diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9c1543f..2a89235 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -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.
diff --git a/contact/localisations/en.ini b/contact/localisations/en.ini
index a0d6b7f..b3deaa0 100644
--- a/contact/localisations/en.ini
+++ b/contact/localisations/en.ini
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ 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.catch_words, "ping; test", "Semicolon-separated bot trigger words."
+bot.response.word, "Pong!", "Bot response word."
 
 [User Settings]
 user, "User"
diff --git a/contact/localisations/fr.ini b/contact/localisations/fr.ini
index eea9b94..72e196c 100644
--- a/contact/localisations/fr.ini
+++ b/contact/localisations/fr.ini
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ help.ignore, "Ctrl+G = Ignorer", ""
 help.search, "Ctrl+/ ou / = Rechercher", ""
 help.help, "Ctrl+K = Aide", ""
 help.no_help, "Aucune aide disponible.", ""
+bot.catch_words, "ping", "Mots déclencheurs du bot séparés par des virgules."
+bot.response.word, "Pong!", "Mot de reponse du bot (orthographe preferee)."
 
 [User Settings]
 user, "Utilisateur", ""
diff --git a/contact/localisations/ru.ini b/contact/localisations/ru.ini
index 2f19ad8..bcf44ea 100644
--- a/contact/localisations/ru.ini
+++ b/contact/localisations/ru.ini
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ 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.catch_words, "ping; пинг", "Слова для активации бота, разделенные точкой с запятой."
+bot.response.word, "Понг!", "Ответное слово бота (предпочтительное написание)."
 
 [User Settings]
 user, "Пользователь"
diff --git a/contact/message_handlers/bot_handler.py b/contact/message_handlers/bot_handler.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d91cac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contact/message_handlers/bot_handler.py
@@ -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
+
+from contact.utilities.singleton import app_state, interface_state, ui_state
+from contact.message_handlers.tx_handler import send_message
+from contact.utilities.i18n import t
+
+BOT_RESPONSE_DELAY_SECONDS = 2.3
+
+def _get_bot_catch_words() -> set[str]:
+    """Return normalized bot trigger words from localisation settings."""
+    raw_words = t("ui.bot.catch_words", default="ping")
+    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('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 = t("ui.bot.response.word", default="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
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/contact/message_handlers/rx_handler.py b/contact/message_handlers/rx_handler.py
index fd8b6db..5094852 100644
--- a/contact/message_handlers/rx_handler.py
+++ b/contact/message_handlers/rx_handler.py
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ 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 +169,8 @@ 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]:
diff --git a/contact/ui/contact_ui.py b/contact/ui/contact_ui.py
index 4bdbec2..e30a464 100644
--- a/contact/ui/contact_ui.py
+++ b/contact/ui/contact_ui.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import time
 import traceback
 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
 from contact.settings import settings_menu
 from contact.message_handlers.tx_handler import send_message, send_traceroute
 from contact.utilities.utils import parse_protobuf
@@ -445,6 +445,9 @@ 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)
 
@@ -919,6 +922,7 @@ def handle_ctrl_k(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
         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 +934,32 @@ 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.status.enabled", default="Enabled") if ui_state.bot_mode_enabled else t(
+        "ui.status.disabled", default="Disabled"
+    )
+
+    curses.curs_set(0)
+    contact.ui.dialog.dialog(
+        t("ui.dialog.bot_responder_title", default="Bot Responder"),
+        t("ui.dialog.bot_responder_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.status.bot_mode", 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):
diff --git a/contact/ui/ui_state.py b/contact/ui/ui_state.py
index 4dc63f9..7d1e3db 100644
--- a/contact/ui/ui_state.py
+++ b/contact/ui/ui_state.py
@@ -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])