Bump version to 1.5.9 in pyproject.toml

Merge pull request #281 from pdxlocations/replies
Support replies
2026-10-31 16:21:57 +01:00 · 2026-07-18 22:25:00 -07:00 · 2026-07-18 22:23:33 -07:00 · 2026-07-18 22:21:55 -07:00 · 2026-07-18 21:34:40 -07:00 · 2026-07-18 21:34:07 -07:00
25 changed files with 1574 additions and 215 deletions
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ For smaller displays you may wish to enable `single_pane_mode`:
 - `CTRL` + `t` or `F4` = With the Node List highlighted, send a traceroute to the selected node
 - `F5` = Display a node's info
 - `CTRL` + `f` = With the Node List highlighted, favorite the selected node
+- `CTRL` + `b` = Enable/Disable Autoresponder Bot (ping / pong)
 - `CTRL` + `g` = With the Node List highlighted, ignore the selected node 
 - `CTRL` + `d` = With the Channel List hightlighted, archive a chat to reduce UI clutter. Messages will be saved in the db and repopulate if you send or receive a DM from this user.
 - `CTRL` + `d` = With the Note List highlghted, remove a node from your nodedb.
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ logging.basicConfig(

 app_state.lock = threading.Lock()

+DEFAULT_CLOSE_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 5.0
+

 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Main Program Logic
@@ -72,11 +74,36 @@ def prompt_region_if_unset(args: object, stdscr: Optional[curses.window] = None)
        interface_state.interface = reconnect_interface(args)


-def close_interface(interface: object) -> None:
+def close_interface(interface: object, timeout_seconds: float = DEFAULT_CLOSE_TIMEOUT_SECONDS) -> bool:
    if interface is None:
-        return
-    with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
-        interface.close()
+        return True
+
+    close_errors = []
+
+    def _close_target() -> None:
+        try:
+            interface.close()
+        except BaseException as error:  # Keep shutdown resilient even for KeyboardInterrupt/SystemExit from libraries.
+            close_errors.append(error)
+
+    close_thread = threading.Thread(target=_close_target, name="meshtastic-interface-close", daemon=True)
+    close_thread.start()
+    close_thread.join(timeout_seconds)
+
+    if close_thread.is_alive():
+        logging.warning("Timed out closing interface after %.1fs; continuing shutdown", timeout_seconds)
+        return False
+
+    if not close_errors:
+        return True
+
+    error = close_errors[0]
+    if isinstance(error, KeyboardInterrupt):
+        logging.info("Interrupted while closing interface; continuing shutdown")
+        return True
+
+    logging.warning("Ignoring error while closing interface: %r", error)
+    return True


 def interface_is_ready(interface: object) -> bool:
@@ -205,23 +232,32 @@ def start() -> None:
        setup_parser().print_help()
        sys.exit(0)

+    interrupted = False
+    fatal_error = None
+
    try:
        curses.wrapper(main)
-        close_interface(interface_state.interface)
    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        interrupted = True
        logging.info("User exited with Ctrl+C")
-        close_interface(interface_state.interface)
-        sys.exit(0)
    except Exception as e:
+        fatal_error = e
        logging.critical("Fatal error", exc_info=True)
        try:
            curses.endwin()
        except Exception:
            pass
-        print("Fatal error:", e)
+    finally:
+        close_interface(interface_state.interface)
+
+    if fatal_error is not None:
+        print("Fatal error:", fatal_error)
        traceback.print_exc()
        sys.exit(1)

+    if interrupted:
+        sys.exit(0)
+

 if __name__ == "__main__":
    start()
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ dialog.traceroute_not_sent_body, "Please wait {seconds} seconds before sending a
 dialog.traceroute_sent_title, "Traceroute Sent To: {name}", ""
 dialog.traceroute_sent_body, "Results will appear in messages window.", ""
 dialog.help_title, "Help - Shortcut Keys", ""
+dialog.reply_unavailable_title, "Reply unavailable", ""
+dialog.reply_unavailable_body, "This message has no packet ID, so Contact cannot send a native Meshtastic reply.", ""
 help.scroll, "Up/Down = Scroll", ""
 help.switch_window, "Left/Right = Switch window", ""
 help.jump_windows, "F1/F2/F3 = Jump to Channel/Messages/Nodes", ""
@@ -74,10 +76,12 @@ help.enter, "ENTER = Send / Select", ""
 help.settings, "` or F12 = Settings", ""
 help.quit, "ESC = Quit", ""
 help.packet_log, "Ctrl+P = Toggle Packet Log", ""
+help.reply, "Ctrl+R = Reply to message at cursor", ""
 help.traceroute, "Ctrl+T or F4 = Traceroute", ""
 help.node_info, "F5 = Full node info", ""
 help.archive_chat, "Ctrl+D = Archive chat / remove node", ""
 help.favorite, "Ctrl+F = Favorite", ""
+help.bot_responder, "Ctrl+B = Toggle Bot Responder", ""
 help.ignore, "Ctrl+G = Ignore", ""
 help.search, "Ctrl+/ or / = Search", ""
 help.help, "Ctrl+K = Help", ""
@@ -90,6 +94,11 @@ confirm.remove_ignored, "Remove {name} from Ignored?", ""
 confirm.region_unset, "Your region is UNSET.  Set it now?", ""
 dialog.resize_title, "Resize Terminal", ""
 dialog.resize_body, "Please resize the terminal to at least {rows} rows.", ""
+bot.status.enabled, "Enabled", ""
+bot.status.disabled, "Disabled", ""
+bot.dialog.title, "Bot Responder", ""
+bot.dialog.body, "Bot responder is now {status}.", ""
+bot.status.message, "Bot responder is now {status}.", ""

 [User Settings]
 user, "User"
@@ -116,10 +125,16 @@ nak_str, "NAK", ""
 ack_unknown_str, "ACK (unknown)", ""
 node_sort, "Node sort", ""
 theme, "Theme", ""
+ping_bot, "Ping Bot", ""
 COLOR_CONFIG_DARK, "Theme colors (dark)", ""
 COLOR_CONFIG_LIGHT, "Theme colors (light)", ""
 COLOR_CONFIG_GREEN, "Theme colors (green)", ""

+[app_settings.ping_bot]
+title, "Ping Bot", ""
+catch_words, "Catch words", "Semicolon-separated bot trigger words."
+response_word, "Response word", "Bot response word."
+
 [app_settings.color_config]
 default, "Default", ""
 background, "Background", ""
@@ -0,0 +1,209 @@
+##field_name, "Nom du champ lisible avec première lettre en majuscule", "Texte d'aide avec [warning]avertissements[/warning], [note]notes[/note], [underline]soulignements[/underline], \033[31mcodes couleur ANSI\033[0m et \nsauts de ligne."
+Main Menu, "Menu principal", ""
+User Settings, "Paramètres utilisateur", ""
+Channels, "Canaux", ""
+Radio Settings, "Paramètres radio", ""
+Module Settings, "Paramètres des modules", ""
+App Settings, "Paramètres de l'application", ""
+Export Config File, "Exporter le fichier de configuration", ""
+Load Config File, "Charger le fichier de configuration", ""
+Config URL, "URL de configuration", ""
+Reboot, "Redémarrer", ""
+Reset Node DB, "Réinitialiser la base de données des nœuds", ""
+Shutdown, "Éteindre", ""
+Factory Reset, "Réinitialisation d'usine", ""
+factory_reset_config, "Réinitialiser la configuration d'usine", ""
+Exit, "Quitter", ""
+Yes, "Oui", ""
+No, "Non", ""
+Cancel, "Annuler", ""
+
+[ui]
+save_changes, "Enregistrer les modifications", ""
+dialog.invalid_input, "Entrée invalide", ""
+prompt.enter_new_value, "Entrer une nouvelle valeur : ", ""
+error.value_empty, "La valeur ne peut pas être vide.", ""
+error.value_exact_length, "La valeur doit comporter exactement {length} caractères.", ""
+error.value_min_length, "La valeur doit comporter au moins {length} caractères.", ""
+error.value_max_length, "La valeur ne doit pas dépasser {length} caractères.", ""
+error.digits_only, "Seuls les chiffres (0-9) sont autorisés.", ""
+error.number_range, "Entrez un nombre entre {min_value} et {max_value}.", ""
+error.float_invalid, "Doit être un nombre à virgule flottante valide.", ""
+prompt.edit_admin_keys, "Modifier jusqu'à 3 clés administrateur :", ""
+label.admin_key, "Clé administrateur", ""
+error.admin_key_invalid, "Erreur : chaque clé doit être en Base64 valide et faire 32 octets !", ""
+prompt.edit_values, "Modifier jusqu'à 3 valeurs :", ""
+label.value, "Valeur", ""
+prompt.enter_ip, "Entrez une adresse IP (xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) :", ""
+label.current, "Actuel", ""
+label.new_value, "Nouvelle valeur", ""
+label.editing, "Modification de {label}", ""
+label.current_value, "Valeur actuelle :", ""
+error.ip_invalid, "Adresse IP invalide. Réessayez.", ""
+prompt.select_foreground_color, "Sélectionner la couleur de premier plan pour {label}", ""
+prompt.select_background_color, "Sélectionner la couleur d'arrière-plan pour {label}", ""
+prompt.select_value, "Sélectionner {label}", ""
+confirm.save_before_exit, "Vous avez des modifications non enregistrées. Enregistrer avant de quitter ?", ""
+prompt.config_filename, "Entrez un nom de fichier pour le fichier de configuration", ""
+confirm.overwrite_file, "{filename} existe déjà. Écraser ?", ""
+dialog.config_saved_title, "Fichier de configuration enregistré :", ""
+dialog.no_config_files, " Aucun fichier de configuration trouvé. Exportez-en un d'abord.", ""
+prompt.choose_config_file, "Choisissez un fichier de configuration", ""
+confirm.load_config_file, "Êtes-vous sûr de vouloir charger {filename} ?", ""
+prompt.config_url_current, "L'URL de configuration est actuellement : {value}", ""
+confirm.load_config_url, "Êtes-vous sûr de vouloir charger cette configuration ?", ""
+confirm.reboot, "Êtes-vous sûr de vouloir redémarrer ?", ""
+confirm.reset_node_db, "Êtes-vous sûr de vouloir réinitialiser la base de données des nœuds ?", ""
+confirm.shutdown, "Êtes-vous sûr de vouloir éteindre ?", ""
+confirm.factory_reset, "Êtes-vous sûr de vouloir effectuer une réinitialisation d'usine ?", ""
+confirm.factory_reset_config, "Êtes-vous sûr de vouloir réinitialiser la configuration d'usine ?", ""
+confirm.save_before_exit_section, "Vous avez des modifications non enregistrées dans {section}. Enregistrer avant de quitter ?", ""
+prompt.select_region, "Sélectionnez votre région :", ""
+dialog.slow_down_title, "Ralentissez", ""
+dialog.slow_down_body, "Veuillez attendre 2 secondes entre les messages.", ""
+dialog.node_details_title, "📡 Détails du nœud : {name}", ""
+dialog.traceroute_not_sent_title, "Traceroute non envoyé", ""
+dialog.traceroute_not_sent_body, "Veuillez attendre {seconds} secondes avant d'envoyer un autre traceroute.", ""
+dialog.traceroute_sent_title, "Traceroute envoyé à : {name}", ""
+dialog.traceroute_sent_body, "Les résultats apparaîtront dans la fenêtre des messages.", ""
+dialog.help_title, "Aide - Raccourcis clavier", ""
+help.scroll, "Haut/Bas = Défilement", ""
+help.switch_window, "Gauche/Droite = Changer de fenêtre", ""
+help.jump_windows, "F1/F2/F3 = Aller à Canal/Messages/Nœuds", ""
+help.enter, "ENTRÉE = Envoyer / Sélectionner", ""
+help.settings, "` ou F12 = Paramètres", ""
+help.quit, "ESC = Quitter", ""
+help.packet_log, "Ctrl+P = Activer/désactiver le journal des paquets", ""
+help.traceroute, "Ctrl+T ou F4 = Traceroute", ""
+help.node_info, "F5 = Informations complètes du nœud", ""
+help.archive_chat, "Ctrl+D = Archiver la discussion / supprimer le nœud", ""
+help.favorite, "Ctrl+F = Favori", ""
+help.bot_responder, "Ctrl+B = Activer/désactiver le bot répondeur", ""
+help.ignore, "Ctrl+G = Ignorer", ""
+help.search, "Ctrl+/ ou / = Rechercher", ""
+help.help, "Ctrl+K = Aide", ""
+help.no_help, "Aucune aide disponible.", ""
+bot.status.enabled, "Activé", ""
+bot.status.disabled, "Désactivé", ""
+bot.dialog.title, "Bot répondeur", ""
+bot.dialog.body, "Le bot répondeur est maintenant {status}.", ""
+bot.status.message, "Le bot répondeur est maintenant {status}.", ""
+
+[User Settings]
+user, "Utilisateur", ""
+longName, "Nom long du nœud", "Si vous êtes un opérateur radioamateur agréé et avez activé le mode HAM, cela doit être votre indicatif."
+shortName, "Nom court du nœud", "Doit contenir jusqu'à 4 octets."
+isLicensed, "Activer le mode radioamateur (HAM)", "IMPORTANT : lire la documentation Meshtastic avant d'activer."
+
+[app_settings]
+title, "Paramètres de l'application", ""
+channel_list_16ths, "Largeur de la liste des canaux", ""
+node_list_16ths, "Largeur de la liste des nœuds", ""
+single_pane_mode, "Mode panneau unique", ""
+db_file_path, "Chemin du fichier de base de données", ""
+log_file_path, "Chemin du fichier journal", ""
+node_configs_file_path, "Chemin des configurations des nœuds", ""
+language, "Langue", ""
+message_prefix, "Préfixe des messages", ""
+sent_message_prefix, "Préfixe des messages envoyés", ""
+notification_symbol, "Symbole de notification", ""
+notification_sound, "Son de notification", ""
+ack_implicit_str, "ACK (implicite)", ""
+ack_str, "ACK", ""
+nak_str, "NAK", ""
+ack_unknown_str, "ACK (inconnu)", ""
+node_sort, "Tri des nœuds", ""
+theme, "Thème", ""
+ping_bot, "Bot Ping", ""
+
+[app_settings.ping_bot]
+title, "Bot Ping", ""
+catch_words, "Mots déclencheurs", "Mots déclencheurs du bot séparés par des points-virgules."
+response_word, "Mot de réponse", "Mot de réponse du bot."
+
+[config.device]
+title, "Appareil", ""
+role, "Rôle", ""
+serial_enabled, "Activer la console série", ""
+button_gpio, "GPIO bouton", ""
+buzzer_gpio, "GPIO buzzer", ""
+rebroadcast_mode, "Mode de rediffusion", ""
+node_info_broadcast_secs, "Intervalle diffusion infos nœud", ""
+double_tap_as_button_press, "Double tap = bouton", ""
+is_managed, "Activer mode géré", ""
+disable_triple_click, "Désactiver triple clic", ""
+tzdef, "Fuseau horaire", ""
+led_heartbeat_disabled, "Désactiver LED heartbeat", ""
+buzzer_mode, "Mode buzzer", ""
+
+[config.network]
+title, "Réseau", ""
+wifi_enabled, "Wi-Fi activé", ""
+wifi_ssid, "SSID Wi-Fi", ""
+wifi_psk, "Mot de passe Wi-Fi", ""
+ntp_server, "Serveur NTP", ""
+eth_enabled, "Ethernet activé", ""
+address_mode, "Mode IPv4", ""
+ip, "Adresse IP", ""
+gateway, "Passerelle", ""
+subnet, "Sous-réseau", ""
+dns, "DNS", ""
+
+[config.display]
+title, "Affichage", ""
+screen_on_secs, "Durée écran actif", ""
+gps_format, "Format GPS", ""
+auto_screen_carousel_secs, "Intervalle carrousel", ""
+compass_north_top, "Toujours nord en haut", ""
+flip_screen, "Retourner écran", ""
+units, "Unités préférées", ""
+
+[config.bluetooth]
+title, "Bluetooth", ""
+enabled, "Activé", ""
+mode, "Mode d'appairage", ""
+fixed_pin, "Code PIN fixe", ""
+
+[module.mqtt]
+title, "MQTT", ""
+enabled, "Activé", ""
+address, "Adresse serveur", ""
+username, "Nom d'utilisateur", ""
+password, "Mot de passe", ""
+encryption_enabled, "Chiffrement activé", ""
+json_enabled, "JSON activé", ""
+tls_enabled, "TLS activé", ""
+
+[module.serial]
+title, "Série", ""
+enabled, "Activé", ""
+echo, "Écho", ""
+rxd, "GPIO réception", ""
+txd, "GPIO transmission", ""
+baud, "Débit en bauds", ""
+timeout, "Délai", ""
+
+[module.telemetry]
+title, "Télémétrie", ""
+device_update_interval, "Intervalle métriques appareil", ""
+environment_update_interval, "Intervalle métriques environnement", ""
+environment_measurement_enabled, "Télémétrie environnement activée", ""
+
+[module.audio]
+title, "Audio", ""
+codec2_enabled, "Activé", ""
+ptt_pin, "GPIO PTT", ""
+bitrate, "Débit audio", ""
+
+[module.remote_hardware]
+title, "Matériel distant", ""
+enabled, "Activé", ""
+available_pins, "Broches disponibles", ""
+
+[module.ambient_lighting]
+title, "Éclairage ambiant", ""
+led_state, "État LED", ""
+current, "Courant", ""
+red, "Rouge", ""
+green, "Vert", ""
+blue, "Bleu", ""
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ help.traceroute, "Ctrl+T или F4 = Traceroute", ""
 help.node_info, "F5 = Полная информация об узле", ""
 help.archive_chat, "Ctrl+D = Архив чата / удалить узел", ""
 help.favorite, "Ctrl+F = Избранное", ""
+help.bot_responder, "Ctrl+B = Вкл/выкл автоответчик", ""
 help.ignore, "Ctrl+G = Игнорировать", ""
 help.search, "Ctrl+/ или / = Поиск", ""
 help.help, "Ctrl+K = Справка", ""
@@ -90,6 +91,11 @@ confirm.remove_ignored, "Убрать {name} из игнорируемых?", ""
 confirm.region_unset, "Ваш регион НЕ ЗАДАН. Установить сейчас?", ""
 dialog.resize_title, "Увеличьте окно", ""
 dialog.resize_body, "Пожалуйста, увеличьте окно до {rows} строк.", ""
+bot.status.enabled, "Включен", ""
+bot.status.disabled, "Выключен", ""
+bot.dialog.title, "Автоответчик", ""
+bot.dialog.body, "Автоответчик теперь {status}.", ""
+bot.status.message, "Автоответчик теперь {status}.", ""

