diff --git a/scripts/meshcore-terminal-chat.cmd b/scripts/meshcore-terminal-chat.cmd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..52507389
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/meshcore-terminal-chat.cmd
@@ -0,0 +1,420 @@
+# 2>NUL & @set "MESHCORE_TERM_SCRIPT=%~f0" & @set "MESHCORE_TERM_ARG=%~1" & @powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command "Invoke-Expression ((Get-Content -LiteralPath $env:MESHCORE_TERM_SCRIPT) -join [Environment]::NewLine)" & @set "MESHCORE_TERM_SCRIPT=" & @set "MESHCORE_TERM_ARG=" & goto :eof
+
+Set-StrictMode -Version Latest
+$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+
+$script:BaudRate = 115200
+$script:StartToken = '+++MESHCORE-TERM-START'
+$script:StopToken = '+++MESHCORE-TERM-STOP'
+
+function Remove-HybridLauncherEcho {
+    # cmd.exe echoes the harmless PowerShell/CMD bridge before PowerShell takes
+    # over. Remove that one line when running in an interactive console.
+    try {
+        if (-not [Console]::IsOutputRedirected -and [Console]::CursorTop -gt 0) {
+            $row = [Console]::CursorTop - 1
+            [Console]::SetCursorPosition(0, $row)
+            [Console]::Write(' ' * [Math]::Max(1, [Console]::WindowWidth - 1))
+            [Console]::SetCursorPosition(0, $row)
+        }
+    }
+    catch {
+    }
+}
+
+Remove-HybridLauncherEcho
+
+function Get-SerialPortInventory {
+    # Match firmware.cmd: only accept Plug-and-Play COM devices whose Windows
+    # device ID identifies them as USB. This excludes motherboard COM1 ports,
+    # Bluetooth serial ports, and other unrelated serial devices.
+    $ports = @()
+
+    try {
+        $devices = @(
+            Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_PnPEntity -ErrorAction Stop |
+                Where-Object {
+                    $_.DeviceID -like '*USB*' -and $_.Name -match '\(COM\d+\)'
+                }
+        )
+
+        foreach ($device in $devices) {
+            if ($device.Name -match 'COM(\d+)') {
+                $portName = $matches[0].ToUpperInvariant()
+                $portNumber = [int]$matches[1]
+                $hardwareId = if ($device.HardwareID) {
+                    ($device.HardwareID -split '\\')[-1]
+                }
+                else {
+                    '--'
+                }
+
+                $ports += [pscustomobject]@{
+                    Port = $portName
+                    Label = $device.Name
+                    DeviceName = $hardwareId
+                    SortOrder = $portNumber
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    catch {
+        Write-Host ("Unable to query Windows USB serial devices: {0}" -f $_.Exception.Message) -ForegroundColor Yellow
+    }
+
+    return @($ports | Sort-Object SortOrder, Label)
+}
+
+function Show-Ports {
+    $ports = @(Get-SerialPortInventory)
+
+    if ($ports.Count -eq 0) {
+        Write-Host 'No USB serial ports are currently available.' -ForegroundColor Yellow
+        return
+    }
+
+    Write-Host 'Available USB serial ports:'
+    foreach ($item in $ports) {
+        Write-Host ("  {0,-7} {1} [{2}]" -f $item.Port, $item.Label, $item.DeviceName)
+    }
+}
+
+function Select-SerialPort {
+    param([string]$RequestedPort)
+
+    if ($RequestedPort) {
+        $candidate = $RequestedPort.Trim().ToUpperInvariant()
+        if ($candidate -match '^\d+$') {
+            $candidate = "COM$candidate"
+        }
+        if ($candidate -notmatch '^COM\d+$') {
+            throw "Invalid COM port '$RequestedPort'. Use a value such as COM7."
+        }
+
+        $usbPorts = @(Get-SerialPortInventory | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Port)
+        if ($usbPorts -notcontains $candidate) {
+            $available = if ($usbPorts.Count -gt 0) { $usbPorts -join ', ' } else { 'none' }
+            throw "$candidate is not a currently connected USB COM port. Available USB ports: $available."
