feat(power): CAD-windowed receive (battery saver) — phase 1

Add an optional low-power RX mode: instead of listening continuously, the
radio periodically runs a Channel Activity Detection scan and sits in standby
between scans; on detected activity it drops into a full receive to catch the
packet. Cuts average RX current several-fold (the dominant draw on this node).

- RadioLibWrapper: CAD state machine (scan → sleep window → rx) driven from
  loop(), which runs before recvRaw each cycle. `state` stays STATE_RX through
  all phases so the dispatcher's not-in-RX watchdog never trips. Re-arm routes
  through armRecv() in both startRecv() and recvRaw(); toggling on/off switches
  mode safely at the next idle. Falls back to continuous RX if CAD is
  unsupported. setPowerSaving()/getPowerSaving() control it.
- Software CSMA is already disabled on this firmware (interference threshold 0),
  so duty-cycling doesn't affect listen-before-talk; airtime budget still gates
  TX, and isReceivingPacket() still defers TX while a packet is mid-air.
- Companion: new rx_powersave pref (schema 0xC0DE0008), Settings › Radio ›
  "Pwr save" toggle, applied at boot (MyMesh) and on change (UITask).

CAD window = 45 ms (< the 16-symbol preamble at SF8/BW62.5) and CAD params use
RadioLib defaults — both will want on-hardware tuning + a before/after current
measurement to confirm reception is intact.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

examples/companion_radio/DataStore.cpp

@@ -323,14 +323,15 @@ void DataStore::loadPrefsInt(const char *filename, NodePrefs& _prefs, double& no
   rd(&_prefs.units_imperial,      sizeof(_prefs.units_imperial));
   rd(&_prefs.trail_show_pace,     sizeof(_prefs.trail_show_pace));
   rd(&_prefs.advert_sound_scope,  sizeof(_prefs.advert_sound_scope));
-  // These fields were appended after ch_fav_only; an older file can leave
+  rd(&_prefs.rx_powersave,        sizeof(_prefs.rx_powersave));
-  // stray bytes here (the old tail sentinel gets partly consumed), so clamp
+  // These fields were appended over successive schema bumps; an older file
-  // out-of-range values back to defaults.
+  // can leave stray bytes here, so clamp out-of-range values back to defaults.
   // Values for notif_melody_ad: 0=built-in, 1=melody1, 2=melody2, 3=none.
   if (_prefs.notif_melody_ad > 3) _prefs.notif_melody_ad = 0;
   if (_prefs.units_imperial  > 1) _prefs.units_imperial  = 0;
   if (_prefs.trail_show_pace > 1) _prefs.trail_show_pace = 0;
   if (_prefs.advert_sound_scope > 1) _prefs.advert_sound_scope = ADVERT_SOUND_SCOPE_ALL;
+  if (_prefs.rx_powersave    > 1) _prefs.rx_powersave    = 0;
 
   // Schema sentinel: bumped on layout changes. Mismatch means an older file
   // (or a different schema); rd() already zero-inits any fields not present,
@@ -450,6 +451,7 @@ void DataStore::savePrefs(const NodePrefs& _prefs, double node_lat, double node_
     file.write((uint8_t *)&_prefs.units_imperial,      sizeof(_prefs.units_imperial));
     file.write((uint8_t *)&_prefs.trail_show_pace,     sizeof(_prefs.trail_show_pace));
     file.write((uint8_t *)&_prefs.advert_sound_scope,  sizeof(_prefs.advert_sound_scope));
+    file.write((uint8_t *)&_prefs.rx_powersave,        sizeof(_prefs.rx_powersave));
 
