diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index da5cecb..6555353 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 with an RSSI of about -90 dBm at about 2.2 km distance - with simple wire 
 antennas. What would be the range with +20 dBm and decent antennas?  
 
-![IMG_20250306_180139c](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/27c66e7a-ec16-4e98-9f94-7713fe54c7d0)
+![IMG_20250315_175920c](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/03405774-57c2-42f1-a39a-8fa4cc2801ac)
 
 ![FieldTest3](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/f2289f8e-1f81-4b85-9146-07c2ce1bb563)
 
diff --git a/avrrfm.c b/avrrfm.c
index 3bb8a35..ae9c233 100644
--- a/avrrfm.c
+++ b/avrrfm.c
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 #include "unifont.h"
 
 #define MEASURE_INTS    4  // about 32 seconds
-#define TIMEOUT_INTS    30 // about one second
 
 #define LABEL_OFFSET    10
 
@@ -52,9 +51,6 @@
 /* 1 int = 8 seconds */
 static volatile uint8_t wdints = 0;
 
-static volatile bool toena = false;
-static volatile uint8_t toints = 0;
-
 /* Temp. label coordinates */
 static x_t xl = 0;
 static y_t yl = 0;
@@ -62,18 +58,13 @@
 static y_t yo = 0;
 static width_t width = 0;
 
+/**
+ * Called when the watchdog barks.
+ */
 ISR(WDT_vect) {
     wdints++;
 }
 
-ISR(TIMER0_COMPA_vect) {
-    if (toena && toints++ >= TIMEOUT_INTS) {
-        toints = 0;
-        toena = false;
-        timeoutRadio();
-    }
-}
-
 /**
  * Sets up the pins.
  */
@@ -189,7 +180,7 @@
  * Waits for a response from the receiver with timeout.
  */
 static void waitResponse(void) {
-    toena = true;
+    timeoutEnable(true);
     uint8_t response[1];
     int8_t len = receivePayload(response, sizeof (response));
     if (len > 0) {
@@ -301,8 +292,7 @@
                 uint8_t rssi = readRssi();
                 Temperature temp = readTemp();
 
-                // TODO delay?
-                _delay_ms(10);
+                // communicate RSSI back to transmitter
                 uint8_t payload[] = {rssi};
                 transmitPayload(payload, sizeof (payload), NODE2);
 
diff --git a/rfm69.c b/rfm69.c
index 90bbd36..4cb7552 100644
--- a/rfm69.c
+++ b/rfm69.c
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
 static volatile uint8_t irqFlags1 = 0;
 static volatile uint8_t irqFlags2 = 0;
 
+static volatile bool toena = false;
+static volatile uint8_t toints = 0;
+
 /**
  * Selects the radio to talk to via SPI.
  */
@@ -68,12 +71,27 @@
     irqFlags2 = 0;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Reads interrupt flags when a radio interrupt occurs.
+ */
 ISR(INT0_vect) {
     irqFlags1 = regRead(IRQ_FLAGS1);
     irqFlags2 = regRead(IRQ_FLAGS2);
     // printString("irq\r\n");
 }
 
+/**
+ * Called about 30 times a second while the controller 
+ * isn't in power down sleep mode.
+ */
+ISR(TIMER0_COMPA_vect) {
+    if (toena && toints++ >= TIMEOUT_INTS) {
+        toints = 0;
+        toena = false;
+        timeoutRadio();
+    }
+}
+
 void initRadio(uint64_t freq, uint8_t node) {
     // wait a bit after power on
     _delay_ms(10);
@@ -194,6 +212,11 @@
     return regRead(PA_LEVEL);
 }
 
+void timeoutEnable(bool enable) {
+    toena = enable;
+    if (!enable) toints = 0;
+}
+
 void timeoutRadio(void) {
     irqFlags1 |= (1 << 2);
 }
@@ -254,8 +277,11 @@
 
     // wait until "PayloadReady" or timeout
     do {} while (!(irqFlags2 & (1 << 2)) && !(irqFlags1 & (1 << 2)));
+    bool ready = irqFlags2 & (1 << 2);
     bool timeout = irqFlags1 & (1 << 2);
+    
     clearIrqFlags();
+    if (ready) timeoutEnable(false);
     setMode(MODE_STDBY);
 
     if (timeout) {
diff --git a/rfm69.h b/rfm69.h
index b9530ef..baab99a 100644
--- a/rfm69.h
+++ b/rfm69.h
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@
 #define F_STEP          6103515625ULL
 #define CAST_ADDRESS    0x84
 
+#define TIMEOUT_INTS    3 // about 100 milliseconds 
+
 /**
  * Initializes the radio module with the given carrier frequency in kilohertz
  * and node address.
@@ -101,6 +103,13 @@
 uint8_t getOutputPower(void);
 
 /**
+ * Enables or disables the radio timeout.
+ * 
+ * @param enable
+ */
+void timeoutEnable(bool enable);
+
+/**
  * Indicates a timeout.
  */
 void timeoutRadio(void);