+        }
+        return $candidate
+    }
+
+    while ($true) {
+        $ports = @(Get-SerialPortInventory)
+        if ($ports.Count -eq 0) {
+            Write-Host 'No USB serial ports found. Connect the node with a USB data cable.' -ForegroundColor Yellow
+            $answer = Read-Host 'Press Enter to scan again, or type Q to quit'
+            if ($answer -match '^[Qq]$') { return '' }
+            continue
+        }
+
+        if ($ports.Count -eq 1) {
+            Write-Host ("Using {0}: {1}" -f $ports[0].Port, $ports[0].Label)
+            return $ports[0].Port
+        }
+
+        Write-Host 'Select the MeshCore USB serial port:'
+        for ($index = 0; $index -lt $ports.Count; $index++) {
+            Write-Host ("  {0,2}) {1,-7} {2}" -f ($index + 1), $ports[$index].Port, $ports[$index].Label)
+        }
+        Write-Host '   R) Scan again'
+        Write-Host '   Q) Quit'
+
+        $answer = (Read-Host 'Choice').Trim()
+        if ($answer -match '^[Rr]$') { continue }
+        if ($answer -match '^[Qq]$') { return '' }
+
+        $selection = 0
+        if ([int]::TryParse($answer, [ref]$selection) -and
+            $selection -ge 1 -and $selection -le $ports.Count) {
+            return $ports[$selection - 1].Port
+        }
+
+        Write-Host 'Invalid selection.' -ForegroundColor Yellow
+    }
+}
+
+function Read-CompanionModeChoice {
+    Write-Host ''
+    Write-Host 'Firmware type:'
+    Write-Host '  1) USB/full Companion firmware (default)'
+    Write-Host '  2) Terminal Chat firmware'
+    $answer = (Read-Host 'Choice [1]').Trim()
+
+    switch ($answer) {
+        ''  { return $true }
+        '1' { return $true }
+        '2' { return $false }
+        default {
+            Write-Host 'Using USB/full Companion mode.' -ForegroundColor Yellow
+            return $true
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+function Open-SerialPort {
+    param([Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$PortName)
+
+    $port = [System.IO.Ports.SerialPort]::new(
+        $PortName,
+        $script:BaudRate,
+        [System.IO.Ports.Parity]::None,
+        8,
+        [System.IO.Ports.StopBits]::One
+    )
+    $port.Handshake = [System.IO.Ports.Handshake]::None
+    $port.Encoding = [System.Text.UTF8Encoding]::new($false, $false)
+    $port.NewLine = "`r`n"
+    $port.ReadTimeout = 100
+    $port.WriteTimeout = 1000
+    $port.DtrEnable = $true
+    $port.RtsEnable = $true
+    $port.Open()
+    return $port
+}
+
+function Enter-CompanionTerminalMode {
+    param([Parameter(Mandatory)][System.IO.Ports.SerialPort]$Port)
+
+    try { $Port.DiscardInBuffer() } catch { }
+    $Port.Write($script:StartToken)
+
+    # Do not render Binary Companion frames as console control characters while
+    # the device changes modes. Start displaying once the text banner arrives.
+    $watch = [System.Diagnostics.Stopwatch]::StartNew()
+    $idle = [System.Diagnostics.Stopwatch]::StartNew()
+    $buffer = [System.Text.StringBuilder]::new()
+    $bannerText = 'MeshCore Chat Terminal'
+    $bannerSeen = $false
+
+    while ($watch.ElapsedMilliseconds -lt 5000) {
+        $received = $Port.ReadExisting()
+        if ($received) {
+            [void]$buffer.Append($received)
+            $idle.Restart()
+            $allText = $buffer.ToString()
+            $bannerIndex = $allText.IndexOf($bannerText, [System.StringComparison]::OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            if ($bannerIndex -ge 0) {
+                $bannerSeen = $true
+            }
+        }
+
+        # The device can already have several Binary Companion frames queued
+        # when it recognizes the switch token. Drain the entire transition and
+        # wait for a quiet period before rendering live terminal output.
+        if ($bannerSeen -and $idle.ElapsedMilliseconds -ge 350) {
+            return $true
+        }
+        Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 20
+    }
+
+    if (-not $bannerSeen) {
+        Write-Host 'Terminal switch sent; no banner was received.' -ForegroundColor Yellow
+        return $false
+    }
+
+    Write-Host 'MeshCore responded, but startup traffic did not become quiet.' -ForegroundColor Yellow
+    return $false
+}
+
+function Confirm-DedicatedTerminalChatMode {
+    param([Parameter(Mandatory)][System.IO.Ports.SerialPort]$Port)
+
+    # A dedicated Terminal Chat build may have printed its banner before the
+    # port was opened. "ver" provides a harmless live firmware check. On a
+    # brand-new node its LF also completes the initial key-generation prompt.
+    $buffer = [System.Text.StringBuilder]::new()
+    try {
+        $startupText = $Port.ReadExisting()
+        if ($startupText) { [void]$buffer.Append($startupText) }
+        $Port.Write("ver`r`n")
+    }
+    catch {
+        return $false
+    }
+
+    $watch = [System.Diagnostics.Stopwatch]::StartNew()
+    $idle = [System.Diagnostics.Stopwatch]::StartNew()
+    $terminalSeen = $false
+    while ($watch.ElapsedMilliseconds -lt 5000) {
+        $received = $Port.ReadExisting()
+        if ($received) {
+            [void]$buffer.Append($received)
+            $idle.Restart()
+        }
+
+        $text = $buffer.ToString()
+        if ($text -match '(?i)MeshCore Chat Terminal' -or
+            $text -match '(?im)^\s*v\d+(?:\.\d+)*(?:\s|$)' -or
+            $text -match '(?i)\bbuild\s*:') {
+            $terminalSeen = $true
+        }
+
+        if ($terminalSeen -and $idle.ElapsedMilliseconds -ge 350) {
+            return $true
+        }
+
+        Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 20
+    }
+
+    return ($terminalSeen -and $Port.BytesToRead -eq 0)
+}
+
+function Start-TerminalSession {
+    param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$PortName,
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)][bool]$SwitchCompanionMode
+    )
+
+    $port = $null
+    $oldTreatControlCAsInput = [Console]::TreatControlCAsInput
+    $lineCharacterCount = 0
+    $pendingHighSurrogate = ''
+
+    try {
+        Write-Host ''
+        Write-Host "Opening $PortName at $($script:BaudRate) baud..."