 [User Settings]
 user, "Пользователь"
@@ -116,10 +122,16 @@ nak_str, "NAK", ""
 ack_unknown_str, "ACK (неизвестный)", ""
 node_sort, "Сортировка нод", ""
 theme, "Тема", ""
+ping_bot, "Пинг-бот", ""
 COLOR_CONFIG_DARK, "Цвета темы (темная)", ""
 COLOR_CONFIG_LIGHT, "Цвета темы (светлая)", ""
 COLOR_CONFIG_GREEN, "Цвета темы (зеленая)", ""

+[app_settings.ping_bot]
+title, "Пинг-бот", ""
+catch_words, "Слова-триггеры", "Слова для активации бота, разделенные точкой с запятой."
+response_word, "Ответное слово", "Ответное слово бота."
+
 [app_settings.color_config]
 default, "По умолчанию", ""
 background, "Фон", ""
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+# A basic auto-responder bot that replies to specific messages when bot mode is enabled.
+import logging
+import threading
+import time
+from typing import Any, Dict
+
+import contact.ui.default_config as config
+from contact.utilities.singleton import app_state, interface_state, ui_state
+from contact.message_handlers.tx_handler import send_message
+
+BOT_RESPONSE_DELAY_SECONDS = 2.3
+
+def _get_bot_catch_words() -> set[str]:
+    """Return normalized bot trigger words from app settings."""
+    raw_words = getattr(config, "ping_bot_catch_words", "ping; test")
+    words = {
+        word.strip().casefold()
+        for word in raw_words.replace(";", ",").split(",")
+        if word.strip()
+    }
+    return words or {"ping"}
+
+def is_bot_message(message: str) -> bool:
+    """Return True when the incoming message should trigger an automatic response."""
+    return message.strip().casefold() in _get_bot_catch_words()
+
+def bot_respond(packet: Dict[str, Any], message: str, send_channel: int) -> bool:
+    """Send a basic response when bot mode is enabled."""
+    if not ui_state.bot_mode_enabled:
+        return False
+
+    if not is_bot_message(message):
+        """ Only respond to specific messages. """
+        return False
+
+    from_node = packet.get("from")
+    if from_node is None:
+        return False
+    if from_node == interface_state.myNodeNum:
+        return False
+    snr = packet.get('rxSnr', -128)
+    rssi = packet.get('rxRssi', -128)
+    replyIDset = (packet.get('decoded') or {}).get('replyId', False)
+    hop_start = packet.get('hopStart', 0)
+    hop_limit = packet.get('hopLimit', 0)
+    transport_type = packet.get('transportMechanism', None)
+    hops = hop_start - hop_limit
+    
+    details = []
+    if snr != -128:
+        details.append(f"SNR: {snr}")
+    if rssi != -128:
+        details.append(f"RSSI: {rssi}")
+    if hops != 0:
+        details.append(f"Hops: {hops}")
+    if replyIDset:
+        details.append(f"Relay: {replyIDset}")
+    transport_text = str(transport_type).upper() if transport_type is not None else ""
+    for transport_name in ("UDP", "MQTT"):
+        if transport_name in transport_text:
+            details.append(f"Via: {transport_name}")
+
+    response_data_string = getattr(config, "ping_bot_response_word", "Pong!")
+    if details:
+        response_data_string += f" {', '.join(details)}"
+
+    def send_response_delayed() -> None:
+        try:
+            time.sleep(BOT_RESPONSE_DELAY_SECONDS)
+
+            with app_state.lock:
+                if not ui_state.bot_mode_enabled:
+                    return
+
+                send_message(response_data_string,channel=send_channel)
+
+            # Import locally to avoid circular import at module import time.
+            from contact.ui.contact_ui import request_ui_redraw
+
+            request_ui_redraw(channels=True, messages=True, scroll_messages_to_bottom=True)
+            logging.info("Bot response sent to %s on channel index %s", from_node, send_channel)
+        except Exception:
+            logging.exception("Bot response send failed for destination %s", from_node)
+
+    threading.Thread(target=send_response_delayed, name="bot-response", daemon=True).start()
+
+    return True
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ def schedule_notification_sound(delay: float = _SOUND_DEBOUNCE_SECONDS) -> None:
 from contact.utilities.utils import (
    refresh_node_list,
    add_new_message,
+    get_reply_context,
 )
 from contact.ui.contact_ui import (
    add_notification,
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ from contact.utilities.db_handler import (
 import contact.ui.default_config as config

 from contact.utilities.singleton import ui_state, interface_state, app_state, menu_state
+from contact.message_handlers.bot_handler import bot_respond


 def play_sound():
@@ -168,6 +170,8 @@ def on_receive(packet: Dict[str, Any], interface: Any) -> None:

                    channel_number = ui_state.channel_list.index(packet["from"])

+                bot_respond(packet, message_string, channel_number)
+
                channel_id = ui_state.channel_list[channel_number]

                if channel_id != ui_state.channel_list[ui_state.selected_channel]:
@@ -180,14 +184,32 @@ def on_receive(packet: Dict[str, Any], interface: Any) -> None:
                message_from_id = packet["from"]
                message_from_string = get_name_from_database(message_from_id, type="short") + ":"

-                add_new_message(channel_id, f"{config.message_prefix} [{hops}] {message_from_string} ", message_string)
+                # replyId is a field of Meshtastic's decrypted Data payload.
+                reply_id = packet["decoded"].get("replyId")
+                reply_context = get_reply_context(reply_id) if reply_id is not None else ""
+                add_new_message(
+                    channel_id,
+                    f"{config.message_prefix} [{hops}] {message_from_string} ",
+                    f"{reply_context}{message_string}",
+                    packet_id=packet.get("id"),
+                )

                if refresh_channels:
                    request_ui_redraw(channels=True)
                if refresh_messages:
-                    request_ui_redraw(messages=True, scroll_messages_to_bottom=True)
+                    request_ui_redraw(
+                        messages=True,
+                        scroll_messages_to_bottom=True,
+                        preserve_message_selection=(ui_state.current_window == 1),
+                    )

-                save_message_to_db(channel_id, message_from_id, message_string)
+                save_message_to_db(
+                    channel_id,
+                    message_from_id,
+                    message_string,
+                    packet_id=packet.get("id"),
+                    reply_id=reply_id,
+                )

        except KeyError as e:
            logging.error(f"Error processing packet: {e}")
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def onAckNak(packet: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
            message,
        )

-        update_ack_nak(acknak["channel"], acknak["timestamp"], message, ack_type)
+        update_ack_nak(acknak["channel"], acknak["timestamp"], acknak["dbMessage"], ack_type)

        channel_number = ui_state.channel_list.index(acknak["channel"])
        if ui_state.channel_list[channel_number] == ui_state.channel_list[ui_state.selected_channel]:
@@ -164,7 +164,13 @@ def on_response_traceroute(packet: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:

        save_message_to_db(channel_id, packet["from"], msg_str)

-def send_message(message: str, destination: int = BROADCAST_NUM, channel: int = 0) -> None:
+def send_message(
+    message: str,
+    destination: int = BROADCAST_NUM,
+    channel: int = 0,
+    reply_id: int | None = None,
+    reply_context: str = "",
+) -> None:
    """
    Sends a chat message using the selected channel.
    """
@@ -177,23 +183,32 @@ def send_message(message: str, destination: int = BROADCAST_NUM, channel: int =
    elif isinstance(channel_id, str):
        send_on_channel = channel

-    sent_message_data = interface_state.interface.sendText(
-        text=message,
-        destinationId=destination,
-        wantAck=True,
-        wantResponse=False,
-        onResponse=onAckNak,
-        channelIndex=send_on_channel,
+    send_kwargs = {
+        "text": message,
+        "destinationId": destination,
+        "wantAck": True,
+        "wantResponse": False,
+        "onResponse": onAckNak,
+        "channelIndex": send_on_channel,
+    }
+    if reply_id is not None:
+        send_kwargs["replyId"] = reply_id
+    sent_message_data = interface_state.interface.sendText(**send_kwargs)
+
+    add_new_message(
+        channel_id,
+        config.sent_message_prefix + config.ack_unknown_str + ": ",
+        f"{reply_context}{message}",
+        packet_id=sent_message_data.id,
    )

-    add_new_message(channel_id, config.sent_message_prefix + config.ack_unknown_str + ": ", message)
-
-    timestamp = save_message_to_db(channel_id, myid, message)
+    timestamp = save_message_to_db(channel_id, myid, message, packet_id=sent_message_data.id, reply_id=reply_id)

    ack_naks[sent_message_data.id] = {
        "channel": channel_id,
        "messageIndex": len(ui_state.all_messages[channel_id]) - 1,
        "timestamp": timestamp,
+        "dbMessage": message,
    }


@@ -2,14 +2,22 @@ import curses
 import logging
 import time
 import traceback
+from numbers import Real
 from typing import Union

-from contact.utilities.utils import get_channels, get_readable_duration, get_time_ago, refresh_node_list
+from contact.utilities.utils import (
+    get_channels,
+    get_readable_duration,
+    get_time_ago,
+    refresh_node_list,
+    add_new_message,
+    build_reply_prefix,
+)
 from contact.settings import settings_menu
 from contact.message_handlers.tx_handler import send_message, send_traceroute
 from contact.utilities.utils import parse_protobuf
 from contact.ui.colors import get_color
-from contact.utilities.db_handler import get_name_from_database, update_node_info_in_db, is_chat_archived
+from contact.utilities.db_handler import get_name_from_database, update_node_info_in_db, is_chat_archived, load_older_messages
 from contact.utilities.input_handlers import get_list_input
 from contact.utilities.i18n import t
 from contact.utilities.emoji_utils import normalize_message_text
@@ -40,6 +48,7 @@ def request_ui_redraw(
    packetlog: bool = False,
    full: bool = False,
    scroll_messages_to_bottom: bool = False,
+    preserve_message_selection: bool = False,
 ) -> None:
    ui_state.redraw_channels = ui_state.redraw_channels or channels
    ui_state.redraw_messages = ui_state.redraw_messages or messages
@@ -47,6 +56,7 @@ def request_ui_redraw(
    ui_state.redraw_packetlog = ui_state.redraw_packetlog or packetlog
    ui_state.redraw_full_ui = ui_state.redraw_full_ui or full
    ui_state.scroll_messages_to_bottom = ui_state.scroll_messages_to_bottom or scroll_messages_to_bottom
+    ui_state.preserve_message_selection = ui_state.preserve_message_selection or preserve_message_selection


 def process_pending_ui_updates(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
@@ -57,6 +67,7 @@ def process_pending_ui_updates(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
        ui_state.redraw_nodes = False
        ui_state.redraw_packetlog = False
        ui_state.scroll_messages_to_bottom = False
+        ui_state.preserve_message_selection = False
        handle_resize(stdscr, False)
        return

