Have CAD be a separate toggle (set cad on/off)

Author: weebl2000

docs/cli_commands.md

@@ -578,6 +578,20 @@ This document provides an overview of CLI commands that can be sent to MeshCore
 
 ---
 
+#### Enable or disable hardware Channel Activity Detection (CAD)
+**Usage:**
+- `get cad`
+- `set cad <on|off>`
+
+**Description:** When enabled, the radio performs a hardware Channel Activity Detection scan before transmitting and defers if the channel is busy. Runs independently of `int.thresh` — either, both, or none may be active.
+
+**Parameters:**
+- `on|off`: Enable or disable hardware CAD
+
+**Default:** `off`
+
+---
+
 #### View or change the AGC Reset Interval
 **Usage:**
 - `get agc.reset.interval`

examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp

@@ -259,7 +259,10 @@ float MyMesh::getAirtimeBudgetFactor() const {
 }
 
 int MyMesh::getInterferenceThreshold() const {
-  return 1; // non-zero enables hardware CAD (Channel Activity Detection) before TX
+  return 0; // disabled for now, until currentRSSI() problem is resolved
+}
+bool MyMesh::getCADEnabled() const {
+  return true; // hardware CAD before TX (no CLI toggle on companion; enabled by default)
 }
 
 int MyMesh::calcRxDelay(float score, uint32_t air_time) const {

examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.h

@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ class MyMesh : public BaseChatMesh, public DataStoreHost {
 protected:
   float getAirtimeBudgetFactor() const override;
   int getInterferenceThreshold() const override;
+  bool getCADEnabled() const override;
   int calcRxDelay(float score, uint32_t air_time) const override;
   uint32_t getRetransmitDelay(const mesh::Packet *packet) override;
   uint32_t getDirectRetransmitDelay(const mesh::Packet *packet) override;

examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp

@@ -892,7 +892,8 @@ MyMesh::MyMesh(mesh::MainBoard &board, mesh::Radio &radio, mesh::MillisecondCloc
   _prefs.flood_max = 64;
   _prefs.flood_max_unscoped = 64;
   _prefs.flood_max_advert = 8;
-  _prefs.interference_threshold = 1; // non-zero enables hardware CAD before TX
+  _prefs.interference_threshold = 0; // disabled
+  _prefs.cad_enabled = 0;            // hardware CAD before TX (off by default; 'set cad on')
 
   // bridge defaults
   _prefs.bridge_enabled = 1;    // enabled

examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.h

@@ -150,6 +150,9 @@ class MyMesh : public mesh::Mesh, public CommonCLICallbacks {
   int getInterferenceThreshold() const override {
     return _prefs.interference_threshold;
   }
+  bool getCADEnabled() const override {
+    return _prefs.cad_enabled;
+  }
   int getAGCResetInterval() const override {
     return ((int)_prefs.agc_reset_interval) * 4000;   // milliseconds
   }

examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp

@@ -649,7 +649,8 @@ MyMesh::MyMesh(mesh::MainBoard &board, mesh::Radio &radio, mesh::MillisecondCloc
   _prefs.flood_max = 64;
   _prefs.flood_max_unscoped = 64;
   _prefs.flood_max_advert = 8;
-  _prefs.interference_threshold = 1; // non-zero enables hardware CAD before TX
+  _prefs.interference_threshold = 0; // disabled
+  _prefs.cad_enabled = 0;            // hardware CAD before TX (off by default; 'set cad on')
 #ifdef ROOM_PASSWORD
   StrHelper::strncpy(_prefs.guest_password, ROOM_PASSWORD, sizeof(_prefs.guest_password));
 #endif

examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.h

@@ -144,6 +144,9 @@ class MyMesh : public mesh::Mesh, public CommonCLICallbacks {
   int getInterferenceThreshold() const override {
     return _prefs.interference_threshold;
   }
+  bool getCADEnabled() const override {
+    return _prefs.cad_enabled;
+  }
   int getAGCResetInterval() const override {
     return ((int)_prefs.agc_reset_interval) * 4000;   // milliseconds
   }

examples/simple_sensor/SensorMesh.cpp

@@ -323,6 +323,9 @@ uint32_t SensorMesh::getDirectRetransmitDelay(const mesh::Packet* packet) {
 int SensorMesh::getInterferenceThreshold() const {
   return _prefs.interference_threshold;
 }
+bool SensorMesh::getCADEnabled() const {
+  return _prefs.cad_enabled;
+}
 int SensorMesh::getAGCResetInterval() const {
   return ((int)_prefs.agc_reset_interval) * 4000;   // milliseconds
 }
@@ -725,7 +728,8 @@ SensorMesh::SensorMesh(mesh::MainBoard& board, mesh::Radio& radio, mesh::Millise
   _prefs.flood_advert_interval = 0;   // disabled
   _prefs.disable_fwd = true;
   _prefs.flood_max = 64;
-  _prefs.interference_threshold = 1;  // non-zero enables hardware CAD before TX
+  _prefs.interference_threshold = 0;  // disabled
+  _prefs.cad_enabled = 0;             // hardware CAD before TX (off by default; 'set cad on')
 
   // GPS defaults
   _prefs.gps_enabled = 0;

examples/simple_sensor/SensorMesh.h

@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ class SensorMesh : public mesh::Mesh, public CommonCLICallbacks {
   uint32_t getRetransmitDelay(const mesh::Packet* packet) override;
   uint32_t getDirectRetransmitDelay(const mesh::Packet* packet) override;
   int getInterferenceThreshold() const override;
+  bool getCADEnabled() const override;
   int getAGCResetInterval() const override;
   void onAnonDataRecv(mesh::Packet* packet, const uint8_t* secret, const mesh::Identity& sender, uint8_t* data, size_t len) override;
   int searchPeersByHash(const uint8_t* hash) override;

src/Dispatcher.cpp

@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ uint32_t Dispatcher::getCADFailMaxDuration() const {
 void Dispatcher::loop() {
   if (millisHasNowPassed(next_floor_calib_time)) {
     _radio->triggerNoiseFloorCalibrate(getInterferenceThreshold());
+    _radio->setCADEnabled(getCADEnabled());
     next_floor_calib_time = futureMillis(NOISE_FLOOR_CALIB_INTERVAL);
   }
   _radio->loop();