsActive ? (
+          <p className="text-sm text-slate-500">MeshCore not connected</p>
+        ) : (
+          <>
+            <div className="space-y-1">
+              <label className="text-xs text-slate-500 uppercase tracking-wide">Channel</label>
+              <select
+                value={selectedChannel}
+                onChange={(e) => setSelectedChannel(e.target.value)}
+                className="w-full px-3 py-2 bg-[#0a0e17] border border-[#1e2a3a] rounded text-sm text-slate-200 focus:outline-none focus:border-accent"
+              >
+                {channels.map((ch) => (
+                  <option key={ch} value={ch}>{ch}</option>
+                ))}
+              </select>
+            </div>
+            <TextInput
+              label="Message (optional)"
+              value={testText}
+              onChange={setTestText}
+              placeholder={`\u{1F9EA} MeshAI test — ${new Date().toLocaleTimeString('en-US', { hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit', hour12: false })}`}
+            />
+            <button
+              onClick={handleTestSend}
+              disabled={testSending}
+              className="flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 bg-accent hover:bg-accent/80 disabled:bg-slate-700 disabled:cursor-not-allowed rounded text-white text-sm transition-colors"
+            >
+              {testSending ? 'Sending...' : 'Send test'}
+            </button>
+            {testResult && (
+              testResult.sent ? (
+                <div className="p-3 text-sm bg-green-500/10 text-green-400 border border-green-500/20">
+                  <Check size={14} className="inline mr-2" />{testResult.detail}
+                </div>
+              ) : (
+                <div className="p-3 text-sm bg-red-500/10 text-red-400 border border-red-500/20">{testResult.detail}</div>
+              )
+            )}
+          </>
+        )}
+      </div>
     </div>
   )
 }

work/dashboard-frontend/src/pages/MeshtasticConnection.tsx

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import { useState, useEffect, useCallback } from 'react'
 import { Save, RotateCcw, RefreshCw, Check } from 'lucide-react'
-import { ConnectionSection, type ConnectionConfig } from './Config'
+import { ConnectionSection, TextInput, NumberInput, type ConnectionConfig } from './Config'
 import { notifyRestartRequired } from '@/components/RestartBanner'
-import { fetchConfig as apiFetchConfig, updateConfig as apiUpdateConfig } from '@/lib/api'
+import { fetchConfig as apiFetchConfig, updateConfig as apiUpdateConfig, sendTestMessage } from '@/lib/api'
 import { useDirty } from '@/context/DirtyContext'
 
 export default function MeshtasticConnection() {
@@ -15,6 +15,29 @@ export default function MeshtasticConnection() {
   const [success, setSuccess] = useState<string | null>(null)
   const [hasChanges, setHasChanges] = useState(false)
 
+  // Test send state
+  const [testChannel, setTestChannel] = useState(0)
+  const [testText, setTestText] = useState('')
+  const [testSending, setTestSending] = useState(false)
+  const [testResult, setTestResult] = useState<{ sent: boolean; detail: string } | null>(null)
+
+  const handleTestSend = async () => {
+    setTestSending(true)
+    setTestResult(null)
+    try {
+      const result = await sendTestMessage({
+        transport: 'meshtastic',
+        channel: testChannel,
+        text: testText.trim() || undefined,
+      })
+      setTestResult(result)
+    } catch (err) {
+      setTestResult({ sent: false, detail: err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Send failed' })
+    } finally {
+      setTestSending(false)
+    }
+  }
+
   const fetchConfig = useCallback(async () => {
     setLoading(true)
     try {
@@ -143,6 +166,41 @@ export default function MeshtasticConnection() {
       <div className="bg-bg-card border border-border p-6">
         <ConnectionSection data={config} onChange={setConfig} />
       </div>
+
+      {/* Send test message card */}
+      <div className="bg-bg-card border border-border p-6 space-y-4">
+        <div className="text-xs text-slate-500 uppercase tracking-wide">Send Test Message</div>
+        <NumberInput
+          label="Channel Index"
+          value={testChannel}
+          onChange={setTestChannel}
+          min={0}
+          max={7}
+          helper="Meshtastic channel number (0 = primary)"
+        />
+        <TextInput
+          label="Message (optional)"
+          value={testText}
+          onChange={setTestText}
+          placeholder={`\u{1F9EA} MeshAI test — ${new Date().toLocaleTimeString('en-US', { hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit', hour12: false })}`}
+        />
+        <button
+          onClick={handleTestSend}
+          disabled={testSending}
+          className="flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 bg-accent hover:bg-accent/80 disabled:bg-slate-700 disabled:cursor-not-allowed rounded text-white text-sm transition-colors"
+        >
+          {testSending ? 'Sending...' : 'Send test'}
+        </button>
+        {testResult && (
+          testResult.sent ? (
+            <div className="p-3 text-sm bg-green-500/10 text-green-400 border border-green-500/20">
+              <Check size={14} className="inline mr-2" />{testResult.detail}
+            </div>
+          ) : (
+            <div className="p-3 text-sm bg-red-500/10 text-red-400 border border-red-500/20">{testResult.detail}</div>
+          )
+        )}
+      </div>
     </div>
   )
 }

