diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 99b03b5..f80a0aa 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -9,12 +9,14 @@
 # Generate a secure token: openssl rand -hex 32
 API_TOKEN=your-secure-api-token-here
 
-# Meshtastic device path (required for ingestor)
-# Common paths:
+# Meshtastic connection target (required for ingestor)
+# Common serial paths:
 # - Linux: /dev/ttyACM0, /dev/ttyUSB0
 # - macOS: /dev/cu.usbserial-*
 # - Windows (WSL): /dev/ttyS*
-MESH_SERIAL=/dev/ttyACM0
+# You may also provide an IP:PORT pair (e.g. 192.168.1.20:4403) or a
+# Bluetooth address (e.g. ED:4D:9E:95:CF:60).
+CONNECTION=/dev/ttyACM0
 
 # =============================================================================
 # SITE CUSTOMIZATION
@@ -65,11 +67,8 @@ POTATOMESH_IMAGE_ARCH=linux-amd64
 # is unavailable.
 # COMPOSE_PROFILES=bridge
 
-# Meshtastic snapshot interval (seconds)
-MESH_SNAPSHOT_SECS=60
-
 # Meshtastic channel index (0=primary, 1=secondary, etc.)
-MESH_CHANNEL_INDEX=0
+CHANNEL_INDEX=0
 
 # Database settings
 DB_BUSY_TIMEOUT_MS=5000
diff --git a/.github/workflows/docker.yml b/.github/workflows/docker.yml
index a444b2b..a096236 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docker.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docker.yml
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ jobs:
         docker run --rm --name ingestor-test \
           -e POTATOMESH_INSTANCE=http://localhost:41447 \
           -e API_TOKEN=test-token \
-          -e MESH_SERIAL=mock \
+          -e CONNECTION=mock \
           -e DEBUG=1 \
           ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_PREFIX }}-ingestor-linux-amd64:${{ steps.version.outputs.version }} &
         sleep 5
diff --git a/DOCKER.md b/DOCKER.md
index 166039e..00692e1 100644
--- a/DOCKER.md
+++ b/DOCKER.md
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ against the web API.
 ```env
 API_TOKEN=replace-with-a-strong-token
 SITE_NAME=PotatoMesh Demo
-MESH_SERIAL=/dev/ttyACM0
+CONNECTION=/dev/ttyACM0
 ```
 
 Additional environment variables are optional:
@@ -39,8 +39,11 @@ Additional environment variables are optional:
   `MAX_NODE_DISTANCE_KM`, and `MATRIX_ROOM` customise the UI.
 - `POTATOMESH_INSTANCE` (defaults to `http://web:41447`) lets the ingestor post
   to a remote PotatoMesh instance if you do not run both services together.
-- `MESH_CHANNEL_INDEX`, `MESH_SNAPSHOT_SECS`, and `DEBUG` adjust ingestor
-  behaviour.
+- `CONNECTION` overrides the default serial device or network endpoint used by
+  the ingestor.
+- `CHANNEL_INDEX` selects the LoRa channel when using serial or Bluetooth
+  connections.
+- `DEBUG` enables verbose logging across the stack.
 
 ## Docker Compose file
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7e4bafd..bf618c7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ to the configured potato-mesh instance.
 Check out `mesh.sh` ingestor script in the `./data` directory.
 
 ```bash
-POTATOMESH_INSTANCE=http://127.0.0.1:41447 API_TOKEN=1eb140fd-cab4-40be-b862-41c607762246 MESH_SERIAL=/dev/ttyACM0 DEBUG=1 ./mesh.sh
+POTATOMESH_INSTANCE=http://127.0.0.1:41447 API_TOKEN=1eb140fd-cab4-40be-b862-41c607762246 CONNECTION=/dev/ttyACM0 DEBUG=1 ./mesh.sh
 [2025-02-20T12:34:56.789012Z] [potato-mesh] [info] channel=0 context=daemon.main port='41447' target='http://127.0.0.1' Mesh daemon starting
 [...]
 [2025-02-20T12:34:57.012345Z] [potato-mesh] [debug] context=handlers.upsert_node node_id=!849b7154 short_name='7154' long_name='7154' Queued node upsert payload
@@ -142,10 +142,10 @@ POTATOMESH_INSTANCE=http://127.0.0.1:41447 API_TOKEN=1eb140fd-cab4-40be-b862-41c
 
 Run the script with `POTATOMESH_INSTANCE` and `API_TOKEN` to keep updating
 node records and parsing new incoming messages. Enable debug output with `DEBUG=1`,
-specify the serial port with `MESH_SERIAL` (default `/dev/ttyACM0`) or set it to an IP
-address (for example `192.168.1.20:4403`) to use the Meshtastic TCP interface.