     // Tail sentinel — must be last. See NodePrefs::SCHEMA_SENTINEL.
     uint32_t sentinel = NodePrefs::SCHEMA_SENTINEL;

examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp

@@ -1203,6 +1203,7 @@ void MyMesh::begin(bool has_display) {
   radio_driver.setParams(_prefs.freq, _prefs.bw, _prefs.sf, _prefs.cr);
   radio_driver.setTxPower(_prefs.tx_power_dbm);
   radio_driver.setRxBoostedGainMode(_prefs.rx_boosted_gain);
+  radio_driver.setPowerSaving(_prefs.rx_powersave);   // CAD-windowed RX (battery saver)
   MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("RX Boosted Gain Mode: %s",
                      radio_driver.getRxBoostedGainMode() ? "Enabled" : "Disabled");
 }

examples/companion_radio/NodePrefs.h

@@ -120,6 +120,11 @@ struct NodePrefs {  // persisted to file
   // Trail Summary readout: 0=speed (km/h or mph), 1=pace (min/km or min/mi).
   // The km-vs-mi choice now comes from units_imperial, so this is just the mode.
   uint8_t  trail_show_pace;
+  // CAD-windowed receive (battery saver): 0=continuous RX (default), 1=on.
+  // Periodically scans for activity and idles between scans instead of
+  // listening continuously — cuts average RX current at the cost of a little
+  // receive latency. See RadioLibWrapper power-save.
+  uint8_t  rx_powersave;
 
   // Tail sentinel written at the end of /new_prefs. Bump the low byte when
   // adding/removing/reordering fields in DataStore::savePrefs/loadPrefsInt so

examples/companion_radio/ui-new/SettingsScreen.h

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class SettingsScreen : public UIScreen {
     // Radio section
     SECTION_RADIO,
     TX_POWER,
+    POWER_SAVE,
     // System section
     SECTION_SYSTEM,
     TIMEZONE,
@@ -479,6 +480,10 @@ class SettingsScreen : public UIScreen {
       snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf),"%ddBm", p ? p->tx_power_dbm : 0);
       display.setCursor(display.valCol(), y);
       display.print(buf);
+    } else if (item == POWER_SAVE) {
+      display.print("Pwr save");
+      display.setCursor(display.valCol(), y);
+      display.print((p && p->rx_powersave) ? "ON" : "OFF");
 #if AUTO_OFF_MILLIS > 0
     } else if (item == AUTO_OFF) {
       display.print("AutoOff");
@@ -736,6 +741,12 @@ public:
       if (right && p->tx_power_dbm < 22) { p->tx_power_dbm++; _task->applyTxPower(); _dirty = true; return true; }
       if (left  && p->tx_power_dbm > 2)  { p->tx_power_dbm--; _task->applyTxPower(); _dirty = true; return true; }
     }
+    if (_selected == POWER_SAVE && p && (left || right || enter)) {
+      p->rx_powersave ^= 1;
+      _task->applyPowerSave();
+      _dirty = true;
+      return true;
+    }
 #if AUTO_OFF_MILLIS > 0
     if (_selected == AUTO_OFF && p) {
       int idx = autoOffIndex();

examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp

@@ -2066,6 +2066,11 @@ void UITask::applyTxPower() {
   radio_driver.setTxPower(_node_prefs->tx_power_dbm);
 }
 
+void UITask::applyPowerSave() {
+  if (_node_prefs == NULL) return;
+  radio_driver.setPowerSaving(_node_prefs->rx_powersave);
+}
+
 void UITask::applyBrightness() {
   if (_display != NULL && _node_prefs != NULL) {
     _display->setBrightness(_node_prefs->display_brightness);

examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.h

@@ -249,6 +249,7 @@ public:
   void setBuzzerVolumeLevel(uint8_t level);
   uint8_t getBuzzerVolume() const { return _node_prefs ? _node_prefs->buzzer_volume : 4; }
   void applyTxPower();
+  void applyPowerSave();   // CAD-windowed RX on/off from prefs
   void applyFont();
   void applyRotation();
   void applyFullRefreshInterval();

src/helpers/radiolib/RadioLibWrappers.cpp

@@ -11,6 +11,22 @@
 #define NUM_NOISE_FLOOR_SAMPLES  64
 #define SAMPLING_THRESHOLD  14
 