@@ -70,9 +81,14 @@ def process_pending_ui_updates(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:

    if ui_state.redraw_messages:
        scroll_to_bottom = ui_state.scroll_messages_to_bottom
+        preserve_selection = ui_state.preserve_message_selection
        ui_state.redraw_messages = False
        ui_state.scroll_messages_to_bottom = False
-        draw_messages_window(scroll_to_bottom)
+        ui_state.preserve_message_selection = False
+        if preserve_selection:
+            draw_messages_window(scroll_to_bottom, preserve_selection=True)
+        else:
+            draw_messages_window(scroll_to_bottom)

    if ui_state.redraw_packetlog:
        ui_state.redraw_packetlog = False
@@ -369,7 +385,8 @@ def main_ui(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
    while True:
        with app_state.lock:
            process_pending_ui_updates(stdscr)
-        draw_text_field(entry_win, f"Message: {(input_text or '')[-(stdscr.getmaxyx()[1] - 10):]}", get_color("input"))
+        entry_display = f"{ui_state.reply_context}{input_text or ''}"
+        draw_text_field(entry_win, f"Message: {entry_display[-(stdscr.getmaxyx()[1] - 10):]}", get_color("input"))

        # Get user input from entry window
        try:
@@ -425,6 +442,12 @@ def main_ui(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
        elif char == chr(16):  # Ctrl + P for Packet Log
            handle_ctrl_p()

+        elif char == chr(18):  # Ctrl + R for Reply
+            cancelling_reply = bool(ui_state.reply_context)
+            input_text = handle_ctrl_r(input_text)
+            if cancelling_reply:
+                entry_win.erase()
+
        elif char == curses.KEY_RESIZE:
            input_text = ""
            queued_char = drain_resize_events(entry_win)
@@ -445,6 +468,9 @@ def main_ui(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
        elif char == chr(6):  # Ctrl + F to toggle favorite
            handle_ctrl_f(stdscr)

+        elif char == chr(2):  # Ctrl + B to toggle bot responder
+            handle_ctrl_b(stdscr)
+
        elif char == chr(7):  # Ctrl + G to toggle ignored
            handle_ctlr_g(stdscr)

@@ -484,7 +510,8 @@ def handle_home() -> None:
    if ui_state.current_window == 0:
        select_channel(0)
    elif ui_state.current_window == 1:
-        ui_state.selected_message = 0
+        set_message_selection(0)
+        refresh_message_highlight()
        refresh_pad(1)
    elif ui_state.current_window == 2:
        select_node(0)
@@ -497,8 +524,8 @@ def handle_end() -> None:
    if ui_state.current_window == 0:
        select_channel(len(ui_state.channel_list) - 1)
    elif ui_state.current_window == 1:
-        msg_line_count = messages_pad.getmaxyx()[0]
-        ui_state.selected_message = max(msg_line_count - get_msg_window_lines(messages_win, packetlog_win), 0)
+        set_message_selection(messages_pad.getmaxyx()[0] - 1)
+        refresh_message_highlight()
        refresh_pad(1)
    elif ui_state.current_window == 2:
        select_node(len(ui_state.node_list) - 1)
@@ -510,9 +537,8 @@ def handle_pageup() -> None:
    if ui_state.current_window == 0:
        select_channel(ui_state.selected_channel - (channel_win.getmaxyx()[0] - 2))
    elif ui_state.current_window == 1:
-        ui_state.selected_message = max(
-            ui_state.selected_message - get_msg_window_lines(messages_win, packetlog_win), 0
-        )
+        set_message_selection(ui_state.selected_message - get_msg_window_lines(messages_win, packetlog_win))
+        refresh_message_highlight()
        refresh_pad(1)
    elif ui_state.current_window == 2:
        select_node(ui_state.selected_node - (nodes_win.getmaxyx()[0] - 2))
@@ -524,11 +550,8 @@ def handle_pagedown() -> None:
    if ui_state.current_window == 0:
        select_channel(ui_state.selected_channel + (channel_win.getmaxyx()[0] - 2))
    elif ui_state.current_window == 1:
-        msg_line_count = messages_pad.getmaxyx()[0]
-        ui_state.selected_message = min(
-            ui_state.selected_message + get_msg_window_lines(messages_win, packetlog_win),
-            msg_line_count - get_msg_window_lines(messages_win, packetlog_win),
-        )
+        set_message_selection(ui_state.selected_message + get_msg_window_lines(messages_win, packetlog_win))
+        refresh_message_highlight()
        refresh_pad(1)
    elif ui_state.current_window == 2:
        select_node(ui_state.selected_node + (nodes_win.getmaxyx()[0] - 2))
@@ -551,6 +574,9 @@ def handle_leftright(char: int) -> None:

    refresh_main_window(ui_state.current_window, selected=True)
    draw_window_arrows(ui_state.current_window)
+    if ui_state.current_window == 1:
+        draw_messages_window(True)
+    refresh_message_highlight()


 def handle_function_keys(char: int) -> None:
@@ -581,6 +607,9 @@ def handle_function_keys(char: int) -> None:

    refresh_main_window(ui_state.current_window, selected=True)
    draw_window_arrows(ui_state.current_window)
+    if ui_state.current_window == 1:
+        draw_messages_window(True)
+    refresh_message_highlight()


 def handle_enter(input_text: str) -> str:
@@ -608,6 +637,15 @@ def handle_enter(input_text: str) -> str:
        return input_text

    elif len(input_text) > 0:
+        if ui_state.reply_context and ui_state.reply_id is None:
+            contact.ui.dialog.dialog(
+                t("ui.dialog.reply_unavailable_title", default="Reply unavailable"),
+                t(
+                    "ui.dialog.reply_unavailable_body",
+                    default="This message has no packet ID, so Contact cannot send a native Meshtastic reply.",
+                ),
+            )
+            return input_text
        # TODO: This is a hack to prevent sending messages too quickly. Let's get errors from the node.
        now = time.monotonic()
        if now - ui_state.last_sent_time < 2.5:
@@ -617,7 +655,15 @@ def handle_enter(input_text: str) -> str:
            )
            return input_text
        # Enter key pressed, send user input as message
-        send_message(input_text, channel=ui_state.selected_channel)
+        send_message(
+            input_text,
+            channel=ui_state.selected_channel,
+            reply_id=ui_state.reply_id,
+            reply_context=ui_state.reply_context,
+        )
+        ui_state.reply_id = None
+        ui_state.reply_context = ""
+        ui_state.reply_id_unavailable = False
        draw_messages_window(True)
        ui_state.last_sent_time = now
        entry_win.erase()
@@ -656,24 +702,27 @@ def handle_f5_key(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
            if has_coords:
                message_parts.append(f"https://maps.google.com/?q={pos['latitude']:.4f},{pos['longitude']:.4f}")

-        if any(key in node for key in ["snr", "hopsAway", "lastHeard"]):
+        if any(node.get(key) is not None for key in ["snr", "hopsAway", "lastHeard"]):
            message_parts.append("")
            message_parts.append("**🌐 Network Metrics:**")

-            if "snr" in node:
+            if node.get("snr") is not None:
                snr = node["snr"]
-                snr_status = (
-                    "🟢 Excellent"
-                    if snr > 10
-                    else (
-                        "🟡 Good"
-                        if snr > 3
-                        else "🟠 Fair" if snr > -10 else "🔴 Poor" if snr > -20 else "💀 Very Poor"
+                if isinstance(snr, Real):
+                    snr_status = (
+                        "🟢 Excellent"
+                        if snr > 10
+                        else (
+                            "🟡 Good"
+                            if snr > 3
+                            else "🟠 Fair" if snr > -10 else "🔴 Poor" if snr > -20 else "💀 Very Poor"
+                        )
                    )
-                )
-                message_parts.append(f"• SNR: {snr}dB {snr_status}")
+                    message_parts.append(f"• SNR: {snr}dB {snr_status}")
+                else:
+                    message_parts.append(f"• SNR: {snr}dB")

-            if "hopsAway" in node:
+            if node.get("hopsAway") is not None:
                hops = node["hopsAway"]
                hop_emoji = "📡" if hops == 0 else "🔄" if hops == 1 else "⏩"
                message_parts.append(f"• Hops away: {hop_emoji} {hops}")
@@ -686,24 +735,32 @@ def handle_f5_key(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
            message_parts.append("")
            message_parts.append("**📊 Device Metrics:**")

-            if "batteryLevel" in metrics:
+            if metrics.get("batteryLevel") is not None:
                battery = metrics["batteryLevel"]
-                battery_emoji = "🟢" if battery > 50 else "🟡" if battery > 20 else "🔴"
+                battery_emoji = "🔴"
+                if isinstance(battery, Real):
+                    battery_emoji = "🟢" if battery > 50 else "🟡" if battery > 20 else "🔴"
                voltage_info = f" ({metrics['voltage']}v)" if "voltage" in metrics else ""
                message_parts.append(f"• Battery: {battery_emoji} {battery}%{voltage_info}")

-            if "uptimeSeconds" in metrics:
+            if metrics.get("uptimeSeconds") is not None:
                message_parts.append(f"• Uptime: ⏱️ {get_readable_duration(metrics['uptimeSeconds'])}")

-            if "channelUtilization" in metrics:
+            if metrics.get("channelUtilization") is not None:
                util = metrics["channelUtilization"]
-                util_emoji = "🔴" if util > 80 else "🟡" if util > 50 else "🟢"
-                message_parts.append(f"• Channel utilization: {util_emoji} {util:.2f}%")
+                if isinstance(util, Real):
+                    util_emoji = "🔴" if util > 80 else "🟡" if util > 50 else "🟢"
+                    message_parts.append(f"• Channel utilization: {util_emoji} {util:.2f}%")
+                else:
+                    message_parts.append(f"• Channel utilization: {util}%")

-            if "airUtilTx" in metrics:
+            if metrics.get("airUtilTx") is not None:
                air_util = metrics["airUtilTx"]
-                air_emoji = "🔴" if air_util > 80 else "🟡" if air_util > 50 else "🟢"
-                message_parts.append(f"• Air utilization TX: {air_emoji} {air_util:.2f}%")
+                if isinstance(air_util, Real):
+                    air_emoji = "🔴" if air_util > 80 else "🟡" if air_util > 50 else "🟢"
+                    message_parts.append(f"• Air utilization TX: {air_emoji} {air_util:.2f}%")
+                else:
+                    message_parts.append(f"• Air utilization TX: {air_util}%")

        title = t(
            "ui.dialog.node_details_title",
@@ -789,7 +846,10 @@ def handle_f5_key(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
            curses.doupdate()

            dialog_win.timeout(200)
-            char = dialog_win.getch()
+            try:
+                char = dialog_win.getch()
+            except curses.error:
+                continue

            if menu_state.need_redraw:
                menu_state.need_redraw = False
@@ -818,7 +878,7 @@ def handle_f5_key(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
            elif char == curses.KEY_RESIZE:
                continue

-    except KeyError:
+    except (IndexError, KeyError):
        return
    finally:
        if dialog_win is not None:
@@ -902,6 +962,49 @@ def handle_ctrl_p() -> None:
        draw_messages_window(True)


+def get_message_at_display_line(channel, display_line: int):
+    """Return the message containing a rendered line in a channel, if any."""
+    line = 0
+    for prefix, message in ui_state.all_messages.get(channel, []):
+        wrapped_lines = wrap_text(
+            normalize_message_text(f"{prefix}{message}"),
+            messages_win.getmaxyx()[1] - 2,
+        )
+        if line <= display_line < line + len(wrapped_lines):
+            return None if prefix.startswith("--") else (prefix, message)
+        line += len(wrapped_lines)
+    return None
+
+
+def handle_ctrl_r(input_text: str) -> str:
+    """Toggle a reply to the message at the current Messages-pane position."""
+    if ui_state.reply_context:
+        ui_state.reply_id = None
+        ui_state.reply_context = ""
+        ui_state.reply_id_unavailable = False
+        return ""
+
+    if ui_state.current_window != 1 or not ui_state.channel_list:
+        return input_text
+
+    channel = ui_state.channel_list[ui_state.selected_channel]
+    selected = get_message_at_display_line(channel, ui_state.selected_message)
+    if selected is None:
+        return input_text
+
+    message_index = next(
+        index
+        for index, entry in enumerate(ui_state.all_messages[channel])
+        if entry == selected
+    )
+    packet_ids = ui_state.message_packet_ids.get(channel, [])
+    prefix, message = selected
+    ui_state.reply_context = build_reply_prefix(prefix, message)
+    ui_state.reply_id = packet_ids[message_index] if message_index < len(packet_ids) else None
+    ui_state.reply_id_unavailable = ui_state.reply_id is None
+    return input_text
+
+
 # --- Ctrl+K handler for Help ---
 def handle_ctrl_k(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
    """Handle Ctrl + K to show a help window with shortcut keys."""
@@ -915,10 +1018,12 @@ def handle_ctrl_k(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
        t("ui.help.settings", default="` or F12 = Settings"),
        t("ui.help.quit", default="ESC = Quit"),
        t("ui.help.packet_log", default="Ctrl+P = Toggle Packet Log"),
+        t("ui.help.reply", default="Ctrl+R = Reply to message at cursor"),
        t("ui.help.traceroute", default="Ctrl+T or F4 = Traceroute"),
        t("ui.help.node_info", default="F5 = Full node info"),
        t("ui.help.archive_chat", default="Ctrl+D = Archive chat / remove node"),
        t("ui.help.favorite", default="Ctrl+F = Favorite"),
+        t("ui.help.bot_responder", default="Ctrl+B = Toggle Bot Responder"),
        t("ui.help.ignore", default="Ctrl+G = Ignore"),
        t("ui.help.search", default="Ctrl+/ = Search"),
        t("ui.help.help", default="Ctrl+K = Help"),
@@ -930,6 +1035,32 @@ def handle_ctrl_k(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
    handle_resize(stdscr, False)