-`MESH_SERIAL` also accepts Bluetooth device addresses (e.g., `ED:4D:9E:95:CF:60`)
-and the script attempts a BLE connection if available.
+specify the connection target with `CONNECTION` (default `/dev/ttyACM0`) or set it to
+an IP address (for example `192.168.1.20:4403`) to use the Meshtastic TCP
+interface. `CONNECTION` also accepts Bluetooth device addresses (e.g.,
+`ED:4D:9E:95:CF:60`) and the script attempts a BLE connection if available.
 
 ## Demos
 
diff --git a/configure.sh b/configure.sh
index d86397f..3ebc76a 100755
--- a/configure.sh
+++ b/configure.sh
@@ -146,9 +146,18 @@ update_env "MATRIX_ROOM" "\"$MATRIX_ROOM\""
 update_env "API_TOKEN" "$API_TOKEN"
 update_env "POTATOMESH_IMAGE_ARCH" "$POTATOMESH_IMAGE_ARCH"
 
-# Add other common settings if they don't exist
-if ! grep -q "^MESH_SERIAL=" .env; then
-    echo "MESH_SERIAL=/dev/ttyACM0" >> .env
+# Migrate legacy connection settings and ensure defaults exist
+if grep -q "^MESH_SERIAL=" .env; then
+    legacy_connection=$(grep "^MESH_SERIAL=" .env | head -n1 | cut -d'=' -f2-)
+    if [ -n "$legacy_connection" ] && ! grep -q "^CONNECTION=" .env; then
+        echo "♻️  Migrating legacy MESH_SERIAL value to CONNECTION"
+        update_env "CONNECTION" "$legacy_connection"
+    fi
+    sed -i.bak '/^MESH_SERIAL=.*/d' .env
+fi
+
+if ! grep -q "^CONNECTION=" .env; then
+    echo "CONNECTION=/dev/ttyACM0" >> .env
 fi
 
 if ! grep -q "^DEBUG=" .env; then
diff --git a/data/Dockerfile b/data/Dockerfile
index fa0fb1f..c3b2200 100644
--- a/data/Dockerfile
+++ b/data/Dockerfile
@@ -34,9 +34,8 @@ RUN addgroup -S potatomesh && \
 
 USER potatomesh
 
-ENV MESH_SERIAL=/dev/ttyACM0 \
-    MESH_SNAPSHOT_SECS=60 \
-    MESH_CHANNEL_INDEX=0 \
+ENV CONNECTION=/dev/ttyACM0 \
+    CHANNEL_INDEX=0 \
     DEBUG=0 \
     POTATOMESH_INSTANCE="" \
     API_TOKEN=""
@@ -60,9 +59,8 @@ COPY data/ .
 
 USER ContainerUser
 
-ENV MESH_SERIAL=/dev/ttyACM0 \
-    MESH_SNAPSHOT_SECS=60 \
-    MESH_CHANNEL_INDEX=0 \
+ENV CONNECTION=/dev/ttyACM0 \
+    CHANNEL_INDEX=0 \
     DEBUG=0 \
     POTATOMESH_INSTANCE="" \
     API_TOKEN=""
diff --git a/data/mesh_ingestor/__init__.py b/data/mesh_ingestor/__init__.py
index 897d3f9..b2023f0 100644
--- a/data/mesh_ingestor/__init__.py
+++ b/data/mesh_ingestor/__init__.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ for _module in (daemon, handlers, interfaces, queue, serialization):
 _export_constants()
 
 _CONFIG_ATTRS = {
-    "PORT",
+    "CONNECTION",
     "SNAPSHOT_SECS",
     "CHANNEL_INDEX",
     "DEBUG",
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ _CONFIG_ATTRS = {
     "_debug_log",
 }
 
+# Legacy export maintained for backwards compatibility.