+// Power-save CAD-windowing sub-states (tracked in _ps_phase; `state` stays
+// STATE_RX throughout so isInRecvMode() reports "receiving" and the dispatcher
+// never trips its 8 s not-in-RX watchdog while we sit in standby between scans).
+#define PS_OFF       0
+#define PS_SCANNING  1   // CAD armed, waiting for the CAD-done interrupt
+#define PS_SLEEPING  2   // standby between scans, waiting for _ps_timer
+#define PS_RXING     3   // CAD hit → full receive armed, waiting for the packet
+
+// Time between CAD scans. Must be shorter than the on-air preamble so a scan
+// always lands inside it (16-symbol preamble ≈ 66 ms at SF8/BW62.5). Tuned for
+// this firmware's fixed LoRa params — revisit if SF/BW change.
+#define PS_CAD_INTERVAL_MS  45
+// If CAD detects activity but no packet actually lands, fall back to scanning
+// instead of sitting in continuous RX forever.
+#define PS_RX_TIMEOUT_MS    1500
+
 static volatile uint8_t state = STATE_IDLE;
 
 // this function is called when a complete packet
@@ -26,6 +42,8 @@ void setFlag(void) {
 
 void RadioLibWrapper::begin() {
   _radio->setPacketReceivedAction(setFlag);  // this is also SentComplete interrupt
+  _radio->setChannelScanAction(setFlag);      // CAD-done shares the same DIO1 flag
+  _ps_phase = PS_OFF;
   _preamble_sf = getSpreadingFactor();
   _radio->setPreambleLength(preambleLengthForSF(_preamble_sf)); // longer preamble for lower SF improves reliability
   state = STATE_IDLE;
@@ -84,6 +102,20 @@ void RadioLibWrapper::resetAGC() {
 }
 
 void RadioLibWrapper::loop() {
+  if (_power_save) {
+    // Just enabled while in continuous RX: drop into the CAD window once idle
+    // (don't interrupt an in-flight packet or an unread RX-done).
+    if (_ps_phase == PS_OFF) {
+      if (!(state & STATE_INT_READY) && !isReceivingPacket()) armRecv();
+      return;
+    }
+    powerSaveLoop();   // CAD windowing replaces continuous-RX noise sampling
+    return;
+  }
+  // Just disabled while in a CAD phase: return to continuous RX immediately
+  // (otherwise the radio would stay parked in standby between scans).
+  if (_ps_phase != PS_OFF) { armRecv(); return; }
+
   if (state == STATE_RX && _num_floor_samples < NUM_NOISE_FLOOR_SAMPLES) {
     if (!isReceivingPacket()) {
       int rssi = getCurrentRSSI();
@@ -104,6 +136,20 @@ void RadioLibWrapper::loop() {
 }
 
 void RadioLibWrapper::startRecv() {
+  armRecv();
+}
+
+// Arm the receiver. In power-save mode this starts a CAD scan (and the CAD
+// state machine in powerSaveLoop() takes over); otherwise a continuous RX.
+// If CAD isn't supported by the module, permanently fall back to continuous RX.
+void RadioLibWrapper::armRecv() {
+  if (_power_save) {
+    int16_t e = _radio->startChannelScan();
+    if (e == RADIOLIB_ERR_NONE) { _ps_phase = PS_SCANNING; state = STATE_RX; return; }
+    MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("RadioLibWrapper: CAD unsupported (%d) — power-save off", (int)e);
+    _power_save = false;
+  }
+  _ps_phase = PS_OFF;
   int err = _radio->startReceive();
   if (err == RADIOLIB_ERR_NONE) {
     state = STATE_RX;
@@ -112,6 +158,57 @@ void RadioLibWrapper::startRecv() {
   }
 }
 