+def handle_ctrl_b(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
+    """Handle Ctrl + B key events to toggle automatic bot responses."""
+    ui_state.bot_mode_enabled = not ui_state.bot_mode_enabled
+    status = t("ui.bot.status.enabled", default="Enabled") if ui_state.bot_mode_enabled else t(
+        "ui.bot.status.disabled", default="Disabled"
+    )
+
+    curses.curs_set(0)
+    contact.ui.dialog.dialog(
+        t("ui.bot.dialog.title", default="Bot Responder"),
+        t("ui.bot.dialog.body", default="Bot responder is now {status}.", status=status),
+    )
+
+    if ui_state.channel_list:
+        channel_id = ui_state.channel_list[ui_state.selected_channel]
+        add_new_message(
+            channel_id,
+            f"{config.message_prefix} Info: ",
+            t("ui.bot.status.message", default="Bot responder is now {status}.", status=status.lower()),
+        )
+        draw_messages_window(True)
+
+    curses.curs_set(1)
+    handle_resize(stdscr, False)
+
+
 def handle_ctrl_d() -> None:
    if ui_state.current_window == 0:
        if isinstance(ui_state.channel_list[ui_state.selected_channel], int):
@@ -1107,7 +1238,7 @@ def draw_channel_list() -> None:
    channel_win.refresh()


-def draw_messages_window(scroll_to_bottom: bool = False) -> None:
+def draw_messages_window(scroll_to_bottom: bool = False, preserve_selection: bool = False) -> None:
    """Update the messages window based on the selected channel and scroll position."""

    if ui_state.current_window != 1 and ui_state.single_pane_mode:
@@ -1117,18 +1248,15 @@ def draw_messages_window(scroll_to_bottom: bool = False) -> None:

    channel = ui_state.channel_list[ui_state.selected_channel]

+    msg_line_count = 0
+    message_ranges = []
    if channel in ui_state.all_messages:
        messages = ui_state.all_messages[channel]
-
-        msg_line_count = 0
-
-        row = 0
+        rendered_lines = []
        for prefix, message in messages:
+            start_line = len(rendered_lines)
            full_message = normalize_message_text(f"{prefix}{message}")
            wrapped_lines = wrap_text(full_message, messages_win.getmaxyx()[1] - 2)
-            msg_line_count += len(wrapped_lines)
-            messages_pad.resize(msg_line_count, messages_win.getmaxyx()[1])
-
            for line in wrapped_lines:
                if prefix.startswith("--"):
                    color = get_color("timestamps")
@@ -1137,18 +1265,31 @@ def draw_messages_window(scroll_to_bottom: bool = False) -> None:
                else:
                    color = get_color("rx_messages")

-                messages_pad.addstr(row, 1, line, color)
-                row += 1
+                rendered_lines.append((line, color))
+
+            if not prefix.startswith("--"):
+                message_ranges.append((start_line, len(rendered_lines), color))
+
+        msg_line_count = len(rendered_lines)
+        messages_pad.resize(max(1, msg_line_count), messages_win.getmaxyx()[1])
+        for row, (line, color) in enumerate(rendered_lines):
+            messages_pad.addstr(row, 1, line, color)
+        ui_state.message_line_ranges[channel] = message_ranges

    paint_frame(messages_win, selected=(ui_state.current_window == 1))

    visible_lines = get_msg_window_lines(messages_win, packetlog_win)

    if scroll_to_bottom:
-        ui_state.selected_message = max(msg_line_count - visible_lines, 0)
-        ui_state.start_index[1] = max(msg_line_count - visible_lines, 0)
+        if preserve_selection:
+            set_message_selection(ui_state.selected_message)
+            ui_state.start_index[1] = max(0, msg_line_count - visible_lines)
+        else:
+            set_message_selection(msg_line_count - 1)
    else:
-        ui_state.selected_message = max(min(ui_state.selected_message, msg_line_count - visible_lines), 0)
+        set_message_selection(ui_state.selected_message)
+
+    refresh_message_highlight()

    messages_win.refresh()
    refresh_pad(1)
@@ -1159,6 +1300,39 @@ def draw_messages_window(scroll_to_bottom: bool = False) -> None:
        menu_state.need_redraw = True


+def refresh_message_highlight() -> None:
+    """Apply a reverse-video highlight to the message at the current scroll position."""
+    previous_range = ui_state.highlighted_message_range
+    width = max(0, messages_win.getmaxyx()[1] - 2)
+
+    if not ui_state.channel_list or ui_state.current_window != 1:
+        if previous_range:
+            start, end, color = previous_range
+            for row in range(start, end):
+                messages_pad.chgat(row, 1, width, color)
+        ui_state.highlighted_message_range = ()
+        return
+
+    channel = ui_state.channel_list[ui_state.selected_channel]
+    ranges = ui_state.message_line_ranges.get(channel, [])
+    selected_range = next(
+        (line_range for line_range in ranges if line_range[0] <= ui_state.selected_message < line_range[1]),
+        None,
+    )
+
+    if previous_range and previous_range != selected_range:
+        start, end, color = previous_range
+        for row in range(start, end):
+            messages_pad.chgat(row, 1, width, color)
+
+    if selected_range:
+        start, end, color = selected_range
+        for row in range(start, end):
+            messages_pad.chgat(row, 1, width, color | curses.A_REVERSE)
+
+    ui_state.highlighted_message_range = selected_range or ()
+
+
 def draw_node_list() -> None:
    """Update the nodes list window and pad based on the current state."""
    global nodes_pad
@@ -1238,31 +1412,78 @@ def scroll_channels(direction: int) -> None:

 def scroll_messages(direction: int) -> None:
    """Scroll through the messages in the current channel by a given direction."""
-    ui_state.selected_message += direction
+    if direction < 0 and ui_state.selected_message == 0 and ui_state.channel_list:
+        channel = ui_state.channel_list[ui_state.selected_channel]
+        previous_height = messages_pad.getmaxyx()[0]
+        if load_older_messages(channel):
+            draw_messages_window()
+            added_height = max(0, messages_pad.getmaxyx()[0] - previous_height)
+            ui_state.selected_message = added_height
+            ui_state.start_index[1] = added_height
+            refresh_pad(1)
+            return

-    msg_line_count = messages_pad.getmaxyx()[0]
-    ui_state.selected_message = max(
-        0, min(ui_state.selected_message, msg_line_count - get_msg_window_lines(messages_win, packetlog_win))
-    )
-
-    max_index = msg_line_count - 1
-    visible_height = get_msg_window_lines(messages_win, packetlog_win)
-
-    if ui_state.selected_message < ui_state.start_index[ui_state.current_window]:  # Moving above the visible area
-        ui_state.start_index[ui_state.current_window] = ui_state.selected_message
-    elif ui_state.selected_message >= ui_state.start_index[ui_state.current_window]:  # Moving below the visible area
-        ui_state.start_index[ui_state.current_window] = ui_state.selected_message
-
-    # Ensure start_index is within bounds
-    ui_state.start_index[ui_state.current_window] = max(
-        0, min(ui_state.start_index[ui_state.current_window], max_index - visible_height + 1)
-    )
+    move_message_selection(direction)

+    refresh_message_highlight()
    messages_win.refresh()
    refresh_pad(1)
    draw_window_arrows(ui_state.current_window)


+def set_message_selection(line: int) -> None:
+    """Select a rendered message line and keep it visible without limiting selection to the viewport."""
+    msg_line_count = messages_pad.getmaxyx()[0]
+    visible_lines = get_msg_window_lines(messages_win, packetlog_win)
+    ui_state.selected_message = max(0, min(line, max(msg_line_count - 1, 0)))
+
+    max_start = max(msg_line_count - visible_lines, 0)
+    start = ui_state.start_index[1]
+    if ui_state.selected_message < start:
+        start = ui_state.selected_message
+    elif ui_state.selected_message >= start + visible_lines:
+        start = ui_state.selected_message - visible_lines + 1
+    ui_state.start_index[1] = max(0, min(start, max_start))
+
+
+def move_message_selection(direction: int) -> None:
+    """Move between messages, keeping wrapped messages as one selectable item."""
+    if not ui_state.channel_list:
+        return
+
+    channel = ui_state.channel_list[ui_state.selected_channel]
+    ranges = ui_state.message_line_ranges.get(channel, [])
+    if not ranges:
+        set_message_selection(ui_state.selected_message + direction)
+        return
+
+    current_index = next(
+        (index for index, line_range in enumerate(ranges) if line_range[0] <= ui_state.selected_message < line_range[1]),
+        None,
+    )
+    if current_index is None:
+        current_index = 0 if direction > 0 else len(ranges) - 1
+    else:
+        current_index = max(0, min(current_index + direction, len(ranges) - 1))
+
+    start, end, _color = ranges[current_index]
+    set_message_selection(end - 1 if current_index == len(ranges) - 1 else start)
+
+
+def select_last_message() -> None:
+    """Select and reveal the newest message in the active channel."""
+    if not ui_state.channel_list:
+        return
+
+    channel = ui_state.channel_list[ui_state.selected_channel]
+    ranges = ui_state.message_line_ranges.get(channel, [])
+    if ranges:
+        _start, end, _color = ranges[-1]
+        set_message_selection(end - 1)
+    else:
+        set_message_selection(0)
+
+
 def select_node(idx: int) -> None:
    """Select a node by index and update the UI state accordingly."""
    old_selected_node = ui_state.selected_node
@@ -1355,41 +1576,48 @@ def search(win: int) -> None:

    search_text = ""
    entry_win.erase()
+    entry_win.timeout(-1)

-    while True:
-        draw_centered_text_field(entry_win, f"Search: {search_text}", 0, get_color("input"))
-        char = entry_win.get_wch()
-
-        if char in (chr(27), chr(curses.KEY_ENTER), chr(10), chr(13)):
-            break
-        elif char == "\t":
-            start_idx = ui_state.selected_node + 1 if win == 2 else ui_state.selected_channel + 1
-        elif char in (curses.KEY_BACKSPACE, chr(127)):
-            if search_text:
-                search_text = search_text[:-1]
-                y, x = entry_win.getyx()
-                entry_win.move(y, x - 1)
-                entry_win.addch(" ")  #
-                entry_win.move(y, x - 1)
-                entry_win.erase()
-                entry_win.refresh()
-        elif isinstance(char, str):
-            search_text += char
-
-        search_text_caseless = search_text.casefold()
-
-        l = ui_state.node_list if win == 2 else ui_state.channel_list
-        for i, n in enumerate(l[start_idx:] + l[:start_idx]):
-            if (
-                isinstance(n, int)
-                and search_text_caseless in get_name_from_database(n, "long").casefold()
-                or isinstance(n, int)
-                and search_text_caseless in get_name_from_database(n, "short").casefold()
-                or search_text_caseless in str(n).casefold()
-            ):
-                select_func((i + start_idx) % len(l))
+    try:
+        while True:
+            draw_centered_text_field(entry_win, f"Search: {search_text}", 0, get_color("input"))
+            try:
+                char = entry_win.get_wch()
+            except curses.error:
                break

+            if char in (chr(27), chr(curses.KEY_ENTER), chr(10), chr(13)):
+                break
+            elif char == "\t":
+                start_idx = ui_state.selected_node + 1 if win == 2 else ui_state.selected_channel + 1
+            elif char in (curses.KEY_BACKSPACE, chr(127)):
+                if search_text:
+                    search_text = search_text[:-1]
+                    y, x = entry_win.getyx()
+                    entry_win.move(y, x - 1)
+                    entry_win.addch(" ")  #
+                    entry_win.move(y, x - 1)
+                    entry_win.erase()
+                    entry_win.refresh()
+            elif isinstance(char, str):
+                search_text += char
+
+            search_text_caseless = search_text.casefold()
+
+            l = ui_state.node_list if win == 2 else ui_state.channel_list
+            for i, n in enumerate(l[start_idx:] + l[:start_idx]):
+                if (
+                    isinstance(n, int)
+                    and search_text_caseless in get_name_from_database(n, "long").casefold()
+                    or isinstance(n, int)
+                    and search_text_caseless in get_name_from_database(n, "short").casefold()
+                    or search_text_caseless in str(n).casefold()
+                ):
+                    select_func((i + start_idx) % len(l))
+                    break
+    finally:
+        entry_win.timeout(200)
+
    entry_win.erase()


@@ -56,9 +56,13 @@ def _get_config_root(preferred_dir: str, fallback_name: str = ".contact_client")

    return fallback_dir

-
-# Pick the root now.
-config_root = _get_config_root(parent_dir)
+# Allow overriding config root via environment variable
+config_root = os.getenv("CONTACT_CONFIG_ROOT")
+if config_root:
+    if not _is_writable_dir(config_root):
+        raise RuntimeError(f"CONTACT_CONFIG_ROOT={config_root} is not writable")
+else:
+    config_root = _get_config_root(parent_dir)

 # Paths (derived from the chosen root)
 json_file_path = os.path.join(config_root, "config.json")
@@ -238,6 +242,10 @@ def initialize_config() -> Dict[str, object]:
        "ack_unknown_str": "[…]",
        "node_sort": "lastHeard",
        "theme": "dark",
+        "ping_bot": {
+            "catch_words": "ping; test",
+            "response_word": "Pong!",
+        },
        "COLOR_CONFIG_DARK": COLOR_CONFIG_DARK,
        "COLOR_CONFIG_LIGHT": COLOR_CONFIG_LIGHT,
        "COLOR_CONFIG_GREEN": COLOR_CONFIG_GREEN,
@@ -272,7 +280,7 @@ def assign_config_variables(loaded_config: Dict[str, object]) -> None:
    global notification_symbol, ack_implicit_str, ack_str, nak_str, ack_unknown_str
    global node_list_16ths, channel_list_16ths, single_pane_mode
    global theme, COLOR_CONFIG, language
-    global node_sort, notification_sound
+    global node_sort, notification_sound, ping_bot_catch_words, ping_bot_response_word

    channel_list_16ths = loaded_config["channel_list_16ths"]
    node_list_16ths = loaded_config["node_list_16ths"]
@@ -291,6 +299,9 @@ def assign_config_variables(loaded_config: Dict[str, object]) -> None:
    ack_unknown_str = loaded_config["ack_unknown_str"]
    node_sort = loaded_config["node_sort"]
    theme = loaded_config["theme"]
+    ping_bot = loaded_config.get("ping_bot", {})
+    ping_bot_catch_words = ping_bot.get("catch_words", "ping; test")
+    ping_bot_response_word = ping_bot.get("response_word", "Pong!")
    if theme == "dark":
        COLOR_CONFIG = loaded_config["COLOR_CONFIG_DARK"]
    elif theme == "light":
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import curses

 from contact.utilities.i18n import t_text
 from contact.ui.colors import get_color
-from contact.ui.nav_utils import draw_main_arrows
+from contact.ui.nav_utils import draw_main_arrows, slice_to_width, text_width
 from contact.utilities.singleton import menu_state, ui_state