work/meshai/dashboard/api/mesh_send_routes.py

@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+"""Dashboard 'send test message' API routes (meshtastic + meshcore)."""
+
+import logging
+from datetime import datetime
+from typing import Optional, Union
+
+from fastapi import APIRouter, Request
+from pydantic import BaseModel
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+router = APIRouter(tags=["mesh-send"])
+
+
+def _find_child(connector, name: str):
+    """Find a child transport by transport_name — handles bare transport or CompositeTransport."""
+    if connector is None:
+        return None
+    if getattr(connector, "transport_name", None) == name:
+        return connector
+    children = getattr(connector, "children", None)
+    if children:
+        for c in children:
+            if getattr(c, "transport_name", None) == name:
+                return c
+    return None
+
+
+@router.get("/meshcore/channels")
+async def meshcore_channels(request: Request):
+    """List enumerated MeshCore channel names if a meshcore transport is connected."""
+    connector = getattr(request.app.state, "connector", None)
+    mc = _find_child(connector, "meshcore")
+    if mc is not None and getattr(mc, "connected", False):
+        try:
+            names = list(mc.known_channels())
+        except Exception:
+            names = []
+        return {"active": True, "channels": names}
+    return {"active": False, "channels": []}
+
+
+class TestSendRequest(BaseModel):
+    transport: str
+    channel: Union[str, int]
+    text: Optional[str] = None
+
+
+@router.post("/mesh/test-send")
+async def test_send(request: Request, body: TestSendRequest):
+    """Send a one-off test message over the requested transport/channel."""
+    connector = getattr(request.app.state, "connector", None)
+    text = (body.text or "").strip() or f"🧪 MeshAI test — {datetime.now().strftime('%H:%M')}"
+
+    if body.transport == "meshtastic":
+        child = _find_child(connector, "meshtastic")
+        if child is None or not getattr(child, "connected", False):
+            result = {"sent": False, "detail": "meshtastic not connected"}
+        else:
+            try:
+                idx = int(body.channel)
+            except (ValueError, TypeError):
+                result = {"sent": False, "detail": f"invalid meshtastic channel index: {body.channel!r}"}
+            else:
+                ok = bool(connector.send_message(text, destination=None, channel=idx, transport="meshtastic"))
+                result = {"sent": ok, "detail": f"sent to meshtastic channel {idx}" if ok else "send returned False"}
+    elif body.transport == "meshcore":
+        child = _find_child(connector, "meshcore")
+        if child is None or not getattr(child, "connected", False):
+            result = {"sent": False, "detail": "meshcore not connected"}
+        else:
+            name = str(body.channel)
+            ok = bool(connector.send_message(text, destination=None, meshcore_channel=name, transport="meshcore"))
+            if ok:
+                result = {"sent": True, "detail": f"sent to '{name}'"}
+            else:
+                known = list(child.known_channels())  # re-checked after send (lazy re-enum may have run)
+                if name not in known:
+                    result = {"sent": False, "detail": f"channel '{name}' not on companion — known: {known}"}
+                else:
+                    result = {"sent": False, "detail": f"send failed for channel '{name}'"}
+    else:
+        result = {"sent": False, "detail": f"unknown transport: {body.transport!r}"}
+
+    logger.info("dashboard: test-send transport=%s channel=%s sent=%s", body.transport, body.channel, result["sent"])
+    return result

work/meshai/dashboard/server.py

@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ def create_app() -> FastAPI:
     from .api.system_routes import router as system_router
     from .api.config_routes import router as config_router
     from .api.mesh_routes import router as mesh_router
+    from .api.mesh_send_routes import router as mesh_send_router
     from .api.env_routes import router as env_router
     from .api.alert_routes import router as alert_router
     from .api.notification_routes import router as notification_router
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ def create_app() -> FastAPI:
     app.include_router(curation_router, prefix="/api")
     app.include_router(config_router, prefix="/api")
     app.include_router(mesh_router, prefix="/api")
+    app.include_router(mesh_send_router, prefix="/api")
     app.include_router(env_router, prefix="/api")
     app.include_router(alert_router, prefix="/api")
 

work/meshai/transport/composite_transport.py

@@ -83,6 +83,15 @@ class CompositeTransport(MeshTransport):
                 return c
         return None
 
+    def meshcore_child(self) -> Optional[MeshTransport]:
+        """Return the MeshCoreTransport child, or None if absent."""
+        return self._by_name.get("meshcore")
+
+    def known_channels(self) -> List[str]:
+        """Passthrough to the MeshCore child's known channels; [] if no meshcore child."""
+        child = self.meshcore_child()
+        return child.known_channels() if child is not None else []
+
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
     # Routing decision helpers (factored out for unit-test access)
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------

work/meshai/transport/meshcore_transport.py

@@ -138,6 +138,10 @@ class MeshCoreTransport(MeshTransport):
             "MeshCore: enumerated %d named channel(s)", len(self._chan_name_to_idx)
         )
 
