diff --git a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/README.md b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/README.md
index 7e960b68..147d3602 100644
--- a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/README.md
+++ b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/README.md
@@ -25,6 +25,23 @@ This firmware captures WiFi Channel State Information (CSI) from an ESP32-S3 and
 
 For users who want to get running fast. Detailed explanations follow in later sections.
 
+### 0. Pre-built binaries (v0.6.5 — skip the build step)
+
+Pre-built binaries are in `firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/` (version: see `release_bins/version.txt`).
+Flash them directly:
+
+```bash
+python -m esptool --chip esp32s3 --port COM7 --baud 460800 \
+  write_flash --flash_mode dio --flash_size 8MB \
+  0x0     firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/bootloader.bin \
+  0x8000  firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/partition-table.bin \
+  0xf000  firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/ota_data_initial.bin \
+  0x20000 firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/esp32-csi-node.bin
+```
+
+For 4 MB boards use `release_bins/esp32-csi-node-4mb.bin` and `release_bins/partition-table-4mb.bin`
+with `--flash_size 4MB`.
+
 ### 1. Build (Docker -- the only reliable method)
 
 ```bash
@@ -294,8 +311,9 @@ python -m serial.tools.miniterm COM7 115200
 Expected output after boot:
 
 ```
-I (321) main: ESP32-S3 CSI Node (ADR-018) -- Node ID: 1
-I (345) main: WiFi STA initialized, connecting to SSID: wifi-densepose
+I (396) csi_collector: Early capture node_id=1 (before WiFi init, #232/#390)
+I (406) main: ESP32-S3 CSI Node (ADR-018) -- v0.6.5 -- Node ID: 1
+I (566) main: WiFi STA initialized, connecting to SSID: wifi-densepose
 I (1023) main: Connected to WiFi
 I (1025) main: CSI streaming active -> 192.168.1.100:5005 (edge_tier=2, OTA=ready, WASM=ready)
 ```
diff --git a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/provision.py b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/provision.py
index 76d57058..d87ccd04 100644
--- a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/provision.py
+++ b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/provision.py
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ def flash_nvs(port, baud, nvs_bin, chip):
             "--chip", chip,
             "--port", port,
             "--baud", str(baud),
-            "write-flash",
+            "write_flash",
             hex(NVS_PARTITION_OFFSET), bin_path,
         ]
         print(f"Flashing NVS partition ({len(nvs_bin)} bytes) to {port} (chip={chip})...")
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ def main():
             f.write(nvs_bin)
         print(f"NVS binary saved to {out} ({len(nvs_bin)} bytes)")
         print(f"Flash manually: python -m esptool --chip {args.chip} --port {args.port} "
-              f"write-flash 0x9000 {out}")
+              f"write_flash 0x9000 {out}")
         # Persist merged state even on dry-run so a subsequent real flash from
         # this machine sees the same staged config.
         path = save_state(args.port, args.state_dir, merged)
diff --git a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/bootloader.bin b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/bootloader.bin
index 97bd8823..5dd2df2e 100644
Binary files a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/bootloader.bin and b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/bootloader.bin differ
diff --git a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/esp32-csi-node-4mb.bin b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/esp32-csi-node-4mb.bin
index 48b8b141..70f4a050 100644
Binary files a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/esp32-csi-node-4mb.bin and b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/esp32-csi-node-4mb.bin differ
diff --git a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/esp32-csi-node.bin b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/esp32-csi-node.bin
index 9ff70d51..a7be017b 100644
Binary files a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/esp32-csi-node.bin and b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/esp32-csi-node.bin differ
diff --git a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/version.txt b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/version.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f5ae7e6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/release_bins/version.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+0.6.5
+git-sha: d72e06fc8
+built: 2026-05-20