@@ -19,10 +19,10 @@ def dialog(title: str, message: str) -> None:

    # Parse message into lines and calculate dimensions
    message_lines = message.splitlines() or [""]
-    max_line_length = max(len(l) for l in message_lines)
+    max_line_length = max(text_width(l) for l in message_lines)

    # Desired size
-    dialog_width = max(len(title) + 4, max_line_length + 4)
+    dialog_width = max(text_width(title) + 4, max_line_length + 4)
    desired_height = len(message_lines) + 4

    # Clamp dialog size to the screen (leave a 1-cell margin if possible)
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def dialog(title: str, message: str) -> None:

        # Title
        try:
-            win.addstr(0, 2, title[: max(0, dialog_width - 4)], get_color("settings_default"))
+            win.addstr(0, 2, slice_to_width(title, max(0, dialog_width - 4)), get_color("settings_default"))
        except curses.error:
            pass

@@ -80,9 +80,8 @@ def dialog(title: str, message: str) -> None:
            if idx >= len(message_lines):
                break
            line = message_lines[idx]
-            # Hard-trim lines that don't fit
-            trimmed = line[: max(0, dialog_width - 6)]
-            msg_x = max(0, ((dialog_width - 2) - len(trimmed)) // 2)
+            trimmed = slice_to_width(line, max(0, dialog_width - 4))
+            msg_x = max(0, ((dialog_width - 2) - text_width(trimmed)) // 2)
            try:
                msg_win.addstr(1 + i, msg_x, trimmed, get_color("settings_default"))
            except curses.error:
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class ChatUIState:
    current_window: int = 0
    last_sent_time: float = 0.0
    last_traceroute_time: float = 0.0
+    bot_mode_enabled: bool = False

    selected_index: int = 0
    start_index: List[int] = field(default_factory=lambda: [0, 0, 0])
@@ -39,6 +40,15 @@ class ChatUIState:
    redraw_packetlog: bool = False
    redraw_full_ui: bool = False
    scroll_messages_to_bottom: bool = False
+    preserve_message_selection: bool = False
+    oldest_message_rowid: Dict[Union[str, int], int] = field(default_factory=dict)
+    has_older_messages: Dict[Union[str, int], bool] = field(default_factory=dict)
+    message_line_ranges: Dict[Union[str, int], List[tuple]] = field(default_factory=dict)
+    highlighted_message_range: tuple = field(default_factory=tuple)
+    message_packet_ids: Dict[Union[str, int], List[Any]] = field(default_factory=dict)
+    reply_id: Any = None
+    reply_context: str = ""
+    reply_id_unavailable: bool = False


@dataclass
@@ -309,7 +309,10 @@ def display_menu() -> tuple[Any, Any, List[str]]:
        else:
            display_key = key
        display_key = f"{display_key}"[: w // 2 - 2]
-        display_value = f"{value}"[: w // 2 - 8]
+        if isinstance(value, dict) or (isinstance(value, list) and len(value) != 2):
+            display_value = ">"
+        else:
+            display_value = f"{value}"[: w // 2 - 8]

        color = get_color("settings_default", reverse=(idx == menu_state.selected_index))
        menu_pad.addstr(idx, 0, f"{display_key:<{w // 2 - 2}} {display_value}".ljust(w - 8), color)
@@ -4,13 +4,16 @@ import logging
 from datetime import datetime
 from typing import Optional, Union, Dict

-from contact.utilities.utils import decimal_to_hex
+from contact.utilities.utils import build_reply_prefix, decimal_to_hex
 import contact.ui.default_config as config


 from contact.utilities.singleton import ui_state, interface_state


+MESSAGE_PAGE_SIZE = 100
+
+
 def get_table_name(channel: str) -> str:
    # Construct the table name
    table_name = f"{str(interface_state.myNodeNum)}_{channel}_messages"
@@ -18,7 +21,21 @@ def get_table_name(channel: str) -> str:
    return quoted_table_name


-def save_message_to_db(channel: str, user_id: str, message_text: str) -> Optional[int]:
+def _ensure_message_columns(db_cursor, quoted_table_name: str) -> None:
+    """Add fields introduced after the original message-history schema."""
+    table_columns = {row[1] for row in db_cursor.execute(f"PRAGMA table_info({quoted_table_name})")}
+    for column, definition in (("ack_type", "TEXT"), ("packet_id", "INTEGER"), ("reply_id", "INTEGER")):
+        if column not in table_columns:
+            db_cursor.execute(f"ALTER TABLE {quoted_table_name} ADD COLUMN {column} {definition}")
+
+
+def save_message_to_db(
+    channel: str,
+    user_id: str,
+    message_text: str,
+    packet_id: Optional[int] = None,
+    reply_id: Optional[int] = None,
+) -> Optional[int]:
    """Save messages to the database, ensuring the table exists."""
    try:
        quoted_table_name = get_table_name(channel)
@@ -27,20 +44,25 @@ def save_message_to_db(channel: str, user_id: str, message_text: str) -> Optiona
            user_id TEXT,
            message_text TEXT,
            timestamp INTEGER,
-            ack_type TEXT
+            ack_type TEXT,
+            packet_id INTEGER,
+            reply_id INTEGER
        """
        ensure_table_exists(quoted_table_name, schema)

-        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path) as db_connection:
+        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path, timeout=10.0) as db_connection:
+            db_connection.execute("PRAGMA busy_timeout=10000")
            db_cursor = db_connection.cursor()
+            _ensure_message_columns(db_cursor, quoted_table_name)
            timestamp = int(time.time())

            # Insert the message
            insert_query = f"""
-                INSERT INTO {quoted_table_name} (user_id, message_text, timestamp, ack_type)
-                VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)
+                INSERT INTO {quoted_table_name}
+                    (user_id, message_text, timestamp, ack_type, packet_id, reply_id)
+                VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
            """
-            db_cursor.execute(insert_query, (user_id, message_text, timestamp, None))
+            db_cursor.execute(insert_query, (user_id, message_text, timestamp, None, packet_id, reply_id))
            db_connection.commit()

            return timestamp
@@ -53,7 +75,8 @@ def save_message_to_db(channel: str, user_id: str, message_text: str) -> Optiona

 def update_ack_nak(channel: str, timestamp: int, message: str, ack: str) -> None:
    try:
-        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path) as db_connection:
+        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path, timeout=10.0) as db_connection:
+            db_connection.execute("PRAGMA busy_timeout=10000")
            db_cursor = db_connection.cursor()
            update_query = f"""
                UPDATE {get_table_name(channel)}
@@ -73,35 +96,100 @@ def update_ack_nak(channel: str, timestamp: int, message: str, ack: str) -> None
        logging.error(f"Unexpected error in update_ack_nak: {e}")


-def load_messages_from_db() -> None:
+def _format_db_messages(db_messages, node_names):
+    """Format database rows and packet IDs, adding one timestamp separator per hour."""
+    hourly_messages = {}
+    known_messages = {}
+    for _rowid, user_id, message, timestamp, ack_type, packet_id, reply_id in db_messages:
+        if user_id is None or message is None or timestamp is None:
+            logging.warning(f"Skipping row with NULL required field(s): {(user_id, message, timestamp, ack_type)}")
+            continue
+
+        hour = datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp).strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:00")
+        ack_str = config.ack_unknown_str
+        if ack_type == "Implicit":
+            ack_str = config.ack_implicit_str
+        elif ack_type == "Ack":
+            ack_str = config.ack_str
+        elif ack_type == "Nak":
+            ack_str = config.nak_str
+
+        ts_str = datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp).strftime("[%H:%M:%S]")
+        sanitized_message = message.replace("\x00", "")
+        if user_id == str(interface_state.myNodeNum):
+            formatted_message = (f"{ts_str} {config.sent_message_prefix}{ack_str}: ", sanitized_message)
+        else:
+            try:
+                fallback_name = decimal_to_hex(int(user_id))
+            except (TypeError, ValueError):
+                fallback_name = str(user_id)
+            formatted_message = (
+                f"{ts_str} {config.message_prefix} {node_names.get(str(user_id), fallback_name)}: ",
+                sanitized_message,
+            )
+
+        if reply_id is not None and reply_id in known_messages:
+            referenced_prefix, referenced_message = known_messages[reply_id]
+            formatted_message = (formatted_message[0], build_reply_prefix(referenced_prefix, referenced_message) + sanitized_message)
+
+        hourly_messages.setdefault(hour, []).append((formatted_message, packet_id))
+        if packet_id is not None:
+            known_messages[packet_id] = formatted_message
+
+    formatted = []
+    packet_ids = []
+    for hour, messages in sorted(hourly_messages.items()):
+        formatted.append((f"-- {hour} --", ""))
+        packet_ids.append(None)
+        for formatted_message, packet_id in messages:
+            formatted.append(formatted_message)
+            packet_ids.append(packet_id)
+    return formatted, packet_ids
+
+
+def _load_node_names(db_cursor):
+    table_name = f'"{interface_state.myNodeNum}_nodedb"'
+    try:
+        return {str(row[0]): row[1] for row in db_cursor.execute(f"SELECT user_id, short_name FROM {table_name}")}
+    except sqlite3.Error:
+        return {}
+
+
+def load_messages_from_db(page_size: int = MESSAGE_PAGE_SIZE) -> None:
    """Load messages from the database for all channels and update ui_state.all_messages and ui_state.channel_list."""
    try:
-        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path) as db_connection:
+        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path, timeout=10.0) as db_connection:
+            db_connection.execute("PRAGMA busy_timeout=10000")
            db_cursor = db_connection.cursor()

            query = "SELECT name FROM sqlite_master WHERE type='table' AND name LIKE ?"
            db_cursor.execute(query, (f"{str(interface_state.myNodeNum)}_%_messages",))
            tables = [row[0] for row in db_cursor.fetchall()]
+            node_names = _load_node_names(db_cursor)

            # Iterate through each table and fetch its messages
            for table_name in tables:
                quoted_table_name = (
                    f'"{table_name}"'  # Quote the table name because we begin with numerics and contain spaces
                )
-                table_columns = [i[1] for i in db_cursor.execute(f"PRAGMA table_info({quoted_table_name})")]
-                if "ack_type" not in table_columns:
-                    update_table_query = f"ALTER TABLE {quoted_table_name} ADD COLUMN ack_type TEXT"
-                    db_cursor.execute(update_table_query)
+                _ensure_message_columns(db_cursor, quoted_table_name)

-                query = f"SELECT user_id, message_text, timestamp, ack_type FROM {quoted_table_name}"
+                query = f"""
+                    SELECT rowid, user_id, message_text, timestamp, ack_type, packet_id, reply_id
+                    FROM {quoted_table_name}
+                    ORDER BY rowid DESC LIMIT ?
+                """

                try:
                    # Fetch all messages from the table
-                    db_cursor.execute(query)
-                    db_messages = [(row[0], row[1], row[2], row[3]) for row in db_cursor.fetchall()]  # Save as tuples
+                    db_cursor.execute(query, (page_size + 1,))
+                    rows = db_cursor.fetchall()
+                    has_older = len(rows) > page_size
+                    db_messages = list(reversed(rows[:page_size]))

                    # Extract the channel name from the table name
-                    channel = table_name.split("_")[1]
+                    prefix = f"{interface_state.myNodeNum}_"
+                    channel = table_name[len(prefix) : -len("_messages")]

                    # Convert the channel to an integer if it's numeric, otherwise keep it as a string (nodenum vs channel name)
                    channel = int(channel) if channel.isdigit() else channel
@@ -110,53 +198,13 @@ def load_messages_from_db() -> None:
                    if channel not in ui_state.channel_list and not is_chat_archived(channel):
                        ui_state.channel_list.append(channel)

-                    # Ensure the channel exists in ui_state.all_messages
-                    if channel not in ui_state.all_messages:
-                        ui_state.all_messages[channel] = []
-
-                    # Add messages to ui_state.all_messages grouped by hourly timestamp
-                    hourly_messages = {}
-                    for row in db_messages:
-                        user_id, message, timestamp, ack_type = row
-
-                        # Only ack_type is allowed to be None
-                        if user_id is None or message is None or timestamp is None:
-                            logging.warning(f"Skipping row with NULL required field(s): {row}")
-                            continue
-
-                        hour = datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp).strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:00")
-                        if hour not in hourly_messages:
-                            hourly_messages[hour] = []
-
-                        ack_str = config.ack_unknown_str
-                        if ack_type == "Implicit":
-                            ack_str = config.ack_implicit_str
-                        elif ack_type == "Ack":
-                            ack_str = config.ack_str
-                        elif ack_type == "Nak":
-                            ack_str = config.nak_str
-
-                        ts_str = datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp).strftime("[%H:%M:%S]")
-
-                        if user_id == str(interface_state.myNodeNum):
-                            sanitized_message = message.replace("\x00", "")
-                            formatted_message = (
-                                f"{ts_str} {config.sent_message_prefix}{ack_str}: ",
-                                sanitized_message,
-                            )
-                        else:
-                            sanitized_message = message.replace("\x00", "")
-                            formatted_message = (
-                                f"{ts_str} {config.message_prefix} {get_name_from_database(int(user_id), 'short')}: ",
-                                sanitized_message,
-                            )
-
-                        hourly_messages[hour].append(formatted_message)
-
-                    # Flatten the hourly messages into ui_state.all_messages[channel]
-                    for hour, messages in sorted(hourly_messages.items()):
-                        ui_state.all_messages[channel].append((f"-- {hour} --", ""))
-                        ui_state.all_messages[channel].extend(messages)
+                    # Replace the channel's messages with the freshly loaded page to avoid duplicates
+                    formatted_messages, packet_ids = _format_db_messages(db_messages, node_names)
+                    ui_state.all_messages[channel] = formatted_messages
+                    ui_state.message_packet_ids[channel] = packet_ids
+                    if db_messages:
+                        ui_state.oldest_message_rowid[channel] = db_messages[0][0]
+                    ui_state.has_older_messages[channel] = has_older

                except sqlite3.Error as e:
                    logging.error(f"SQLite error while loading messages from table '{table_name}': {e}")
@@ -165,6 +213,47 @@ def load_messages_from_db() -> None:
        logging.error(f"SQLite error in load_messages_from_db: {e}")


