Use numerical acks

app/CLAUDE.md

@@ -258,6 +258,11 @@ KeyStore.clear_private_key()
 
 ## ACK and Repeat Detection
 
+The `acked` field is an integer count, not a boolean:
+- `0` = not acked
+- `1` = one ACK/echo received
+- `2+` = multiple flood echoes received
+
 ### Direct Message ACKs
 
 When sending a direct message, an expected ACK code is tracked:
@@ -267,7 +272,7 @@ from app.event_handlers import track_pending_ack
 track_pending_ack(expected_ack="abc123", message_id=42, timeout_ms=30000)
 ```
 
-When ACK event arrives, the message is marked as acked.
+When ACK event arrives, the message's ack count is incremented.
 
 ### Channel Message Repeats
 
@@ -276,7 +281,10 @@ Flood messages echo back through repeaters. Detection uses:
 - Text hash
 - Timestamp (±5 second window)
 
-When a repeat is detected, the original outgoing message is marked as "acked".
+Each repeat increments the ack count. The frontend displays:
+- `?` = no acks
+- `✓` = 1 echo
+- `✓2`, `✓3`, etc. = multiple echoes (real-time updates via WebSocket)
 
 ### Auto-Contact Sync to Radio
 

app/event_handlers.py

@@ -180,8 +180,8 @@ async def on_ack(event: "Event") -> None:
         message_id, _, _ = _pending_acks.pop(ack_code)
         logger.info("ACK received for message %d", message_id)
 
-        await MessageRepository.mark_acked(message_id)
-        broadcast_event("message_acked", {"message_id": message_id})
+        ack_count = await MessageRepository.increment_ack_count(message_id)
+        broadcast_event("message_acked", {"message_id": message_id, "ack_count": ack_count})
     else:
         logger.debug("ACK code %s does not match any pending messages", ack_code)
 

app/models.py

@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class Message(BaseModel):
     txt_type: int = 0
     signature: str | None = None
     outgoing: bool = False
-    acked: bool = False
+    acked: int = 0
 
 
 class RawPacket(BaseModel):

app/packet_processor.py

@@ -230,8 +230,8 @@ async def _process_group_text(
                 # Don't pop - let it expire naturally so subsequent repeats via
                 # different radio paths are also caught as duplicates
                 logger.info("Repeat detected for channel message %d", message_id)
-                await MessageRepository.mark_acked(message_id)
-                broadcast_event("message_acked", {"message_id": message_id})
+                ack_count = await MessageRepository.increment_ack_count(message_id)
+                broadcast_event("message_acked", {"message_id": message_id, "ack_count": ack_count})
                 is_repeat = True
                 break
 

app/repository.py

@@ -313,17 +313,23 @@ class MessageRepository:
                 txt_type=row["txt_type"],
                 signature=row["signature"],
                 outgoing=bool(row["outgoing"]),
-                acked=bool(row["acked"]),
+                acked=row["acked"],
             )
             for row in rows
         ]
 
     @staticmethod
-    async def mark_acked(message_id: int) -> None:
+    async def increment_ack_count(message_id: int) -> int:
+        """Increment ack count and return the new value."""
         await db.conn.execute(
-            "UPDATE messages SET acked = 1 WHERE id = ?", (message_id,)
+            "UPDATE messages SET acked = acked + 1 WHERE id = ?", (message_id,)
         )
         await db.conn.commit()
+        cursor = await db.conn.execute(
+            "SELECT acked FROM messages WHERE id = ?", (message_id,)
+        )
+        row = await cursor.fetchone()
+        return row["acked"] if row else 1
 
     @staticmethod
     async def find_duplicate(
@@ -398,7 +404,7 @@ class MessageRepository:
                     txt_type=row["txt_type"],
                     signature=row["signature"],
                     outgoing=bool(row["outgoing"]),
-                    acked=bool(row["acked"]),
+                    acked=row["acked"],
                 )
                 for row in rows
             ]