diff --git a/avrrfm.c b/avrrfm.c
index ad8216f..7fc454f 100644
--- a/avrrfm.c
+++ b/avrrfm.c
@@ -33,13 +33,10 @@
 #include "dejavu.h"
 #include "unifont.h"
 
-#define MEASURE_INTS    4  // about 32 seconds
-
 #define LABEL_OFFSET    10
-
-#define BLACK   0x0000
-#define RED     0xf800
-#define WHITE   0xffff
+#define BLACK           0x0000
+#define RED             0xf800
+#define WHITE           0xffff
 
 #define NODE1   0x24
 #define NODE2   0x42
@@ -48,9 +45,6 @@
     #define RECEIVER    1
 #endif
 
-/* 1 int = 8 seconds */
-static volatile uint8_t wdints = 0;
-
 /* Temp. label coordinates */
 static x_t xl = 0;
 static y_t yl = 0;
@@ -59,15 +53,14 @@
 static width_t width = 0;
 
 /**
- * Called when the watchdog barks.
+ * Called when the watchdog barks to wake up the transmitter.
  */
 ISR(WDT_vect) {
-    wdints++;
+    barkRadio();
 }
 
 /**
- * Called about 30 times a second while the controller 
- * isn't in power down sleep mode.
+ * Called while the controller isn't in power down sleep mode.
  */
 ISR(TIMER0_COMPA_vect) {
     timeRadio();
@@ -298,9 +291,7 @@
         // _delay_ms(1000);
 
         if (!RECEIVER) {
-            if (wdints % MEASURE_INTS == 0) {
-                wdints = 0;
-
+            if (wouldTransmit()) {
                 enableSPI();
                 wakeTSens();
                 wakeRadio();
diff --git a/rfm69.c b/rfm69.c
index cbf0757..26d594a 100644
--- a/rfm69.c
+++ b/rfm69.c
@@ -11,8 +11,11 @@
 static volatile uint8_t irqFlags1 = 0;
 static volatile uint8_t irqFlags2 = 0;
 
-static volatile bool timeoutEnabled = false;
-static volatile uint8_t timeoutInts = 0;
+static uint8_t watchdogInts = 0;
+static uint8_t measureInts = TRANSMIT_FAST;
+static uint8_t timeoutInts = 0;
+static uint8_t timeoutCount = 0;
+static bool timeoutEnabled = false;
 
 /**
  * Selects the radio to talk to via SPI.
@@ -86,6 +89,10 @@
  */
 static void timeout(void) {
     irqFlags1 |= (1 << 2);
+    if (timeoutCount++ > MAX_TIMEOUTS) {
+        measureInts = TRANSMIT_SLOW;
+        timeoutCount = 0;
+    }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -217,6 +224,20 @@
     return regRead(PA_LEVEL);
 }
 
+void barkRadio(void) {
+    watchdogInts++;
+}
+
+bool wouldTransmit(void) {
+    if (watchdogInts % measureInts == 0) {
+        watchdogInts = 0;
+        
+        return true;
+    }
+    
+    return false;
+}
+
 void timeRadio(void) {
     if (timeoutEnabled && timeoutInts++ >= TIMEOUT_INTS) {
         timeoutEnable(false);
@@ -285,10 +306,15 @@
     bool timedout = irqFlags1 & (1 << 2);
     
     clearIrqFlags();
-    if (ready) timeoutEnable(false);
+    if (ready) {
+        timeoutEnable(false);
+        timeoutCount = 0;
+        measureInts = TRANSMIT_FAST;
+    }
     setMode(MODE_STDBY);
 
     if (timedout) {
+        // full power as last resort
         regWrite(PA_LEVEL, 0x5f);
 
         return 0;
diff --git a/rfm69.h b/rfm69.h
index 113953e..d0c9c71 100644
--- a/rfm69.h
+++ b/rfm69.h
@@ -80,7 +80,10 @@
 #define F_STEP          6103515625ULL
 #define CAST_ADDRESS    0x84
 
-#define TIMEOUT_INTS    3 // about 100 milliseconds 
+#define TRANSMIT_FAST   1 // 4 ~ 32 seconds
+#define TRANSMIT_SLOW   9 // 38 ~ 5 minutes
+#define TIMEOUT_INTS    3 // about 100 milliseconds
+#define MAX_TIMEOUTS    9 // slow down tx attempts after so many timeouts
 
 /**
  * Initializes the radio module with the given carrier frequency in kilohertz
@@ -103,6 +106,18 @@
 uint8_t getOutputPower(void);
 
 /**
+ * Gives a watchdog "wakeup" pulse to the radio.
+ */
+void barkRadio(void);
+
+/**
+ * Returns true if the transmitter would actually transmit.
+ * 
+ * @return transmit or not
+ */
+bool wouldTransmit(void);
+
+/**
  * Gives a timer pulse to the radio.
  */
 void timeRadio(void);