Messaging devices and methods

A messaging device, comprising:

• a data communication interface, wherein the coupling comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface;
• a rechargeable power source;
• a charging system operatively coupled to the data communication interface and the rechargeable power source;
• a processor operatively coupled to the rechargeable power source;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
• receive messages one or more operational frequencies, wherein the one or more operational frequencies are within the range of 929-932 MHz;
• receive an electrical charge through the data communication interface;
• subsequent to the messaging device being added to a message distribution group comprising a plurality of existing messaging devices, receive from a computing device a test communication through the data communication interface to test an operation of the messaging device and confirm the addition of the messaging device to the message distribution group without communicating with the existing messaging devices;
• and
• when the test communication is successfully received, indicate receipt of the test communication.

A method, comprising:

• electronically coupling a messaging device to a computing device via data communication interface of the messaging device, wherein the coupling comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface;
• receiving an update to a programming of the messaging device from the computing device via the coupling.
• charging a power source of the messaging device through an electrical charge received through the coupling from the computing device;
• uploading the plurality of messages from the memory of the messaging device to the computing device through the coupling;
• subsequent to the messaging device being added to a message distribution group comprising a plurality of existing messaging devices, receiving from the computing device a test communication through the coupling to confirm the addition of the messaging device to the message distribution group;
• and
• when the test communication is successfully received, indicating receipt of the test communication.