+    def known_channels(self) -> list[str]:
+        """Enumerated MeshCore channel names (from _chan_name_to_idx, populated at connect)."""
+        return list(self._chan_name_to_idx.keys())
+
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
     # Internal coroutines (run on the dedicated loop)
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------

work/tests/test_mesh_send_api.py

@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+"""API tests for the dashboard 'send test message' routes.
+
+Uses a bare FastAPI() + TestClient with a hand-seeded ``app.state.connector``
+(MagicMock-based fakes). The connector fakes mimic a CompositeTransport:
+``transport_name=None`` and an explicit iterable ``children`` list.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+import pytest
+from fastapi import FastAPI
+from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+
+from meshai.dashboard.api.mesh_send_routes import router
+
+
+def _child(transport_name, connected=True, known=None):
+    """Build a fake child transport (meshtastic/meshcore)."""
+    c = MagicMock()
+    c.transport_name = transport_name
+    c.connected = connected
+    if known is not None:
+        c.known_channels.return_value = list(known)
+    return c
+
+
+def _composite(children, send_result=True):
+    """Build a fake CompositeTransport connector wrapping *children*.
+
+    A bare MagicMock's auto-attrs are truthy and ``children`` is not
+    iterable, so set both explicitly.
+    """
+    connector = MagicMock()
+    connector.transport_name = None
+    connector.children = list(children)
+    connector.send_message.return_value = send_result
+    return connector
+
+
+def _client(connector):
+    app = FastAPI()
+    app.include_router(router, prefix="/api")
+    app.state.connector = connector
+    return TestClient(app)
+
+
+# ============================================================================
+# POST /api/mesh/test-send — meshcore
+# ============================================================================
+
+
+def test_meshcore_success():
+    mc = _child("meshcore", connected=True, known=["aida", "emergency"])
+    connector = _composite([mc], send_result=True)
+    client = _client(connector)
+
+    r = client.post("/api/mesh/test-send", json={"transport": "meshcore", "channel": "aida"})
+    assert r.status_code == 200
+    body = r.json()
+    assert body["sent"] is True
+    assert "aida" in body["detail"]
+
+    connector.send_message.assert_called_once()
+    _, kwargs = connector.send_message.call_args
+    assert kwargs["meshcore_channel"] == "aida"
+    assert kwargs["transport"] == "meshcore"
+    assert kwargs["destination"] is None
+
+
+def test_meshcore_unknown_channel():
+    mc = _child("meshcore", connected=True, known=["aida"])
+    connector = _composite([mc], send_result=False)
+    client = _client(connector)
+
+    r = client.post("/api/mesh/test-send", json={"transport": "meshcore", "channel": "ghost"})
+    assert r.status_code == 200
+    body = r.json()
+    assert body["sent"] is False
+    assert "not on companion" in body["detail"]
+    assert "aida" in body["detail"]
+
+
+def test_meshcore_inactive():
+    mt = _child("meshtastic", connected=True)
+    connector = _composite([mt])
+    client = _client(connector)
+
+    r = client.post("/api/mesh/test-send", json={"transport": "meshcore", "channel": "aida"})
+    assert r.status_code == 200
+    body = r.json()
+    assert body["sent"] is False
+    assert body["detail"] == "meshcore not connected"
+
+
+# ============================================================================
+# POST /api/mesh/test-send — meshtastic
+# ============================================================================
+
+
+def test_meshtastic_success():
+    mt = _child("meshtastic", connected=True)
+    connector = _composite([mt], send_result=True)
+    client = _client(connector)
+
+    r = client.post("/api/mesh/test-send", json={"transport": "meshtastic", "channel": 0})
+    assert r.status_code == 200
+    body = r.json()
+    assert body["sent"] is True
+
+    connector.send_message.assert_called_once()
+    _, kwargs = connector.send_message.call_args
+    assert kwargs["channel"] == 0
+    assert kwargs["transport"] == "meshtastic"
+
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Default text
+# ============================================================================
+
+
+def test_default_text_when_omitted():
+    mc = _child("meshcore", connected=True, known=["aida"])
+    connector = _composite([mc], send_result=True)
+    client = _client(connector)
+
+    r = client.post("/api/mesh/test-send", json={"transport": "meshcore", "channel": "aida"})
+    assert r.status_code == 200
+    assert r.json()["sent"] is True
+
+    args, kwargs = connector.send_message.call_args
+    sent_text = kwargs["text"] if "text" in kwargs else args[0]
+    assert isinstance(sent_text, str)
+    assert sent_text.startswith("🧪 MeshAI test")
+
+
+# ============================================================================
+# GET /api/meshcore/channels
+# ============================================================================
+
+
+def test_meshcore_channels_active():
+    mc = _child("meshcore", connected=True, known=["aida", "emergency"])
+    connector = _composite([mc])
+    client = _client(connector)
+
+    r = client.get("/api/meshcore/channels")
+    assert r.status_code == 200
+    assert r.json() == {"active": True, "channels": ["aida", "emergency"]}
+
+
+def test_meshcore_channels_no_meshcore():
+    mt = _child("meshtastic", connected=True)
+    connector = _composite([mt])
+    client = _client(connector)
+
+    r = client.get("/api/meshcore/channels")
+    assert r.status_code == 200
+    assert r.json() == {"active": False, "channels": []}