+_CONFIG_ATTRS.add("PORT")
+
 _INTERFACE_ATTRS = {"BLEInterface", "SerialInterface", "TCPInterface"}
 
 _QUEUE_ATTRS = set(queue.__all__)
diff --git a/data/mesh_ingestor/config.py b/data/mesh_ingestor/config.py
index c84505f..5a75c40 100644
--- a/data/mesh_ingestor/config.py
+++ b/data/mesh_ingestor/config.py
@@ -17,27 +17,63 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
+import sys
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from types import ModuleType
 from typing import Any
 
-PORT = os.environ.get("MESH_SERIAL")
-SNAPSHOT_SECS = int(os.environ.get("MESH_SNAPSHOT_SECS", "60"))
-CHANNEL_INDEX = int(os.environ.get("MESH_CHANNEL_INDEX", "0"))
+DEFAULT_SNAPSHOT_SECS = 60
+"""Default interval, in seconds, between state snapshot uploads."""
+
+DEFAULT_CHANNEL_INDEX = 0
+"""Default LoRa channel index used when none is specified."""
+
+DEFAULT_RECONNECT_INITIAL_DELAY_SECS = 5.0
+"""Initial reconnection delay applied after connection loss."""
+
+DEFAULT_RECONNECT_MAX_DELAY_SECS = 60.0
+"""Maximum reconnection backoff delay applied by the ingestor."""
+
+DEFAULT_CLOSE_TIMEOUT_SECS = 5.0
+"""Grace period for interface shutdown routines to complete."""
+
+DEFAULT_INACTIVITY_RECONNECT_SECS = float(60 * 60)
+"""Interval before forcing a reconnect when no packets are observed."""
+
+DEFAULT_ENERGY_ONLINE_DURATION_SECS = 300.0
+"""Duration to stay online before entering a low-power sleep cycle."""
+
+DEFAULT_ENERGY_SLEEP_SECS = float(6 * 60 * 60)
+"""Sleep duration used when energy saving mode is active."""
+
+CONNECTION = os.environ.get("CONNECTION") or os.environ.get("MESH_SERIAL")
+"""Optional connection target for the mesh interface.
+
+When unset, platform-specific defaults will be inferred by the interface
+implementations. The legacy :envvar:`MESH_SERIAL` environment variable is still
+accepted for backwards compatibility.
+"""
+
+SNAPSHOT_SECS = DEFAULT_SNAPSHOT_SECS
+"""Interval, in seconds, between state snapshot uploads."""
+
+CHANNEL_INDEX = int(os.environ.get("CHANNEL_INDEX", str(DEFAULT_CHANNEL_INDEX)))
+"""Index of the LoRa channel to select when connecting."""
+
 DEBUG = os.environ.get("DEBUG") == "1"
 INSTANCE = os.environ.get("POTATOMESH_INSTANCE", "").rstrip("/")
 API_TOKEN = os.environ.get("API_TOKEN", "")
 ENERGY_SAVING = os.environ.get("ENERGY_SAVING") == "1"
 
-_RECONNECT_INITIAL_DELAY_SECS = float(os.environ.get("MESH_RECONNECT_INITIAL", "5"))
-_RECONNECT_MAX_DELAY_SECS = float(os.environ.get("MESH_RECONNECT_MAX", "60"))
-_CLOSE_TIMEOUT_SECS = float(os.environ.get("MESH_CLOSE_TIMEOUT", "5"))
-_INACTIVITY_RECONNECT_SECS = float(
-    os.environ.get("MESH_INACTIVITY_RECONNECT_SECS", str(60 * 60))
-)
-_ENERGY_ONLINE_DURATION_SECS = float(
-    os.environ.get("ENERGY_ONLINE_DURATION_SECS", "300")
-)
-_ENERGY_SLEEP_SECS = float(os.environ.get("ENERGY_SLEEP_SECS", str(6 * 60 * 60)))
+_RECONNECT_INITIAL_DELAY_SECS = DEFAULT_RECONNECT_INITIAL_DELAY_SECS
+_RECONNECT_MAX_DELAY_SECS = DEFAULT_RECONNECT_MAX_DELAY_SECS
+_CLOSE_TIMEOUT_SECS = DEFAULT_CLOSE_TIMEOUT_SECS
+_INACTIVITY_RECONNECT_SECS = DEFAULT_INACTIVITY_RECONNECT_SECS
+_ENERGY_ONLINE_DURATION_SECS = DEFAULT_ENERGY_ONLINE_DURATION_SECS
+_ENERGY_SLEEP_SECS = DEFAULT_ENERGY_SLEEP_SECS
+
+# Backwards compatibility shim for legacy imports.