+def load_older_messages(channel, page_size: int = MESSAGE_PAGE_SIZE) -> int:
+    """Prepend one older page for a channel and return the number of messages loaded."""
+    before_rowid = ui_state.oldest_message_rowid.get(channel)
+    if before_rowid is None or not ui_state.has_older_messages.get(channel, False):
+        return 0
+
+    try:
+        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path, timeout=10.0) as db_connection:
+            db_connection.execute("PRAGMA busy_timeout=10000")
+            db_cursor = db_connection.cursor()
+            query = f"""
+                SELECT rowid, user_id, message_text, timestamp, ack_type, packet_id, reply_id
+                FROM {get_table_name(channel)}
+                WHERE rowid < ? ORDER BY rowid DESC LIMIT ?
+            """
+            db_cursor.execute(query, (before_rowid, page_size + 1))
+            rows = db_cursor.fetchall()
+            has_older = len(rows) > page_size
+            db_messages = list(reversed(rows[:page_size]))
+            if not db_messages:
+                ui_state.has_older_messages[channel] = False
+                return 0
+
+            older, older_packet_ids = _format_db_messages(db_messages, _load_node_names(db_cursor))
+            current = ui_state.all_messages.setdefault(channel, [])
+            current_packet_ids = ui_state.message_packet_ids.setdefault(channel, [])
+            while len(current_packet_ids) < len(current):
+                current_packet_ids.append(None)
+            # Keep the existing page's leading separator even when the older page
+            # falls in the same hour. Removing it makes a timestamp that the user
+            # is looking at jump out of view as soon as another page is loaded.
+            ui_state.all_messages[channel] = older + current
+            ui_state.message_packet_ids[channel] = older_packet_ids + current_packet_ids
+            ui_state.oldest_message_rowid[channel] = db_messages[0][0]
+            ui_state.has_older_messages[channel] = has_older
+            return len(db_messages)
+    except sqlite3.Error as e:
+        logging.error(f"SQLite error loading older messages for channel '{channel}': {e}")
+        return 0
+
+
 def init_nodedb() -> None:
    """Initialize the node database and update it with nodes from the interface."""

@@ -228,7 +317,8 @@ def update_node_info_in_db(
    try:
        ensure_node_table_exists()  # Ensure the table exists before any operation

-        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path) as db_connection:
+        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path, timeout=10.0) as db_connection:
+            db_connection.execute("PRAGMA busy_timeout=10000")
            db_cursor = db_connection.cursor()
            table_name = f'"{interface_state.myNodeNum}_nodedb"'  # Quote in case of numeric names

@@ -236,6 +326,7 @@ def update_node_info_in_db(
            if "chat_archived" not in table_columns:
                update_table_query = f"ALTER TABLE {table_name} ADD COLUMN chat_archived INTEGER"
                db_cursor.execute(update_table_query)
+                db_connection.commit()

            # Fetch existing values to preserve unchanged fields
            db_cursor.execute(f"SELECT * FROM {table_name} WHERE user_id = ?", (user_id,))
@@ -311,7 +402,8 @@ def ensure_node_table_exists() -> None:
 def ensure_table_exists(table_name: str, schema: str) -> None:
    """Ensure the given table exists in the database."""
    try:
-        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path) as db_connection:
+        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path, timeout=10.0) as db_connection:
+            db_connection.execute("PRAGMA busy_timeout=10000")
            db_cursor = db_connection.cursor()
            create_table_query = f"CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS {table_name} ({schema})"
            db_cursor.execute(create_table_query)
@@ -331,7 +423,8 @@ def get_name_from_database(user_id: int, type: str = "long") -> str:
    :return: The retrieved name or the hex of the user id
    """
    try:
-        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path) as db_connection:
+        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path, timeout=10.0) as db_connection:
+            db_connection.execute("PRAGMA busy_timeout=10000")
            db_cursor = db_connection.cursor()

            # Construct table name
@@ -359,7 +452,8 @@ def get_name_from_database(user_id: int, type: str = "long") -> str:

 def is_chat_archived(user_id: int) -> int:
    try:
-        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path) as db_connection:
+        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path, timeout=10.0) as db_connection:
+            db_connection.execute("PRAGMA busy_timeout=10000")
            db_cursor = db_connection.cursor()
            table_name = f"{str(interface_state.myNodeNum)}_nodedb"
            nodeinfo_table = f'"{table_name}"'
@@ -141,7 +141,8 @@ def seed_demo_messages() -> None:
        ack_type TEXT
    """

-    with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path) as db_connection:
+    with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path, timeout=10.0) as db_connection:
+        db_connection.execute("PRAGMA busy_timeout=10000")
        cursor = db_connection.cursor()

        for channel_name, rows in _demo_messages().items():
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import datetime
+import re
 import time
 from typing import Optional, Union
 from google.protobuf.message import DecodeError
@@ -156,10 +157,37 @@ def get_time_ago(timestamp):
    return "now"


-def add_new_message(channel_id, prefix, message):
+REPLY_EXCERPT_LENGTH = 5
+
+
+def build_reply_prefix(prefix: str, message: str) -> str:
+    """Create Contact's local display marker for a native Meshtastic reply."""
+    sender_text = re.sub(r"^\[[^]]+\]\s*", "", prefix).strip()
+    sender_text = re.sub(r"^(?:>>|<<)\s*(?:\[[^]]+\]\s*)?", "", sender_text)
+    sender_match = re.search(r"(.+?)\s*:\s*$", sender_text)
+    sender = sender_match.group(1).strip() if sender_match else "me"
+    excerpt = " ".join(message.replace("\x00", "").split())[:REPLY_EXCERPT_LENGTH]
+    return f"<Re: {sender}: {excerpt}> "
+
+
+def get_reply_context(reply_id):
+    """Find the locally displayed message referred to by a Meshtastic reply ID."""
+    for channel, packet_ids in ui_state.message_packet_ids.items():
+        for index, packet_id in enumerate(packet_ids):
+            if packet_id == reply_id and index < len(ui_state.all_messages.get(channel, [])):
+                prefix, message = ui_state.all_messages[channel][index]
+                return build_reply_prefix(prefix, message)
+    return ""
+
+
+def add_new_message(channel_id, prefix, message, packet_id=None):
    if channel_id not in ui_state.all_messages:
        ui_state.all_messages[channel_id] = []

+    packet_ids = ui_state.message_packet_ids.setdefault(channel_id, [])
+    while len(packet_ids) < len(ui_state.all_messages[channel_id]):
+        packet_ids.append(None)
+
    # Timestamp handling
    current_timestamp = time.time()
    current_hour = datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(current_timestamp).strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:00")
@@ -180,10 +208,12 @@ def add_new_message(channel_id, prefix, message):
    # Add a new timestamp if it's a new hour
    if last_hour != current_hour:
        ui_state.all_messages[channel_id].append((f"-- {current_hour} --", ""))
+        packet_ids.append(None)

    # Add the message
    ts_str = time.strftime("[%H:%M:%S] ")
    ui_state.all_messages[channel_id].append((f"{ts_str}{prefix}", message))
+    packet_ids.append(packet_id)


 def parse_protobuf(packet: dict) -> Union[str, dict]:
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "contact"
-version = "1.5.4"
+version = "1.5.9"
 description = "This Python curses client for Meshtastic is a terminal-based client designed to manage device settings, enable mesh chat communication, and handle configuration backups and restores."
 authors = [
    {name = "Ben Lipsey",email = "ben@pdxlocations.com"}
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import unittest
+import importlib
+import sys
+import types
+from unittest import mock
+
+import contact.ui.default_config as config
+
+
+class BotHandlerTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls) -> None:
+        sys.modules.setdefault(
+            "contact.message_handlers.tx_handler",
+            types.SimpleNamespace(send_message=mock.Mock()),
+        )
+        cls.bot_handler = importlib.import_module("contact.message_handlers.bot_handler")
+
+    def test_is_bot_message_uses_configured_catch_words(self) -> None:
+        with mock.patch.object(config, "ping_bot_catch_words", "ping; test; pong"):
+            self.assertTrue(self.bot_handler.is_bot_message("PING"))
+            self.assertTrue(self.bot_handler.is_bot_message("test"))
+            self.assertFalse(self.bot_handler.is_bot_message("hello"))
+
+    def test_is_bot_message_ignores_empty_config_values(self) -> None:
+        with mock.patch.object(config, "ping_bot_catch_words", " ;  ; "):
+            self.assertTrue(self.bot_handler.is_bot_message("ping"))
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
@@ -70,6 +70,171 @@ class ContactUiTests(unittest.TestCase):
        self.assertFalse(ui_state.redraw_channels)
        self.assertFalse(ui_state.redraw_messages)

+    def test_process_pending_ui_updates_preserves_selection_when_scrolling_to_new_messages(self) -> None:
+        stdscr = mock.Mock()
+        ui_state.redraw_messages = True
+        ui_state.scroll_messages_to_bottom = True
+        ui_state.preserve_message_selection = True
+
+        with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "draw_messages_window") as draw_messages_window:
+            contact_ui.process_pending_ui_updates(stdscr)
+
+        draw_messages_window.assert_called_once_with(True, preserve_selection=True)
+        self.assertFalse(ui_state.preserve_message_selection)
+
+    def test_draw_messages_resizes_pad_once(self) -> None:
+        ui_state.channel_list = ["Primary"]
+        ui_state.all_messages = {"Primary": [("[10:00] RX: ", "one"), ("[10:01] RX: ", "two")]}
+        contact_ui.messages_pad = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.messages_pad.getmaxyx.return_value = (2, 40)
+        contact_ui.messages_win = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.messages_win.getmaxyx.return_value = (10, 40)
+        contact_ui.packetlog_win = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.packetlog_win.getmaxyx.return_value = (1, 40)
+        contact_ui.messages_win.getbegyx.return_value = (0, 0)
+
+        with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "paint_frame"):
+            with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "get_color", return_value=0):
+                with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "refresh_pad"):
+                    with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "draw_packetlog_win"):
+                        with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "draw_window_arrows"):
+                            contact_ui.draw_messages_window()
+
+        contact_ui.messages_pad.resize.assert_called_once_with(2, 40)
+
+    def test_build_reply_prefix_includes_sender_and_five_character_excerpt(self) -> None:
+        reply = contact_ui.build_reply_prefix(
+            "[06:27:25] >> [6] B1G1: ",
+            "This is a message long enough to be shortened for the reply marker.",
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(reply, "<Re: B1G1: This > ")
+
+    def test_handle_ctrl_r_prefills_reply_for_message_at_cursor(self) -> None:
+        ui_state.current_window = 1
+        ui_state.channel_list = ["Primary"]
+        ui_state.all_messages = {"Primary": [("[06:27:25] >> [6] B1G1: ", "Good morning all.")]}
+        ui_state.message_packet_ids = {"Primary": [1234]}
+        ui_state.selected_message = 0
+        contact_ui.messages_win = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.messages_win.getmaxyx.return_value = (10, 80)
+
+        self.assertEqual(contact_ui.handle_ctrl_r("Same to you!"), "Same to you!")
+        self.assertEqual(ui_state.reply_id, 1234)
+        self.assertEqual(ui_state.reply_context, "<Re: B1G1: Good > ")
+
+    def test_handle_ctrl_r_clears_an_existing_reply(self) -> None:
+        ui_state.current_window = 1
+        ui_state.reply_id = 1234
+        ui_state.reply_context = "<Re: B1G1: Good > "
+        ui_state.reply_id_unavailable = False
+
+        self.assertEqual(contact_ui.handle_ctrl_r("Same to you!"), "")
+        self.assertIsNone(ui_state.reply_id)
+        self.assertEqual(ui_state.reply_context, "")
+        self.assertFalse(ui_state.reply_id_unavailable)
+
+    def test_handle_ctrl_r_shows_context_when_message_id_is_unavailable(self) -> None:
+        ui_state.current_window = 1
+        ui_state.channel_list = ["Primary"]
+        ui_state.all_messages = {"Primary": [("[06:27:25] >> [6] B1G1: ", "Good morning all.")]}
+        ui_state.selected_message = 0
+        contact_ui.messages_win = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.messages_win.getmaxyx.return_value = (10, 80)
+
+        self.assertEqual(contact_ui.handle_ctrl_r(""), "")
+        self.assertEqual(ui_state.reply_context, "<Re: B1G1: Good > ")
+        self.assertTrue(ui_state.reply_id_unavailable)
+
+    def test_refresh_message_highlight_marks_selected_message(self) -> None:
+        ui_state.current_window = 1
+        ui_state.channel_list = ["Primary"]
+        ui_state.message_line_ranges = {"Primary": [(0, 2, 10), (2, 3, 20)]}
+        ui_state.selected_message = 2
+        contact_ui.messages_pad = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.messages_win = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.messages_win.getmaxyx.return_value = (10, 40)
+
+        contact_ui.refresh_message_highlight()
+
+        contact_ui.messages_pad.chgat.assert_called_once_with(2, 1, 38, 20 | contact_ui.curses.A_REVERSE)
+
+    def test_refresh_message_highlight_clears_when_messages_pane_is_not_active(self) -> None:
+        ui_state.current_window = 0
+        ui_state.highlighted_message_range = (2, 3, 20)
+        contact_ui.messages_pad = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.messages_win = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.messages_win.getmaxyx.return_value = (10, 40)
+
+        contact_ui.refresh_message_highlight()
+
+        contact_ui.messages_pad.chgat.assert_called_once_with(2, 1, 38, 20)
+        self.assertEqual(ui_state.highlighted_message_range, ())
+
+    def test_handle_end_moves_messages_viewport_to_bottom(self) -> None:
+        ui_state.current_window = 1
+        ui_state.start_index = [0, 0, 0]
+        contact_ui.messages_pad = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.messages_pad.getmaxyx.return_value = (100, 80)
+        contact_ui.messages_win = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.messages_win.getmaxyx.return_value = (12, 80)
+        contact_ui.packetlog_win = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.packetlog_win.getmaxyx.return_value = (1, 80)
+
+        with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "refresh_message_highlight"):
+            with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "refresh_pad"):
+                with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "draw_window_arrows"):
+                    contact_ui.handle_end()
+
+        self.assertEqual(ui_state.selected_message, 99)
+        self.assertGreater(ui_state.start_index[1], 0)
+
+    def test_message_selection_can_reach_last_rendered_line(self) -> None:
+        ui_state.start_index = [0, 0, 0]
+        contact_ui.messages_pad = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.messages_pad.getmaxyx.return_value = (100, 80)
+        contact_ui.messages_win = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.messages_win.getmaxyx.return_value = (12, 80)
+        contact_ui.packetlog_win = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.packetlog_win.getmaxyx.return_value = (1, 80)
+
+        contact_ui.set_message_selection(99)
+
+        self.assertEqual(ui_state.selected_message, 99)
+        self.assertEqual(ui_state.start_index[1], 90)
+
+    def test_switching_to_messages_redraws_at_bottom(self) -> None:
+        ui_state.current_window = 0
+        ui_state.single_pane_mode = False
+        with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "refresh_main_window"):
+            with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "draw_window_arrows"):
+                with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "draw_messages_window") as draw_messages_window:
+                    with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "refresh_message_highlight"):
+                        contact_ui.handle_leftright(contact_ui.curses.KEY_RIGHT)
+
+        draw_messages_window.assert_called_once_with(True)
+
+    def test_move_message_selection_skips_all_lines_of_wrapped_message(self) -> None:
+        ui_state.channel_list = ["Primary"]
+        ui_state.message_line_ranges = {"Primary": [(0, 3, 10), (3, 4, 20), (4, 6, 30)]}
+        ui_state.selected_message = 1
+        ui_state.start_index = [0, 0, 0]
+        contact_ui.messages_pad = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.messages_pad.getmaxyx.return_value = (6, 80)
+        contact_ui.messages_win = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.messages_win.getmaxyx.return_value = (12, 80)
+        contact_ui.packetlog_win = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.packetlog_win.getmaxyx.return_value = (1, 80)
+
+        contact_ui.move_message_selection(1)
+        self.assertEqual(ui_state.selected_message, 3)
+
+        contact_ui.move_message_selection(1)
+        self.assertEqual(ui_state.selected_message, 5)
+
+        contact_ui.move_message_selection(-1)
+        self.assertEqual(ui_state.selected_message, 3)
+
    def test_refresh_node_selection_reserves_scroll_arrow_column(self) -> None:
        ui_state.node_list = [101, 202]
        ui_state.selected_node = 1
@@ -200,3 +365,103 @@ class ContactUiTests(unittest.TestCase):
            contact_ui.refresh_pad(1)

