diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
index 1eb08f0d..b9bae0fc 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -1313,13 +1313,22 @@ void MyMesh::begin(bool has_display) {
   BaseChatMesh::begin();
 
   if (!_store->loadMainIdentity(self_id)) {
+    Serial.println("[ID] loadMainIdentity FAILED — generating new identity");
     self_id = radio_new_identity(); // create new random identity
     int count = 0;
     while (count < 10 && (self_id.pub_key[0] == 0x00 || self_id.pub_key[0] == 0xFF)) { // reserved id hashes
       self_id = radio_new_identity();
       count++;
     }
-    _store->saveMainIdentity(self_id);
+    bool ok = _store->saveMainIdentity(self_id);
+    Serial.printf("[ID] saveMainIdentity returned %d\n", ok ? 1 : 0);
+  } else {
+    Serial.println("[ID] loadMainIdentity OK — using persisted identity");
+  }
+  {
+    char hex[10];
+    mesh::Utils::toHex(hex, self_id.pub_key, 4);
+    Serial.printf("[ID] pub_key[0..3] = %s\n", hex);
   }
 
 // if name is provided as a build flag, use that as default node name instead
@@ -1418,6 +1427,7 @@ void MyMesh::startInterface(BaseSerialInterface &serial) {
 }
 
 void MyMesh::handleCmdFrame(size_t len) {
+  Serial.printf("[CMD] rx opcode=0x%02X len=%d\n", cmd_frame[0], (int)len);
   if (cmd_frame[0] == CMD_DEVICE_QEURY && len >= 2) { // sent when app establishes connection
     app_target_ver = cmd_frame[1];                    // which version of protocol does app understand
 
@@ -1720,12 +1730,19 @@ void MyMesh::handleCmdFrame(size_t len) {
       }
     }
   } else if (cmd_frame[0] == CMD_IMPORT_CONTACT && len > 2 + 32 + 64) {
+    Serial.printf("[IMP] CMD_IMPORT_CONTACT received, len=%d\n", len);
     if (importContact(&cmd_frame[1], len - 1)) {
+      Serial.println("[IMP] importContact OK, scheduling dirty flush");
       dirty_contacts_expiry = futureMillis(LAZY_CONTACTS_WRITE_DELAY);
       writeOKFrame();
     } else {
+      Serial.println("[IMP] importContact REJECTED by BaseChatMesh");
       writeErrFrame(ERR_CODE_ILLEGAL_ARG);
     }
+  } else if (cmd_frame[0] == CMD_IMPORT_CONTACT) {
+    Serial.printf("[IMP] CMD_IMPORT_CONTACT dropped — len=%d too short (need >%d)\n",
+                  len, 2 + 32 + 64);
+    writeErrFrame(ERR_CODE_ILLEGAL_ARG);
   } else if (cmd_frame[0] == CMD_SYNC_NEXT_MESSAGE) {
     int out_len;
     if ((out_len = getFromOfflineQueue(out_frame)) > 0) {
@@ -1862,23 +1879,29 @@ void MyMesh::handleCmdFrame(size_t len) {
     writeDisabledFrame();
 #endif
   } else if (cmd_frame[0] == CMD_IMPORT_PRIVATE_KEY && len >= 65) {
+    Serial.printf("[PK] CMD_IMPORT_PRIVATE_KEY received, len=%d\n", (int)len);
 #if ENABLE_PRIVATE_KEY_IMPORT
     if (!mesh::LocalIdentity::validatePrivateKey(&cmd_frame[1])) {
+        Serial.println("[PK] validatePrivateKey FAILED — key bytes rejected");
         writeErrFrame(ERR_CODE_ILLEGAL_ARG); // invalid key
     } else {
+        Serial.println("[PK] validatePrivateKey OK — attempting save");
         mesh::LocalIdentity identity;
         identity.readFrom(&cmd_frame[1], 64);
         if (_store->saveMainIdentity(identity)) {
+          Serial.println("[PK] saveMainIdentity OK");
           self_id = identity;
           writeOKFrame();
           // re-load contacts, to invalidate ecdh shared_secrets
           resetContacts();
           _store->loadContacts(this);
         } else {
+          Serial.println("[PK] saveMainIdentity FAILED");
           writeErrFrame(ERR_CODE_FILE_IO_ERROR);
         }
     }
 #else
+    Serial.println("[PK] ENABLE_PRIVATE_KEY_IMPORT not defined — responding DISABLED");
     writeDisabledFrame();
 #endif
   } else if (cmd_frame[0] == CMD_SEND_RAW_DATA && len >= 6) {
@@ -2073,17 +2096,21 @@ void MyMesh::handleCmdFrame(size_t len) {
       writeErrFrame(ERR_CODE_NOT_FOUND);
     }
   } else if (cmd_frame[0] == CMD_SET_CHANNEL && len >= 2 + 32 + 32) {
+    Serial.printf("[CH] CMD_SET_CHANNEL 256-bit secret not supported (len=%d)\n", len);
     writeErrFrame(ERR_CODE_UNSUPPORTED_CMD); // not supported (yet)
   } else if (cmd_frame[0] == CMD_SET_CHANNEL && len >= 2 + 32 + 16) {
     uint8_t channel_idx = cmd_frame[1];
+    Serial.printf("[CH] CMD_SET_CHANNEL idx=%d len=%d\n", channel_idx, len);
     ChannelDetails channel;
     StrHelper::strncpy(channel.name, (char *)&cmd_frame[2], 32);
     memset(channel.channel.secret, 0, sizeof(channel.channel.secret));
     memcpy(channel.channel.secret, &cmd_frame[2 + 32], 16); // NOTE: only 128-bit supported
     if (setChannel(channel_idx, channel)) {
+      Serial.println("[CH] setChannel OK, calling saveChannels");
       saveChannels();
       writeOKFrame();
     } else {
+      Serial.printf("[CH] setChannel REJECTED (bad idx=%d)\n", channel_idx);
       writeErrFrame(ERR_CODE_NOT_FOUND); // bad channel_idx
     }
   } else if (cmd_frame[0] == CMD_SIGN_START) {
@@ -2313,6 +2340,8 @@ void MyMesh::handleCmdFrame(size_t len) {
     _serial->writeFrame(out_frame, i);
   } else {
     writeErrFrame(ERR_CODE_UNSUPPORTED_CMD);
+    Serial.printf("[CMD] UNKNOWN opcode=0x%02X len=%d — responded UNSUPPORTED\n",
+                  cmd_frame[0], (int)len);
     MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("ERROR: unknown command: %02X", cmd_frame[0]);
   }
 }
@@ -3205,18 +3234,32 @@ void MyMesh::loop() {
     if (_deferSaves) {
       // Voice session receiving — push save forward to avoid SPI contention
       dirty_contacts_expiry = futureMillis(2000);
-    } else if (!_store->isSaveInProgress()) {
-      _store->beginSaveContacts(this);
+    } else {
+#ifdef HELTEC_MESH_POCKET
+      // Meshpocket: use upstream-style synchronous save. Max 500 contacts =
+      // ~74KB, finishes in well under a second on InternalFS. Avoids the
+      // chunked trio's File* lifetime pitfalls entirely.
+      Serial.println("[DS] saveContacts (synchronous) triggered by dirty flag");
+      _store->saveContacts(this);
       dirty_contacts_expiry = 0;
+#else
+      if (!_store->isSaveInProgress()) {
+        _store->beginSaveContacts(this);
+        dirty_contacts_expiry = 0;
+      }
+#endif
     }
   }
 
