diff --git a/relay/bluetooth_handler.py b/relay/bluetooth_handler.py
index be45241..97e3f1f 100644
--- a/relay/bluetooth_handler.py
+++ b/relay/bluetooth_handler.py
@@ -112,6 +112,16 @@ class BluetoothHandler:
         print("Advertising Bluetooth...")
         self.ble.gap_advertise(100_000, self.advertising_payload(name="MeshNode", services=[SERVICE_UUID]))
         
+    def send_packet(self, packet_type: int, data: dict):
+        if not self.connections:
+            print("No connected devices to send to.")
+            return
+        
+        payload = struct.pack("<B", packet_type) + str(data).encode()
+        
+        for conn_handle in self.connections:
+            self.ble.gatts_notify(conn_handle, self.tx_handle, payload)
+        
     def irq(self, event, data):
         print(f"BLUETOOTH IRQ | EVENT: {event}, DATA: {data}")
         if event == IRQ_CONNECT:
diff --git a/relay/connection.py b/relay/connection.py
index 06ecf16..4409e5d 100644
--- a/relay/connection.py
+++ b/relay/connection.py
@@ -3,10 +3,26 @@ from lora_handler import LoRaHandler, LoRaMessage
 
 import time
 import uasyncio as asyncio
+import json
+
+from machine import Pin
+led = Pin("LED", Pin.OUT)
 
 
 class Connection:
     def __init__(self, bluetooth_handler=None):
+        # ensure led is off during initialization to indicate we're not ready yet
+        led.value(0)
+        
+        try:
+            with open("settings.json", "r") as f:
+                self.settings = json.load(f)
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            print("No settings file found. Using defaults...")
+            self.settings = {
+                "display_name": "Unnamed Node"
+            }
+        
         self.bluetooth_handler = bluetooth_handler
         self.load_public_constants()
         
@@ -20,12 +36,19 @@ class Connection:
         # start lora handler
         self.lora = LoRaHandler()
         
+        # turn on status LED to indicate we're ready
+        led.value(1)
+        
     async def bluetooth_listener(self):
         while True:
             msg_type, payload = await self.bluetooth_handler.packets.get()
             
             if msg_type == 3: # advertise self
                 self.lora.advertise()
+                
+    def bluetooth_send(self, msg_type: int, payload: dict):
+        if self.bluetooth_handler:
+            self.bluetooth_handler.send_packet(msg_type, payload)
         
     async def start(self):
         print("Starting connection...")
@@ -35,8 +58,11 @@ class Connection:
         
         while True:
             msg: LoRaMessage = await self.lora.message_queue.get()
-            
             print(f"Received message from {msg.sender_id}: {msg.payload}")
+            
+            if msg.payload == b"Ping!":
+                self.bluetooth_send(4, {"id": msg.sender_id, "name": self.settings["display_name"]})
+            
         
     def load_public_constants(self):
         with open("public_constants.txt", "r") as f:
diff --git a/relay/lora_handler.py b/relay/lora_handler.py
index de54347..7e2a577 100644
--- a/relay/lora_handler.py
+++ b/relay/lora_handler.py
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ from sx1262 import SX1262
 import uasyncio as asyncio
 from queue import Queue
 
-from machine import Pin
-led = Pin(25, Pin.OUT)
 
 class FixedDeque:
     def __init__(self, maxlen):
@@ -73,7 +71,17 @@ class LoRaHandler:
         msg_bytes = LoRaMessage(sender_id=self.my_id, recipient_id=recipient_id, payload=data).encode()
         self.radio.send(msg_bytes)
         
+    def has_seen_message(self, msg: LoRaMessage) -> bool:
+        if msg.message_id in self.recent_messages:
+            return True
+        self.recent_messages.append(msg.message_id)
+        return False
+        
     def forward(self, msg: LoRaMessage):
+        # ensure we don't process a message twice
+        if self.has_seen_message(msg):
+            return
+        
         msg_bytes = msg.encode()
         self.radio.send(msg_bytes)
         
@@ -83,9 +91,8 @@ class LoRaHandler:
         
     def on_receive(self, msg: LoRaMessage):
         # ensure we don't process a message twice
-        if msg.message_id in self.recent_messages:
+        if self.has_seen_message(msg):
             return
-        self.recent_messages.append(msg.message_id)
         
         # messages has a lifetime to prevent infinite loops.
         # if we receive a message with lifetime <= 0 we just drop it,
@@ -106,8 +113,10 @@ class LoRaHandler:
             if not msg.sender_id in self.neighbours:
                 print(f"Neighbour discovered: {msg.sender_id}")
                 self.neighbours.add(msg.sender_id)
-                self.send(b"Ping!", msg.sender_id)
                 
+            # tell the sender we heard them by sending a ping back
+            self.send(b"Ping!", msg.sender_id)
+            self.forward(msg)
             return
         
         asyncio.create_task(self.message_queue.put(msg))
diff --git a/relay/settings.json b/relay/settings.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64f4963
--- /dev/null
+++ b/relay/settings.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+    "display_name": "Cool Guy"
+}
\ No newline at end of file