        contact_ui.messages_win.addstr.assert_called_once_with(0, 2, " Primary ", contact_ui.curses.A_BOLD)
+
+    def test_search_ignores_no_input_from_curses(self) -> None:
+        ui_state.node_list = [101]
+        ui_state.selected_node = 0
+        contact_ui.entry_win = mock.Mock()
+        contact_ui.entry_win.get_wch.side_effect = contact_ui.curses.error("no input")
+
+        with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "draw_centered_text_field"):
+            with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "get_color", return_value=0):
+                contact_ui.search(2)
+
+        contact_ui.entry_win.timeout.assert_has_calls([mock.call(-1), mock.call(200)])
+        contact_ui.entry_win.erase.assert_called()
+
+    def test_f5_node_details_ignores_no_input_from_curses(self) -> None:
+        stdscr = mock.Mock()
+        ui_state.node_list = [101]
+        ui_state.selected_node = 0
+        ui_state.current_window = 2
+
+        dialog_win = mock.Mock()
+        dialog_win.getch.side_effect = [contact_ui.curses.error("no input"), 27]
+        msg_win = mock.Mock()
+        dialog_win.derwin.return_value = msg_win
+
+        interface = mock.Mock()
+        interface.nodesByNum = {
+            101: {
+                "num": 101,
+                "user": {
+                    "longName": "Test Node",
+                    "shortName": "TN",
+                    "hwModel": "T-Beam",
+                    "role": "CLIENT",
+                    "publicKey": "abc",
+                },
+            }
+        }
+
+        with mock.patch("contact.ui.contact_ui.interface_state.interface", interface):
+            with mock.patch.object(contact_ui.curses, "LINES", 24, create=True):
+                with mock.patch.object(contact_ui.curses, "COLS", 80, create=True):
+                    with mock.patch.object(contact_ui.curses, "curs_set"):
+                        with mock.patch.object(contact_ui.curses, "update_lines_cols"):
+                            with mock.patch.object(contact_ui.curses, "doupdate"):
+                                with mock.patch.object(contact_ui.curses, "newwin", return_value=dialog_win):
+                                    with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "get_color", return_value=0):
+                                        with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "refresh_node_selection"):
+                                            with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "handle_resize") as handle_resize:
+                                                contact_ui.handle_f5_key(stdscr)
+
+        self.assertEqual(dialog_win.getch.call_count, 2)
+        handle_resize.assert_called_once_with(stdscr, False)
+
+    def test_f5_node_details_tolerates_none_metrics(self) -> None:
+        stdscr = mock.Mock()
+        ui_state.node_list = [101]
+        ui_state.selected_node = 0
+        ui_state.current_window = 2
+
+        dialog_win = mock.Mock()
+        dialog_win.getch.return_value = 27
+        msg_win = mock.Mock()
+        dialog_win.derwin.return_value = msg_win
+
+        interface = mock.Mock()
+        interface.nodesByNum = {
+            101: {
+                "num": 101,
+                "snr": None,
+                "hopsAway": None,
+                "deviceMetrics": {
+                    "batteryLevel": None,
+                    "channelUtilization": None,
+                    "airUtilTx": None,
+                    "uptimeSeconds": None,
+                },
+                "user": {
+                    "longName": "Test Node",
+                    "shortName": "TN",
+                    "hwModel": "T-Beam",
+                    "role": "CLIENT",
+                    "publicKey": "abc",
+                },
+            }
+        }
+
+        with mock.patch("contact.ui.contact_ui.interface_state.interface", interface):
+            with mock.patch.object(contact_ui.curses, "LINES", 24, create=True):
+                with mock.patch.object(contact_ui.curses, "COLS", 80, create=True):
+                    with mock.patch.object(contact_ui.curses, "curs_set"):
+                        with mock.patch.object(contact_ui.curses, "update_lines_cols"):
+                            with mock.patch.object(contact_ui.curses, "doupdate"):
+                                with mock.patch.object(contact_ui.curses, "newwin", return_value=dialog_win):
+                                    with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "get_color", return_value=0):
+                                        with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "refresh_node_selection"):
+                                            with mock.patch.object(contact_ui, "handle_resize") as handle_resize:
+                                                contact_ui.handle_f5_key(stdscr)
+
+        handle_resize.assert_called_once_with(stdscr, False)
@@ -45,6 +45,38 @@ class DbHandlerTests(unittest.TestCase):

        self.assertEqual(row, ("123", "hello", "Ack"))

+    def test_message_ids_are_migrated_and_reloaded_with_history(self) -> None:
+        db_handler.ensure_table_exists(
+            '"123_Primary_messages"',
+            "user_id TEXT, message_text TEXT, timestamp INTEGER, ack_type TEXT",
+        )
+        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path) as conn:
+            conn.execute(
+                'INSERT INTO "123_Primary_messages" VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)',
+                ("456", "original message", 1700000000, None),
+            )
+
+        db_handler.save_message_to_db("Primary", "456", "reply", packet_id=902, reply_id=901)
+        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path) as conn:
+            columns = {row[1] for row in conn.execute('PRAGMA table_info("123_Primary_messages")')}
+            stored_ids = conn.execute(
+                'SELECT packet_id, reply_id FROM "123_Primary_messages" WHERE message_text = ?', ("reply",)
+            ).fetchone()
+            conn.execute(
+                'UPDATE "123_Primary_messages" SET packet_id = ? WHERE message_text = ?', (901, "original message")
+            )
+            conn.commit()
+
+        db_handler.load_messages_from_db()
+
+        self.assertTrue({"packet_id", "reply_id"}.issubset(columns))
+        self.assertEqual(stored_ids, (902, 901))
+        self.assertEqual([packet_id for packet_id in ui_state.message_packet_ids["Primary"] if packet_id], [901, 902])
+        self.assertEqual(
+            ui_state.all_messages["Primary"][-1][1],
+            f"<Re: {decimal_to_hex(456)}: origi> reply",
+        )
+
    def test_update_node_info_in_db_fills_defaults_and_preserves_existing_values(self) -> None:
        db_handler.update_node_info_in_db(999, short_name="ABCD")

@@ -112,6 +144,59 @@ class DbHandlerTests(unittest.TestCase):
        self.assertTrue(any("RM:" in prefix for prefix, _ in messages))
        self.assertEqual(ui_state.all_messages[789][-1][1], "hidden")

+    def test_message_history_is_loaded_in_bounded_pages(self) -> None:
+        db_handler.update_node_info_in_db(456, long_name="Remote Node", short_name="RM")
+        db_handler.ensure_table_exists(
+            '"123_Primary_messages"',
+            "user_id TEXT, message_text TEXT, timestamp INTEGER, ack_type TEXT",
+        )
+        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path) as conn:
+            conn.executemany(
+                'INSERT INTO "123_Primary_messages" VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)',
+                [("456", f"message-{i}", 1700000000 + i, None) for i in range(7)],
+            )
+
+        db_handler.load_messages_from_db(page_size=3)
+
+        loaded_text = [message for _, message in ui_state.all_messages["Primary"] if message]
+        self.assertEqual(loaded_text, ["message-4", "message-5", "message-6"])
+        self.assertTrue(ui_state.has_older_messages["Primary"])
+
+        self.assertEqual(db_handler.load_older_messages("Primary", page_size=3), 3)
+        loaded_text = [message for _, message in ui_state.all_messages["Primary"] if message]
+        self.assertEqual(
+            loaded_text,
+            ["message-1", "message-2", "message-3", "message-4", "message-5", "message-6"],
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(ui_state.has_older_messages["Primary"])
+        separators = [prefix for prefix, _ in ui_state.all_messages["Primary"] if prefix.startswith("--")]
+        self.assertEqual(len(separators), 2)
+        self.assertEqual(separators[0], separators[1])
+
+        self.assertEqual(db_handler.load_older_messages("Primary", page_size=3), 1)
+        loaded_text = [message for _, message in ui_state.all_messages["Primary"] if message]
+        self.assertEqual(loaded_text, [f"message-{i}" for i in range(7)])
+        self.assertFalse(ui_state.has_older_messages["Primary"])
+        separators = [prefix for prefix, _ in ui_state.all_messages["Primary"] if prefix.startswith("--")]
+        self.assertEqual(len(separators), 3)
+
+    def test_message_table_channel_name_may_contain_underscores(self) -> None:
+        db_handler.ensure_node_table_exists()
+        db_handler.ensure_table_exists(
+            '"123_My_Channel_messages"',
+            "user_id TEXT, message_text TEXT, timestamp INTEGER, ack_type TEXT",
+        )
+        with sqlite3.connect(config.db_file_path) as conn:
+            conn.execute(
+                'INSERT INTO "123_My_Channel_messages" VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)',
+                ("123", "hello", 1700000000, None),
+            )
+
+        db_handler.load_messages_from_db()
+
+        self.assertIn("My_Channel", ui_state.channel_list)
+        self.assertEqual(ui_state.all_messages["My_Channel"][-1][1], "hello")
+
    def test_init_nodedb_inserts_nodes_from_interface(self) -> None:
        interface_state.interface = build_demo_interface()
        interface_state.myNodeNum = DEMO_LOCAL_NODE_NUM
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+import unittest
+from unittest import mock
+
+from contact.ui import dialog as dialog_module
+from contact.utilities.singleton import menu_state, ui_state
+
+
+class _FakeWindow:
+    def __init__(self, height: int, width: int) -> None:
+        self.height = height
+        self.width = width
+        self.children = []
+        self.added_strings = []
+        self._getch_values = [10]
+
+    def erase(self) -> None:
+        return None
+
+    def bkgd(self, *_args) -> None:
+        return None
+
+    def attrset(self, *_args) -> None:
+        return None
+
+    def border(self, *_args) -> None:
+        return None
+
+    def addstr(self, y: int, x: int, text: str, *_args) -> None:
+        self.added_strings.append((y, x, text))
+
+    def derwin(self, height: int, width: int, _y: int, _x: int):
+        child = _FakeWindow(height, width)
+        self.children.append(child)
+        return child
+
+    def noutrefresh(self) -> None:
+        return None
+
+    def keypad(self, *_args) -> None:
+        return None
+
+    def timeout(self, *_args) -> None:
+        return None
+
+    def getch(self) -> int:
+        return self._getch_values.pop(0) if self._getch_values else -1
+
+    def refresh(self) -> None:
+        return None
+
+    def getmaxyx(self):
+        return (self.height, self.width)
+
+
+class DialogTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self) -> None:
+        self.previous_window = ui_state.current_window
+        self.previous_start_index = list(ui_state.start_index)
+        self.previous_need_redraw = menu_state.need_redraw
+
+    def tearDown(self) -> None:
+        ui_state.current_window = self.previous_window
+        ui_state.start_index = self.previous_start_index
+        menu_state.need_redraw = self.previous_need_redraw
+
+    def test_dialog_renders_full_message_when_width_is_sufficient(self) -> None:
+        root = _FakeWindow(5, 33)
+        ui_state.current_window = 0
+        ui_state.start_index = [0, 0, 0]
+        menu_state.need_redraw = False
+
+        with mock.patch.object(dialog_module, "t_text", side_effect=lambda text: text):
+            with mock.patch.object(dialog_module, "get_color", return_value=0):
+                with mock.patch.object(dialog_module, "draw_main_arrows"):
+                    with mock.patch.object(dialog_module.curses, "update_lines_cols"):
+                        with mock.patch.object(dialog_module.curses, "doupdate"):
+                            with mock.patch.object(dialog_module.curses, "LINES", 24, create=True):
+                                with mock.patch.object(dialog_module.curses, "COLS", 80, create=True):
+                                    with mock.patch.object(dialog_module.curses, "newwin", return_value=root):
+                                        dialog_module.dialog("Bot Responder", "Bot responder is now Enabled.")
+
+        self.assertTrue(root.children)
+        message_text = [text for _y, _x, text in root.children[0].added_strings]
+        self.assertIn("Bot responder is now Enabled.", message_text)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from unittest import mock

 import contact.ui.default_config as config
 from contact.utilities import i18n
+from contact.utilities.ini_utils import parse_ini_file

 from tests.test_support import restore_config, snapshot_config

@@ -55,3 +56,20 @@ class I18nTests(unittest.TestCase):
            config.language = "ru"
            self.assertEqual(i18n.t("missing", default="fallback"), "fallback")
            self.assertEqual(parse_ini_file.call_count, 2)
+
+    def test_bot_ui_translation_keys_exist_in_all_locales(self) -> None:
+        required_keys = {
+            "ui.help.bot_responder",
+            "ui.bot.status.enabled",
+            "ui.bot.status.disabled",
+            "ui.bot.dialog.title",
+            "ui.bot.dialog.body",
+            "ui.bot.status.message",
+            "app_settings.ping_bot",
+            "app_settings.ping_bot.catch_words",
+            "app_settings.ping_bot.response_word",
+        }
+
+        for language in config.get_localisation_options():
+            field_mapping, _ = parse_ini_file(config.get_localisation_file(language))
+            self.assertTrue(required_keys.issubset(field_mapping), msg=f"Missing bot translation keys in {language}")
@@ -186,6 +186,15 @@ class MainRuntimeTests(unittest.TestCase):
        wrapper.assert_called_once_with(entrypoint.main)
        interface.close.assert_called_once_with()