-  // Drive chunked contact save — write a batch each loop iteration
+#ifndef HELTEC_MESH_POCKET
+  // Drive chunked contact save — write a batch each loop iteration.
+  // Only used for non-Meshpocket builds (ESP32 PSRAM heavyweight).
   if (_store->isSaveInProgress() && !_deferSaves) {
     if (!_store->saveContactsChunk(20)) {  // 20 contacts per chunk (~3KB, ~30ms)
       _store->finishSaveContacts();  // Done or error — verify and commit
     }
   }
+#endif
 
   // Discovery scan timeout
   if (_discoveryActive && millisHasNowPassed(_discoveryTimeout)) {
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
index 037bb6b0..66bc82f1 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
@@ -1663,10 +1663,29 @@ void halt() {
 
 void setup() {
   Serial.begin(115200);
-  delay(100);  // Give serial time to initialize
+#ifdef NRF52_PLATFORM
+  // nRF52 USB Serial (TinyUSB) needs to enumerate before the host sees prints.
+  // Wait up to 3s for a serial connection; without this, early setup() prints
+  // are silently dropped. Skip the wait entirely if nothing ever connects
+  // (running off battery with no USB).
+  uint32_t t0 = millis();
+  while (!Serial && (millis() - t0) < 3000) { delay(10); }
+#else
+  delay(100);  // Give serial time to initialize (ESP32: CDC is already up)
+#endif
+
+  // Unconditional entry marker — tells us setup() is running and Serial works
+  Serial.println("[DIAG] setup() entered");
+#ifdef DISPLAY_CLASS
+  Serial.println("[DIAG] DISPLAY_CLASS is defined at compile time");
+#else
+  Serial.println("[DIAG] DISPLAY_CLASS NOT defined at compile time!");
+#endif
+
   MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("=== setup() - STARTING ===");
 
   board.begin();
+  Serial.println("[DIAG] board.begin() returned");
   MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("setup() - board.begin() done");
 
