diff --git a/meshtastic/__main__.py b/meshtastic/__main__.py
index 8f2aaf92..fa258c81 100644
--- a/meshtastic/__main__.py
+++ b/meshtastic/__main__.py
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ def setPref(config, comp_name, raw_val) -> bool:
     logging.debug(f"valStr:{raw_val} val:{val}")
 
     if snake_name == "wifi_psk" and len(str(raw_val)) < 8:
-        print(f"Warning: network.wifi_psk must be 8 or more characters.")
+        print("Warning: network.wifi_psk must be 8 or more characters.")
         return False
 
     enumType = pref.enum_type
@@ -1342,7 +1342,8 @@ def addSelectionArgs(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> argparse.ArgumentParser
 
     group.add_argument(
         "--dest",
-        help="The destination node id for any sent commands, if not set '^all' or '^local' is assumed as appropriate",
+        help="The destination node id for any sent commands. If not set '^all' or '^local' is assumed."
+        "Use the node ID with a '!' or '0x' prefix or the node number.",
         default=None,
         metavar="!xxxxxxxx",
     )
@@ -1646,7 +1647,7 @@ def addRemoteActionArgs(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> argparse.ArgumentPar
         "--traceroute",
         help="Traceroute from connected node to a destination. "
         "You need pass the destination ID as argument, like "
-        "this: '--traceroute !ba4bf9d0' "
+        "this: '--traceroute !ba4bf9d0' | '--traceroute 0xba4bf9d0'"
         "Only nodes with a shared channel can be traced.",
         metavar="!xxxxxxxx",
     )
@@ -1727,27 +1728,32 @@ def addRemoteAdminArgs(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> argparse.ArgumentPars
 
     group.add_argument(
         "--remove-node",
-        help="Tell the destination node to remove a specific node from its DB, by node number or ID",
+        help="Tell the destination node to remove a specific node from its NodeDB. "
+        "Use the node ID with a '!' or '0x' prefix or the node number.",
         metavar="!xxxxxxxx"
     )
     group.add_argument(
         "--set-favorite-node",
-        help="Tell the destination node to set the specified node to be favorited on the NodeDB on the devicein its DB, by number or ID",
+        help="Tell the destination node to set the specified node to be favorited on the NodeDB. "
+        "Use the node ID with a '!' or '0x' prefix or the node number.",
         metavar="!xxxxxxxx"
     )
     group.add_argument(
         "--remove-favorite-node",
-        help="Tell the destination node to set the specified node to be un-favorited on the NodeDB on the device, by number or ID",
+        help="Tell the destination node to set the specified node to be un-favorited on the NodeDB. "
+        "Use the node ID with a '!' or '0x' prefix or the node number.",
         metavar="!xxxxxxxx"
     )
     group.add_argument(
         "--set-ignored-node",
-        help="Tell the destination node to set the specified node to be ignored on the NodeDB on the devicein its DB, by number or ID",
+        help="Tell the destination node to set the specified node to be ignored on the NodeDB. "
+        "Use the node ID with a '!' or '0x' prefix or the node number.",
         metavar="!xxxxxxxx"
     )
     group.add_argument(
         "--remove-ignored-node",
-        help="Tell the destination node to set the specified node to be un-ignored on the NodeDB on the device, by number or ID",
+        help="Tell the destination node to set the specified node to be un-ignored on the NodeDB. "
+        "Use the node ID with a '!' or '0x' prefix or the node number.",
         metavar="!xxxxxxxx"
     )
     group.add_argument(
diff --git a/meshtastic/mesh_interface.py b/meshtastic/mesh_interface.py
index 57545c64..d21059b3 100644
--- a/meshtastic/mesh_interface.py
+++ b/meshtastic/mesh_interface.py
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ def getNode(
                         if new_index != last_index:
                             retries_left = requestChannelAttempts - 1
                         if retries_left <= 0:
-                            our_exit(f"Error: Timed out waiting for channels, giving up")
+                            our_exit("Error: Timed out waiting for channels, giving up")
                         print("Timed out trying to retrieve channel info, retrying")
                         n.requestChannels(startingIndex=new_index)
                         last_index = new_index
@@ -892,8 +892,10 @@ def _sendPacket(
             else:
                 our_exit("Warning: No myInfo found.")
         # A simple hex style nodeid - we can parse this without needing the DB
-        elif destinationId.startswith("!"):
-            nodeNum = int(destinationId[1:], 16)
+        elif isinstance(destinationId, str) and len(destinationId) >= 8:
+            # assuming some form of node id string such as !1234578 or 0x12345678
+            # always grab the last 8 items of the hexadecimal id str and parse to integer
+            nodeNum = int(destinationId[-8:], 16)
         else:
             if self.nodes:
                 node = self.nodes.get(destinationId)
@@ -927,7 +929,7 @@ def _sendPacket(
         toRadio.packet.CopyFrom(meshPacket)
         if self.noProto:
             logging.warning(
-                f"Not sending packet because protocol use is disabled by noProto"
+                "Not sending packet because protocol use is disabled by noProto"
             )
         else:
             logging.debug(f"Sending packet: {stripnl(meshPacket)}")
@@ -1116,7 +1118,7 @@ def _sendToRadio(self, toRadio: mesh_pb2.ToRadio) -> None:
         """Send a ToRadio protobuf to the device"""
         if self.noProto:
             logging.warning(
-                f"Not sending packet because protocol use is disabled by noProto"
+                "Not sending packet because protocol use is disabled by noProto"
             )
         else:
             # logging.debug(f"Sending toRadio: {stripnl(toRadio)}")