diff --git a/repeater/handler_helpers/advert.py b/repeater/handler_helpers/advert.py
index e69de29..3a6fc91 100644
--- a/repeater/handler_helpers/advert.py
+++ b/repeater/handler_helpers/advert.py
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+"""
+Advertisement packet handling helper for pyMC Repeater.
+
+This module processes advertisement packets for neighbor tracking and discovery.
+"""
+
+import asyncio
+import logging
+import time
+
+from pymc_core.node.handlers.advert import AdvertHandler
+
+logger = logging.getLogger("AdvertHelper")
+
+
+class AdvertHelper:
+    """Helper class for processing advertisement packets in the repeater."""
+
+    def __init__(self, local_identity, storage, log_fn=None):
+        """
+        Initialize the advert helper.
+
+        Args:
+            local_identity: The LocalIdentity instance for this repeater
+            storage: StorageCollector instance for persisting advert data
+            log_fn: Optional logging function for AdvertHandler
+        """
+        self.local_identity = local_identity
+        self.storage = storage
+        
+        # Create AdvertHandler internally as a parsing utility
+        self.advert_handler = AdvertHandler(log_fn=log_fn or logger.info)
+        
+        # Cache for tracking known neighbors (avoid repeated database queries)
+        self._known_neighbors = set()
+
+    async def process_advert_packet(self, packet, rssi: int, snr: float) -> None:
+        """
+        Process an incoming advertisement packet.
+
+        This method uses AdvertHandler to parse the packet, then stores
+        the neighbor information for tracking and discovery.
+
+        Args:
+            packet: The advertisement packet to process
+            rssi: Received signal strength indicator
+            snr: Signal-to-noise ratio
+        """
+        try:
+            # Set signal metrics on packet for handler to use
+            packet._snr = snr
+            packet._rssi = rssi
+            
+            # Use AdvertHandler to parse the packet - it now returns parsed data
+            advert_data = await self.advert_handler(packet)
+            
+            if not advert_data or not advert_data.get("valid"):
+                logger.warning("Invalid advert packet received, dropping.")
+                packet.mark_do_not_retransmit()
+                packet.drop_reason = "Invalid advert packet"
+                return
+            
+            # Extract data from parsed advert
+            pubkey = advert_data["public_key"]
+            node_name = advert_data["name"]
+            contact_type = advert_data["contact_type"]
+            
+            # Skip our own adverts
+            if self.local_identity:
+                local_pubkey = self.local_identity.get_public_key().hex()
+                if pubkey == local_pubkey:
+                    logger.debug("Ignoring own advert in neighbor tracking")
+                    return
+
+            # Get route type from packet header
+            from pymc_core.protocol.constants import PH_ROUTE_MASK
+
+            route_type = packet.header & PH_ROUTE_MASK
+
+            # Check if this is a new neighbor (run DB read in thread to avoid blocking event loop)
+            current_time = time.time()
+            if pubkey not in self._known_neighbors:
+                # Only check database if not in cache
+                if self.storage:
+                    current_neighbors = await asyncio.to_thread(
+                        self.storage.get_neighbors
+                    )
+                else:
+                    current_neighbors = {}
+                is_new_neighbor = pubkey not in current_neighbors
+                
+                if is_new_neighbor:
+                    self._known_neighbors.add(pubkey)
+                    logger.info(f"Discovered new neighbor: {node_name} ({pubkey[:16]}...)")
+            else:
+                is_new_neighbor = False
+            
+            # Determine zero-hop: direct routes are always zero-hop,
+            # flood routes are zero-hop if path_len <= 1 (received directly)
+            path_len = len(packet.path) if packet.path else 0
+            zero_hop = path_len == 0
+            
+            # Build advert record
+            advert_record = {
+                "timestamp": current_time,
+                "pubkey": pubkey,
+                "node_name": node_name,
+                "is_repeater": "REPEATER" in contact_type.upper(),
+                "route_type": route_type,
+                "contact_type": contact_type,
+                "latitude": advert_data["latitude"],
+                "longitude": advert_data["longitude"],
+                "rssi": rssi,
+                "snr": snr,
+                "is_new_neighbor": is_new_neighbor,
+                "zero_hop": zero_hop,
+            }
+            
+            # Store to database (run in thread so event loop stays responsive;
+            # blocking here can cause companion TCP clients to disconnect)
+            if self.storage:
+                try:
+                    await asyncio.to_thread(
+                        self.storage.record_advert,
+                        advert_record,
+                    )
+                except Exception as e:
+                    logger.error(f"Failed to store advert record: {e}")
+        
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f"Error processing advert packet: {e}", exc_info=True)