 #ifdef DISPLAY_CLASS
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
index 3390ab52..924abc57 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
@@ -345,7 +345,10 @@ public:
     renderBatteryIndicator(display, _task->getBattMilliVolts());
 #endif
 
-    // centered clock — only show when time is valid
+    // centered clock — only show when time is valid.
+    // Skipped on Meshpocket: no RTC hardware means time is unreliable between
+    // BLE sync events and wrong after any power cycle.
+#ifndef HELTEC_MESH_POCKET
     {
       uint32_t now = _rtc->getCurrentTime();
       if (now > 1700000000) {  // valid timestamp (after ~Nov 2023)
@@ -371,6 +374,7 @@ public:
         display.setTextSize(1);  // restore
       }
     }
+#endif
     // curr page indicator
 #if defined(LilyGo_T5S3_EPaper_Pro)
     int y = 14;  // Closer to header
@@ -483,8 +487,20 @@ public:
       }
       display.setTextSize(1);
 
+#elif defined(HELTEC_MESH_POCKET)
+      // ----- Heltec Meshpocket: single USER button, no keyboard shortcuts -----
+      // MSG/Pin/Connected already drawn above (lines ~400-432). Add a nav hint
+      // at y=72 (virtual coords) — matches other pages on this panel. Note:
+      // with EINK_SCALE_Y=1.28 and EINK_Y_OFFSET=10 the usable virtual Y range
+      // is ~0-85, so display.height()-12 overshoots the physical screen.
+      display.setColor(DisplayDriver::GREEN);
+      display.setTextSize(_node_prefs->smallTextSize());
+      display.drawTextCentered(display.width() / 2, 72,
+        "Click: next  Hold: action");
+      display.setTextSize(1);
+
 #else
-      // ----- T-Deck Pro: Keyboard shortcut text menu -----
+      // ----- T-Deck Pro / Heltec V4 / other keyboard variants -----
       display.setColor(DisplayDriver::LIGHT);
       display.setTextSize(_node_prefs->smallTextSize());
       int menuLH = _node_prefs->smallLineH();
@@ -1324,6 +1340,9 @@ void UITask::begin(DisplayDriver* display, SensorManager* sensors, NodePrefs* no
 
 #ifdef MORSE_COMPOSE_ENABLED
   morse_screen = new MorseScreen(&rtc_clock);
+  Serial.printf("[UI] MorseScreen allocated at %p\n", morse_screen);
+#else
+  Serial.println("[UI] MORSE_COMPOSE_ENABLED not defined — triple-click disabled");
 #endif
 
 #if defined(LilyGo_T5S3_EPaper_Pro)
@@ -2198,6 +2217,7 @@ char UITask::handleDoubleClick(char c) {
 }
 
 char UITask::handleTripleClick(char c) {
+  Serial.println("[UI] triple click event received");
   MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("UITask: triple click triggered");
   checkDisplayOn(c);
 #if defined(LilyGo_T5S3_EPaper_Pro)
@@ -2213,13 +2233,18 @@ char UITask::handleTripleClick(char c) {
   // Triple-click from home screen → enter Morse compose mode.
   // From any other screen, fall through to the existing buzzer toggle (no-op
   // on Meshpocket but kept for other single-button variants).
+  Serial.printf("[UI] triple click: morse_screen=%p curr=%p home=%p\n",
+                morse_screen, curr, home);
   if (morse_screen != nullptr && curr == home) {
+    Serial.println("[UI] triple click: activating MorseScreen");
     morse_screen->activate();
     setCurrScreen(morse_screen);
   } else {
+    Serial.println("[UI] triple click: conditions not met, falling back to buzzer toggle");
     toggleBuzzer();
   }
 #else
+  Serial.println("[UI] triple click: MORSE_COMPOSE_ENABLED not defined");
   toggleBuzzer();
 #endif
 #endif
diff --git a/src/helpers/nrf52/SerialBLEInterface.cpp b/src/helpers/nrf52/SerialBLEInterface.cpp
index 5648707e..b8136d26 100644
--- a/src/helpers/nrf52/SerialBLEInterface.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/nrf52/SerialBLEInterface.cpp
@@ -246,6 +246,7 @@ void SerialBLEInterface::enable() {
   clearBuffers();
   _last_health_check = millis();
 
+  Bluefruit.Advertising.restartOnDisconnect(true);
   Bluefruit.Advertising.start(0);
 }
 