+PORT = CONNECTION
 
 
 def _debug_log(
@@ -75,7 +111,7 @@ def _debug_log(
 
 
 __all__ = [
-    "PORT",
+    "CONNECTION",
     "SNAPSHOT_SECS",
     "CHANNEL_INDEX",
     "DEBUG",
@@ -90,3 +126,19 @@ __all__ = [
     "_ENERGY_SLEEP_SECS",
     "_debug_log",
 ]
+
+
+class _ConfigModule(ModuleType):
+    """Module proxy that keeps connection aliases synchronised."""
+
+    def __setattr__(self, name: str, value: Any) -> None:  # type: ignore[override]
+        """Propagate CONNECTION/PORT assignments to both attributes."""
+
+        if name in {"CONNECTION", "PORT"}:
+            super().__setattr__("CONNECTION", value)
+            super().__setattr__("PORT", value)
+            return
+        super().__setattr__(name, value)
+
+
+sys.modules[__name__].__class__ = _ConfigModule
diff --git a/data/mesh_ingestor/daemon.py b/data/mesh_ingestor/daemon.py
index ffad927..0cf56db 100644
--- a/data/mesh_ingestor/daemon.py
+++ b/data/mesh_ingestor/daemon.py
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ def main() -> None:
     signal.signal(signal.SIGTERM, handle_sigterm)
 
     target = config.INSTANCE or "(no POTATOMESH_INSTANCE)"
-    configured_port = config.PORT
+    configured_port = config.CONNECTION
     active_candidate = configured_port
     announced_target = False
     config._debug_log(
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index f559d8f..11ce429 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -29,9 +29,8 @@ x-web-base: &web-base
 x-ingestor-base: &ingestor-base
   image: ghcr.io/l5yth/potato-mesh-ingestor-${POTATOMESH_IMAGE_ARCH:-linux-amd64}:latest
   environment:
-    MESH_SERIAL: ${MESH_SERIAL:-/dev/ttyACM0}
-    MESH_SNAPSHOT_SECS: ${MESH_SNAPSHOT_SECS:-60}
-    MESH_CHANNEL_INDEX: ${MESH_CHANNEL_INDEX:-0}
+    CONNECTION: ${CONNECTION:-/dev/ttyACM0}
+    CHANNEL_INDEX: ${CHANNEL_INDEX:-0}
     POTATOMESH_INSTANCE: ${POTATOMESH_INSTANCE:-http://web:41447}
     API_TOKEN: ${API_TOKEN}
     DEBUG: ${DEBUG:-0}
@@ -39,7 +38,7 @@ x-ingestor-base: &ingestor-base
     - potatomesh_data:/app/data
     - potatomesh_logs:/app/logs
   devices:
-    - ${MESH_SERIAL:-/dev/ttyACM0}:${MESH_SERIAL:-/dev/ttyACM0}
+    - ${CONNECTION:-/dev/ttyACM0}:${CONNECTION:-/dev/ttyACM0}
   privileged: false
   restart: unless-stopped
   deploy:
diff --git a/tests/dump.py b/tests/dump.py
index 81059da..c5c606f 100644
--- a/tests/dump.py
+++ b/tests/dump.py
@@ -28,7 +28,10 @@ from meshtastic.mesh_interface import MeshInterface
 from meshtastic.serial_interface import SerialInterface
 from pubsub import pub
 
-PORT = os.environ.get("MESH_SERIAL", "/dev/ttyACM0")
+CONNECTION = os.environ.get("CONNECTION") or os.environ.get(
+    "MESH_SERIAL", "/dev/ttyACM0"
+)
+"""Connection target opened to capture Meshtastic traffic."""
 OUT = os.environ.get("MESH_DUMP_FILE", "meshtastic-dump.ndjson")
 
 # line-buffered append so you can tail -f safely
@@ -54,7 +57,7 @@ def write(kind: str, payload: dict) -> None:
 
 
 # Connect to the node
-iface: MeshInterface = SerialInterface(PORT)
+iface: MeshInterface = SerialInterface(CONNECTION)
 
 
 # Packet callback: every RF/Mesh packet the node receives/decodes lands here
@@ -92,12 +95,12 @@ try:
         "meta",
         {
             "event": "started",
-            "port": PORT,
+            "port": CONNECTION,
             "my_node_num": getattr(my, "my_node_num", None) if my else None,
         },
     )
 except Exception as e:
-    write("meta", {"event": "started", "port": PORT, "error": str(e)})
+    write("meta", {"event": "started", "port": CONNECTION, "error": str(e)})
 
 
 # Keep the process alive until Ctrl-C