diff --git a/data/mesh_ingestor/config.py b/data/mesh_ingestor/config.py
index 3d6be04..e54254c 100644
--- a/data/mesh_ingestor/config.py
+++ b/data/mesh_ingestor/config.py
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ ENERGY_SAVING = os.environ.get("ENERGY_SAVING") == "1"
 _RECONNECT_INITIAL_DELAY_SECS = float(os.environ.get("MESH_RECONNECT_INITIAL", "5"))
 _RECONNECT_MAX_DELAY_SECS = float(os.environ.get("MESH_RECONNECT_MAX", "60"))
 _CLOSE_TIMEOUT_SECS = float(os.environ.get("MESH_CLOSE_TIMEOUT", "5"))
+_INACTIVITY_RECONNECT_SECS = float(
+    os.environ.get("MESH_INACTIVITY_RECONNECT_SECS", str(60 * 60))
+)
 _ENERGY_ONLINE_DURATION_SECS = float(
     os.environ.get("ENERGY_ONLINE_DURATION_SECS", "300")
 )
@@ -61,6 +64,7 @@ __all__ = [
     "_RECONNECT_INITIAL_DELAY_SECS",
     "_RECONNECT_MAX_DELAY_SECS",
     "_CLOSE_TIMEOUT_SECS",
+    "_INACTIVITY_RECONNECT_SECS",
     "_ENERGY_ONLINE_DURATION_SECS",
     "_ENERGY_SLEEP_SECS",
     "_debug_log",
diff --git a/data/mesh_ingestor/daemon.py b/data/mesh_ingestor/daemon.py
index 443b91d..592c559 100644
--- a/data/mesh_ingestor/daemon.py
+++ b/data/mesh_ingestor/daemon.py
@@ -173,6 +173,12 @@ def main() -> None:
     stop = threading.Event()
     initial_snapshot_sent = False
     energy_session_deadline = None
+    iface_connected_at: float | None = None
+    last_seen_packet_monotonic = handlers.last_packet_monotonic()
+    last_inactivity_reconnect: float | None = None
+    inactivity_reconnect_secs = max(
+        0.0, getattr(config, "_INACTIVITY_RECONNECT_SECS", 0.0)
+    )
 
     energy_saving_enabled = config.ENERGY_SAVING
     energy_online_secs = max(0.0, config._ENERGY_ONLINE_DURATION_SECS)
@@ -226,6 +232,12 @@ def main() -> None:
                         energy_session_deadline = time.monotonic() + energy_online_secs
                     else:
                         energy_session_deadline = None
+                    iface_connected_at = time.monotonic()
+                    # Seed the inactivity tracking from the connection time so a
+                    # reconnect is given a full inactivity window even when the
+                    # handler still reports the previous packet timestamp.
+                    last_seen_packet_monotonic = iface_connected_at
+                    last_inactivity_reconnect = None
                 except interfaces.NoAvailableMeshInterface as exc:
                     print(f"[error] {exc}")
                     _close_interface(iface)
@@ -316,6 +328,68 @@ def main() -> None:
                         )
                     continue
 
+            if iface is not None and inactivity_reconnect_secs > 0:
+                now_monotonic = time.monotonic()
+                iface_activity = handlers.last_packet_monotonic()
+                if (
+                    iface_activity is not None
+                    and iface_connected_at is not None
+                    and iface_activity < iface_connected_at
+                ):
+                    iface_activity = iface_connected_at
+                if iface_activity is not None and (
+                    last_seen_packet_monotonic is None
+                    or iface_activity > last_seen_packet_monotonic
+                ):
+                    last_seen_packet_monotonic = iface_activity
+                    last_inactivity_reconnect = None
+
+                latest_activity = iface_activity
+                if latest_activity is None and iface_connected_at is not None:
+                    latest_activity = iface_connected_at
+                if latest_activity is None:
+                    latest_activity = now_monotonic
+
+                inactivity_elapsed = now_monotonic - latest_activity
+
+                connected_attr = getattr(iface, "isConnected", None)
+                believed_disconnected = False
+                if callable(connected_attr):
+                    try:
+                        believed_disconnected = not bool(connected_attr())
+                    except Exception:
+                        believed_disconnected = False
+                elif connected_attr is not None:
+                    believed_disconnected = not bool(connected_attr)
+
+                should_reconnect = believed_disconnected or (
+                    inactivity_elapsed >= inactivity_reconnect_secs
+                )
+
+                if should_reconnect:
+                    if (
+                        last_inactivity_reconnect is None
+                        or now_monotonic - last_inactivity_reconnect
+                        >= inactivity_reconnect_secs
+                    ):
+                        reason = (
+                            "disconnected"
+                            if believed_disconnected
+                            else f"no data for {inactivity_elapsed:.0f}s"
+                        )
+                        print(
+                            "[warn] mesh interface inactivity detected "
+                            f"({reason}); reconnecting"
+                        )
+                        last_inactivity_reconnect = now_monotonic
+                        _close_interface(iface)
+                        iface = None
+                        announced_target = False
+                        initial_snapshot_sent = False
+                        energy_session_deadline = None
+                        iface_connected_at = None
+                        continue
+
             retry_delay = max(0.0, config._RECONNECT_INITIAL_DELAY_SECS)
             stop.wait(config.SNAPSHOT_SECS)
     except KeyboardInterrupt:  # pragma: no cover - interactive only
diff --git a/data/mesh_ingestor/handlers.py b/data/mesh_ingestor/handlers.py
index e157d62..115e93c 100644
--- a/data/mesh_ingestor/handlers.py
+++ b/data/mesh_ingestor/handlers.py
@@ -816,6 +816,22 @@ def store_packet_dict(packet: Mapping) -> None:
         )
 
 
+_last_packet_monotonic: float | None = None
+
+
+def last_packet_monotonic() -> float | None:
+    """Return the monotonic timestamp of the most recent packet."""
+
+    return _last_packet_monotonic
+
+
+def _mark_packet_seen() -> None:
+    """Record that a packet has been processed."""
+
+    global _last_packet_monotonic
+    _last_packet_monotonic = time.monotonic()
+
+
 def on_receive(packet, interface) -> None:
     """Callback registered with Meshtastic to capture incoming packets.
 
@@ -833,6 +849,8 @@ def on_receive(packet, interface) -> None:
             return
         packet["_potatomesh_seen"] = True
 
+    _mark_packet_seen()
+
     packet_dict = None
     try:
         packet_dict = _pkt_to_dict(packet)
@@ -846,6 +864,7 @@ def on_receive(packet, interface) -> None:
 
 __all__ = [
     "_queue_post_json",
+    "last_packet_monotonic",
     "on_receive",
     "store_neighborinfo_packet",
     "store_nodeinfo_packet",