@@ -259,8 +260,9 @@ void SerialBLEInterface::disable() {
   _isEnabled = false;
   BLE_DEBUG_PRINTLN("SerialBLEInterface: disable");
 
-  disconnect();
+  Bluefruit.Advertising.restartOnDisconnect(false);
   Bluefruit.Advertising.stop();
+  disconnect();
   _last_health_check = 0;
 }
 
@@ -394,4 +396,4 @@ bool SerialBLEInterface::isConnected() const {
 
 bool SerialBLEInterface::isWriteBusy() const {
   return send_queue_len >= (FRAME_QUEUE_SIZE * 2 / 3);
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/helpers/nrf52/SerialBLEInterface.h b/src/helpers/nrf52/SerialBLEInterface.h
index e2fc6cb9..4543ee23 100644
--- a/src/helpers/nrf52/SerialBLEInterface.h
+++ b/src/helpers/nrf52/SerialBLEInterface.h
@@ -77,4 +77,4 @@ public:
 #else
   #define BLE_DEBUG_PRINT(...) {}
   #define BLE_DEBUG_PRINTLN(...) {}
-#endif
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/helpers/ui/GxEPDDisplay.cpp b/src/helpers/ui/GxEPDDisplay.cpp
index 07ccedf1..196b67cf 100644
--- a/src/helpers/ui/GxEPDDisplay.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/ui/GxEPDDisplay.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,14 @@ bool GxEPDDisplay::begin() {
   // Tell GxEPD2 to use our SPI instance
   // Using slower speed (4MHz) for reliable e-ink communication
   display.epd2.selectSPI(displaySpi, SPISettings(4000000, MSBFIRST, SPI_MODE0));
+#elif defined(NRF52_PLATFORM)
+  // nRF52 (Meshpocket et al): LoRa sits on the default SPI bus (PIN_SPI_MISO/
+  // MOSI/SCK), e-ink sits on SPI1 (MISO/MOSI/SCK globals set by the variant's
+  // variant.cpp). GxEPD2's default _pSPIx=&SPI would send display traffic to
+  // the LoRa bus — hand the e-ink its own bus explicitly. This matches
+  // upstream MeshCore's approach (which uses SPI1 universally).
+  display.epd2.selectSPI(SPI1, SPISettings(4000000, MSBFIRST, SPI_MODE0));
+  SPI1.begin();
 #endif
 
   // Initialize with:
diff --git a/variants/mesh_pocket/platformio.ini b/variants/mesh_pocket/platformio.ini
index bb8fede7..11f32856 100644
--- a/variants/mesh_pocket/platformio.ini
+++ b/variants/mesh_pocket/platformio.ini
@@ -1,10 +1,3 @@
-; ============================================================================
-; Meck — Heltec MeshPocket variant configuration
-; ============================================================================
-; nRF52840 + SX1262 + 2.13" E-Ink (GxEPD2_213_B74)
-; Single USER button (GPIO 42), no buzzer, no user-accessible LED
-; ============================================================================
-
 [Mesh_pocket]
 extends = nrf52_base
 board = heltec_mesh_pocket
@@ -27,6 +20,8 @@ build_flags =  ${nrf52_base.build_flags}
   -D EINK_X_OFFSET=0
   -D EINK_Y_OFFSET=10
   -D DISPLAY_CLASS=GxEPDDisplay
+  -D DISPLAY_ROTATION=3
+  -D MORSE_COMPOSE_ENABLED
   -D DISABLE_DIAGNOSTIC_OUTPUT
 build_src_filter = ${nrf52_base.build_src_filter}
   +<helpers/*.cpp>
@@ -43,20 +38,20 @@ lib_deps =
 debug_tool = jlink
 upload_protocol = nrfutil
 
-[env:Mesh_pocket_companion_radio_ble]
+
+[env:meck_mesh_pocket_companion_radio_ble]
 extends = Mesh_pocket
 board_build.ldscript = boards/nrf52840_s140_v6_extrafs.ld
 board_upload.maximum_size = 712704
 build_flags =
   ${Mesh_pocket.build_flags}
   -I examples/companion_radio/ui-new
-  -D MAX_CONTACTS=500
-  -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=8
-  -D BLE_PIN_CODE=234567
-  -D OFFLINE_QUEUE_SIZE=64
+  -D MAX_CONTACTS=380
+  -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=12
+  -D BLE_PIN_CODE=123456
+  -D OFFLINE_QUEUE_SIZE=256
   -D AUTO_OFF_MILLIS=0
-  -D MORSE_COMPOSE_ENABLED=1
-;  -D BLE_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
+  -D BLE_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
 ;  -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
 ;  -D MESH_DEBUG=1