Mesh Lite node communication: ESPNOW_NOT_FOUND error

[BrookR]

Set up:
1x ESP32S3 n16r2
2x ESP-WROOM-32

Goal:
To get the mesh lite lib to work for Master/root-to-node communication of a JSON packet with MAC address targeting

method:
using the same firmware (changing it for the different hardwares) and the following line of code:
"esp_mesh_lite_espnow_send(ESPNOW_DATA_TYPE_MESH_LITE_CORE,Target_mac,&dataout,100);"
where Target_mac is the Mac address the packet is being aimed at, the dataout is the JSON packet.

I've set up the mesh using the default macro:
"esp_mesh_lite_config_t mesh_lite_config = ESP_MESH_LITE_DEFAULT_INIT();"

Problems:
When I look at the serial monitors the esp32S3 is on channel 7 and is root and one of my esp-WROOM-32s is the master on channel 7 and has the other esp-WROOM-32 as it's child.

When I trigger the send function mentioned above, the packet is received by all nodes. However, when the root receives it the command to send, the "ESPNOW_NOT_FOUND" error (error code 12393) is seen.

Side note:
When looking at the used esp_mesh_lite components installed it is still 2 versions before the 19/07/24 release that is out on git. Any reason for this?

Thanks for any assistance!

[BrookR]

Update:
I've since moved to a mesh network of all S3's and none of the nodes see or connect to each other. ESP-WROOM-32s see each other... is the mesh_lite library bugged with S3 hardware?