+        $port = Open-SerialPort -PortName $PortName
+
+        # Some USB-to-UART boards reset when the port opens.
+        Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 1500
+
+        if ($SwitchCompanionMode) {
+            $verified = Enter-CompanionTerminalMode -Port $port
+        }
+        else {
+            $verified = Confirm-DedicatedTerminalChatMode -Port $port
+        }
+
+        if (-not $verified) {
+            throw "$PortName opened, but it did not respond as the selected MeshCore terminal firmware."
+        }
+
+        Write-Host "Verified MeshCore terminal on $PortName." -ForegroundColor DarkGray
+
+        Write-Host ''
+        Write-Host 'Connected. Type help for commands. Press Ctrl+] or Ctrl+C to exit.' -ForegroundColor Green
+        Write-Host ''
+        [Console]::Write('> ')
+
+        [Console]::TreatControlCAsInput = $true
+
+        while ($port.IsOpen) {
+            $received = $port.ReadExisting()
+            if ($received) {
+                [Console]::Write($received)
+            }
+
+            while ([Console]::KeyAvailable) {
+                $key = [Console]::ReadKey($true)
+                $characterCode = [int]$key.KeyChar
+
+                if ($characterCode -eq 29 -or $characterCode -eq 3) {
+                    return
+                }
+
+                if ($key.Key -eq [ConsoleKey]::Enter) {
+                    $pendingHighSurrogate = ''
+                    $port.Write("`r`n")
+                    $lineCharacterCount = 0
+                    continue
+                }
+
+                if ($key.Key -eq [ConsoleKey]::Backspace) {
+                    if ($pendingHighSurrogate) {
+                        $pendingHighSurrogate = ''
+                        continue
+                    }
+                    $port.Write([string][char]8)
+                    if ($lineCharacterCount -gt 0) { $lineCharacterCount-- }
+                    continue
+                }
+
+                if ($characterCode -ne 0) {
+                    if ([char]::IsHighSurrogate($key.KeyChar)) {
+                        $pendingHighSurrogate = [string]$key.KeyChar
+                        continue
+                    }
+
+                    if ($pendingHighSurrogate) {
+                        if ([char]::IsLowSurrogate($key.KeyChar)) {
+                            $port.Write($pendingHighSurrogate + [string]$key.KeyChar)
+                            $pendingHighSurrogate = ''
+                            $lineCharacterCount++
+                            continue
+                        }
+
+                        $port.Write($pendingHighSurrogate)
+                        $pendingHighSurrogate = ''
+                        $lineCharacterCount++
+                    }
+
+                    $port.Write([string]$key.KeyChar)
+                    $lineCharacterCount++
+                }
+            }
+
+            Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 10
+        }
+    }
+    finally {
+        [Console]::TreatControlCAsInput = $oldTreatControlCAsInput
+
+        if ($port) {
+            if ($port.IsOpen -and $SwitchCompanionMode) {
+                try {
+                    # Clear an unfinished input line so the exact stop token is recognized.
+                    for ($index = 0; $index -lt $lineCharacterCount; $index++) {
+                        $port.Write([string][char]8)
+                    }
+                    $port.Write($script:StopToken)
+                    Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 150
+                }
+                catch {
+                }
+            }
+
+            try {
+                if ($port.IsOpen) { $port.Close() }
+            }
+            finally {
+                $port.Dispose()
+            }
+        }
+
+        Write-Host ''
+        Write-Host 'Terminal closed.'
+    }
+}
+
+$requested = if ($env:MESHCORE_TERM_ARG) { $env:MESHCORE_TERM_ARG.Trim() } else { '' }
+
+if ($requested -match '^(\/list|-list|--list)$') {
+    Show-Ports
+    return
+}
+
+if ($requested -match '^(\/\?|-h|--help)$') {
+    Write-Host 'MeshCore terminal chat'
+    Write-Host ''
+    Write-Host 'Usage:'
+    Write-Host '  meshcore-terminal-chat.cmd'
+    Write-Host '  meshcore-terminal-chat.cmd COM7'
+    Write-Host '  meshcore-terminal-chat.cmd /list'
+    return
+}
+
+try {
+    $selectedPort = Select-SerialPort -RequestedPort $requested
+    if (-not $selectedPort) { return }
+
+    $switchCompanionMode = Read-CompanionModeChoice
+    Start-TerminalSession -PortName $selectedPort -SwitchCompanionMode $switchCompanionMode
+}
+catch {
+    Write-Host ''
+    Write-Host ("Unable to start terminal chat: {0}" -f $_.Exception.Message) -ForegroundColor Red
+    Write-Host 'Close any MeshCore app, browser console, or other program using the COM port.' -ForegroundColor Yellow
+    Read-Host 'Press Enter to close' | Out-Null
+    $global:LASTEXITCODE = 1
+}