+    def test_start_does_not_crash_when_wrapper_returns_without_interface(self) -> None:
+        interface_state.interface = None
+
+        with mock.patch.object(entrypoint.sys, "argv", ["contact"]):
+            with mock.patch.object(entrypoint.curses, "wrapper") as wrapper:
+                entrypoint.start()
+
+        wrapper.assert_called_once_with(entrypoint.main)
+
    def test_main_returns_cleanly_when_user_closes_missing_node_dialog(self) -> None:
        stdscr = mock.Mock()
        args = Namespace(settings=False, demo_screenshot=False)
@@ -215,6 +224,18 @@ class MainRuntimeTests(unittest.TestCase):
        interface.close.assert_called_once_with()
        exit_mock.assert_called_once_with(0)

+    def test_start_handles_keyboard_interrupt_with_no_interface(self) -> None:
+        interface_state.interface = None
+
+        with mock.patch.object(entrypoint.sys, "argv", ["contact"]):
+            with mock.patch.object(entrypoint.curses, "wrapper", side_effect=KeyboardInterrupt):
+                with mock.patch.object(entrypoint.sys, "exit", side_effect=SystemExit(0)) as exit_mock:
+                    with self.assertRaises(SystemExit) as raised:
+                        entrypoint.start()
+
+        self.assertEqual(raised.exception.code, 0)
+        exit_mock.assert_called_once_with(0)
+
    def test_start_handles_fatal_exception_and_exits_one(self) -> None:
        with mock.patch.object(entrypoint.sys, "argv", ["contact"]):
            with mock.patch.object(entrypoint.curses, "wrapper", side_effect=RuntimeError("boom")):
@@ -40,13 +40,50 @@ class RxHandlerTests(unittest.TestCase):
                        with mock.patch.object(rx_handler, "get_name_from_database", return_value="SAT2"):
                            rx_handler.on_receive(packet, interface=None)

-        self.assertEqual(request_ui_redraw.call_args_list, [mock.call(nodes=True), mock.call(messages=True, scroll_messages_to_bottom=True)])
+        self.assertEqual(
+            request_ui_redraw.call_args_list,
+            [
+                mock.call(nodes=True),
+                mock.call(
+                    messages=True,
+                    scroll_messages_to_bottom=True,
+                    preserve_message_selection=False,
+                ),
+            ],
+        )
        add_notification.assert_not_called()
-        save_message_to_db.assert_called_once_with("Primary", 222, "hello")
+        save_message_to_db.assert_called_once_with("Primary", 222, "hello", packet_id=None, reply_id=None)
        self.assertEqual(ui_state.all_messages["Primary"][-1][1], "hello")
        self.assertIn("SAT2:", ui_state.all_messages["Primary"][-1][0])
        self.assertIn("[2]", ui_state.all_messages["Primary"][-1][0])

+    def test_on_receive_preserves_message_selection_while_showing_new_message(self) -> None:
+        interface_state.myNodeNum = 111
+        ui_state.current_window = 1
+        ui_state.channel_list = ["Primary"]
+        ui_state.all_messages = {"Primary": []}
+        ui_state.selected_channel = 0
+        packet = {
+            "from": 222,
+            "to": 999,
+            "channel": 0,
+            "hopStart": 1,
+            "hopLimit": 1,
+            "decoded": {"portnum": "TEXT_MESSAGE_APP", "payload": b"hello"},
+        }
+
+        with mock.patch.object(rx_handler, "refresh_node_list", return_value=False):
+            with mock.patch.object(rx_handler, "request_ui_redraw") as request_ui_redraw:
+                with mock.patch.object(rx_handler, "save_message_to_db"):
+                    with mock.patch.object(rx_handler, "get_name_from_database", return_value="SAT2"):
+                        rx_handler.on_receive(packet, interface=None)
+
+        request_ui_redraw.assert_called_once_with(
+            messages=True,
+            scroll_messages_to_bottom=True,
+            preserve_message_selection=True,
+        )
+
    def test_on_receive_direct_message_adds_channel_and_notification(self) -> None:
        interface_state.myNodeNum = 111
        ui_state.channel_list = ["Primary"]
@@ -74,7 +111,33 @@ class RxHandlerTests(unittest.TestCase):
        request_ui_redraw.assert_called_once_with(channels=True)
        add_notification.assert_called_once_with(1)
        update_node_info_in_db.assert_called_once_with(222, chat_archived=False)
-        save_message_to_db.assert_called_once_with(222, 222, "dm")
+        save_message_to_db.assert_called_once_with(222, 222, "dm", packet_id=None, reply_id=None)
+
+    def test_on_receive_displays_context_for_native_reply_id(self) -> None:
+        interface_state.myNodeNum = 111
+        ui_state.channel_list = ["Primary"]
+        ui_state.all_messages = {"Primary": [("[06:00:00] >> SAT2: ", "hello world")]}
+        ui_state.message_packet_ids = {"Primary": [900]}
+        ui_state.selected_channel = 0
+        packet = {
+            "id": 901,
+            "from": 222,
+            "to": 999,
+            "channel": 0,
+            "hopStart": 1,
+            "hopLimit": 1,
+            "decoded": {"portnum": "TEXT_MESSAGE_APP", "payload": b"hi", "replyId": 900},
+        }
+
+        with mock.patch.object(rx_handler, "refresh_node_list", return_value=False):
+            with mock.patch.object(rx_handler, "request_ui_redraw"):
+                with mock.patch.object(rx_handler, "save_message_to_db") as save_message_to_db:
+                    with mock.patch.object(rx_handler, "get_name_from_database", return_value="NODE"):
+                        rx_handler.on_receive(packet, interface=None)
+
+        self.assertEqual(ui_state.all_messages["Primary"][-1][1], "<Re: SAT2: hello> hi")
+        self.assertEqual(ui_state.message_packet_ids["Primary"][-1], 901)
+        save_message_to_db.assert_called_once_with("Primary", 222, "hi", packet_id=901, reply_id=900)

    def test_on_receive_trims_packet_buffer_even_when_packet_is_undecoded(self) -> None:
        ui_state.packet_buffer = list(range(25))
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class TxHandlerTests(unittest.TestCase):
            onResponse=tx_handler.onAckNak,
            channelIndex=0,
        )
-        save_message_to_db.assert_called_once_with("Primary", 111, "hello")
+        save_message_to_db.assert_called_once_with("Primary", 111, "hello", packet_id="req-1", reply_id=None)
        self.assertEqual(tx_handler.ack_naks["req-1"]["channel"], "Primary")
        self.assertEqual(tx_handler.ack_naks["req-1"]["messageIndex"], 1)
        self.assertEqual(tx_handler.ack_naks["req-1"]["timestamp"], 999)
@@ -70,12 +70,27 @@ class TxHandlerTests(unittest.TestCase):
        )
        self.assertEqual(tx_handler.ack_naks["req-2"]["channel"], 222)

+    def test_send_message_uses_native_reply_id_but_only_displays_reply_context_locally(self) -> None:
+        interface = mock.Mock()
+        interface.sendText.return_value = SimpleNamespace(id="req-3")
+        interface_state.interface = interface
+        interface_state.myNodeNum = 111
+        ui_state.channel_list = ["Primary"]
+        ui_state.all_messages = {"Primary": []}
+
+        with mock.patch.object(tx_handler, "save_message_to_db", return_value=123):
+            tx_handler.send_message("hello", channel=0, reply_id=77, reply_context="<Re: NODE: hello> ")
+
+        self.assertEqual(interface.sendText.call_args.kwargs["text"], "hello")
+        self.assertEqual(interface.sendText.call_args.kwargs["replyId"], 77)
+        self.assertEqual(ui_state.all_messages["Primary"][-1][1], "<Re: NODE: hello> hello")
+
    def test_on_ack_nak_updates_message_for_explicit_ack(self) -> None:
        interface_state.myNodeNum = 111
        ui_state.channel_list = ["Primary"]
        ui_state.selected_channel = 0
        ui_state.all_messages = {"Primary": [("pending", "hello")]}
-        tx_handler.ack_naks["req"] = {"channel": "Primary", "messageIndex": 0, "timestamp": 55}
+        tx_handler.ack_naks["req"] = {"channel": "Primary", "messageIndex": 0, "timestamp": 55, "dbMessage": "hello"}

        packet = {"from": 222, "decoded": {"requestId": "req", "routing": {"errorReason": "NONE"}}}

@@ -94,7 +109,7 @@ class TxHandlerTests(unittest.TestCase):
        ui_state.channel_list = ["Primary"]
        ui_state.selected_channel = 0
        ui_state.all_messages = {"Primary": [("pending", "hello")]}
-        tx_handler.ack_naks["req"] = {"channel": "Primary", "messageIndex": 0, "timestamp": 55}
+        tx_handler.ack_naks["req"] = {"channel": "Primary", "messageIndex": 0, "timestamp": 55, "dbMessage": "hello"}

        packet = {"from": 111, "decoded": {"requestId": "req", "routing": {"errorReason": "NONE"}}}
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
pdxlocations	eef321cac7	Bump version to 1.5.9 in pyproject.toml	2026-07-18 22:25:00 -07:00
pdxlocations	cc33716222	Merge pull request #281 from pdxlocations/replies Support replies	2026-07-18 22:23:33 -07:00
pdxlocations	7efc1a640d	Enhance messaging features with reply support and message selection preservation - Updated `send_message` to include reply ID and context for native replies. - Modified `onAckNak` to correctly update the database with the message context. - Implemented reply prefix formatting in `build_reply_prefix` for better message clarity. - Added functionality to preserve message selection when new messages are received. - Enhanced database handling to store packet IDs and reply IDs for messages. - Updated UI state to manage reply context and message highlighting effectively. - Improved tests to cover new reply features and message selection behavior.	2026-07-18 22:21:55 -07:00
pdxlocations	b54e467ef0	Merge pull request #280 from pdxlocations:message-loading Slowness with busy channels	2026-07-18 21:34:40 -07:00
pdxlocations	8c01f8fc17	Reduce MESSAGE_PAGE_SIZE to improve message loading efficiency and update tests to verify separator consistency.	2026-07-18 21:34:07 -07:00
pdxlocations	c6164af582	Refactor message loading logic to replace channel messages and avoid duplicates	2026-07-18 21:28:57 -07:00
pdxlocations	52f42591d2	Slowness with busy channels Fixes #279	2026-07-18 21:24:32 -07:00
pdxlocations	69cb568d2c	bump version to 1.5.8 in pyproject.toml	2026-05-07 13:50:36 -07:00
pdxlocations	68b08787de	Enhance error handling in contact UI and improve metrics display logic	2026-05-07 13:50:12 -07:00
pdxlocations	80ede60153	bump version to 1.5.7 in pyproject.toml	2026-03-28 22:42:34 -07:00
pdxlocations	046ede23a2	Merge pull request #265 from stason200711/main Allow overriding DATA_DIR via environment variable and fix file descriptor leaks	2026-03-28 22:41:47 -07:00
pdxlocations	0ad39fd6a0	Add Ping Bot Config to Settings	2026-03-28 22:35:34 -07:00
pdxlocations	6721874937	add bot strings to i18n and fix dilogue width	2026-03-28 22:22:41 -07:00
pdxlocations	8ee21b1973	Merge pull request #266 from SpudGunMan:bot auto respond bot	2026-03-28 22:10:26 -07:00
Kelly	0760d6d0ca	auto respond bot Added an optional auto-responder bot that listens for configurable trigger words (from localisation) and sends a response with available link metadata (like SNR/RSSI/hops/transport) The feature is toggleable from the UI shortcut ctl+B	2026-03-28 19:57:22 -07:00
stason200711	cd0b114f13	Update db_handler.py	2026-03-28 09:52:37 +03:00
stason200711	2d4b407caa	Update default_config.py Allow overriding DATA_DIR via environment variable	2026-03-26 09:55:00 +03:00
stason200711	80b9311959	Update demo_data.py Fix file descriptor leaks	2026-03-26 09:52:08 +03:00
stason200711	da5f5bff39	Update db_handler.py Fix file descriptor leaks	2026-03-25 23:20:36 +03:00
pdxlocations	bc69c709ff	Bump version to 1.5.6 in pyproject.toml	2026-03-22 21:37:12 -07:00
pdxlocations	6453865cba	Merge pull request #262 from SpudGunMan:main refactor exit	2026-03-22 21:36:27 -07:00
pdxlocations	090e89d92c	Merge pull request #263 from pdxlocations:add-french-language Add French localization file for user interface and settings	2026-03-22 21:16:15 -07:00
pdxlocations	07716c1719	Add French localization file for user interface and settings	2026-03-22 21:15:58 -07:00
Kelly	da5b102047	Update __main__.py	2026-03-22 14:44:22 -07:00
pdxlocations	1668b68c4f	Bump version to 1.5.5 in pyproject.toml	2026-03-21 22:08:57 -07:00
pdxlocations	fd4b9e2174	Add tests for handling interface absence and keyboard interrupts in start function	2026-03-21 22:08:41 -07:00
pdxlocations	8f32e2c99c	Merge pull request #260 from pdxlocations:reset Add factory reset config option and tryfix factory reset	2026-03-21 21:28:29 -07:00