+void RadioLibWrapper::enterCadSleep() {
+  _radio->standby();              // low-power between scans (TODO: warm sleep for more savings)
+  _ps_phase = PS_SLEEPING;
+  _ps_timer = millis() + PS_CAD_INTERVAL_MS;
+  state = STATE_RX;               // keep isInRecvMode() true so the dispatcher doesn't flag a stuck radio
+}
+
+// CAD-windowed receive state machine. Runs each loop() (before recvRaw):
+//  SLEEPING : wait out the inter-scan window, then re-arm a CAD scan.
+//  SCANNING : on CAD-done, either drop into full RX (activity) or sleep (free).
+//  RXING    : a real RX-done is consumed by recvRaw; here we only guard against
+//             a false CAD that never yields a packet.
+void RadioLibWrapper::powerSaveLoop() {
+  if (state == STATE_TX_WAIT) return;   // never touch the radio mid-transmit
+
+  switch (_ps_phase) {
+    case PS_SLEEPING:
+      if ((int32_t)(millis() - _ps_timer) >= 0) armRecv();   // → PS_SCANNING
+      break;
+
+    case PS_SCANNING:
+      if (state & STATE_INT_READY) {
+        state &= ~STATE_INT_READY;                            // consume CAD-done
+        int16_t r = _radio->getChannelScanResult();
+        if (r == RADIOLIB_LORA_DETECTED || r == RADIOLIB_PREAMBLE_DETECTED) {
+          if (_radio->startReceive() == RADIOLIB_ERR_NONE) {
+            _ps_phase = PS_RXING; state = STATE_RX;
+            _ps_timer = millis() + PS_RX_TIMEOUT_MS;
+          } else {
+            enterCadSleep();
+          }
+        } else {
+          enterCadSleep();                                    // channel free → sleep window
+        }
+      }
+      break;
+
+    case PS_RXING:
+      // The packet (RX-done → STATE_INT_READY) is read by recvRaw, which then
+      // re-arms via armRecv(). If nothing arrives, the CAD was a false hit:
+      // return to scanning rather than burning current in continuous RX.
+      if (!(state & STATE_INT_READY) && (int32_t)(millis() - _ps_timer) >= 0) {
+        enterCadSleep();
+      }
+      break;
+
+    default:
+      break;
+  }
+}
+
 bool RadioLibWrapper::isInRecvMode() const {
   return (state & ~STATE_INT_READY) == STATE_RX;
 }
@@ -136,12 +233,7 @@ int RadioLibWrapper::recvRaw(uint8_t* bytes, int sz) {
   }
 
   if (state != STATE_RX) {
-    int err = _radio->startReceive();
+    armRecv();   // continuous RX, or re-arm the CAD window in power-save mode
-    if (err == RADIOLIB_ERR_NONE) {
-      state = STATE_RX;
-    } else {
-      MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("RadioLibWrapper: error: startReceive(%d)", err);
-    }
   }
   return len;
 }

src/helpers/radiolib/RadioLibWrappers.h

@@ -19,10 +19,25 @@ protected:
   virtual bool isReceivingPacket() =0;
   virtual void doResetAGC();
 
+  // Power-save (CAD-windowed RX): instead of continuous receive, periodically
+  // run a Channel Activity Detection scan and sit in standby between scans; on
+  // detected activity switch to a full receive to catch the packet. Cuts the
+  // average RX current several-fold. Driven from loop() (which runs before
+  // recvRaw each cycle); falls back to continuous RX if CAD is unsupported.
+  bool     _power_save = false;
+  uint8_t  _ps_phase = 0;        // PS_* (see .cpp): scanning / sleeping / rxing
+  uint32_t _ps_timer = 0;        // next-scan time, or RX false-detect deadline
+  void armRecv();                // arm RX honouring power-save (CAD) or continuous
+  void powerSaveLoop();
+  void enterCadSleep();
+
 public:
   RadioLibWrapper(PhysicalLayer& radio, mesh::MainBoard& board) : _radio(&radio), _board(&board), _preamble_sf(0) { n_recv = n_sent = 0; }
 
   void begin() override;
+  // Enable/disable CAD-windowed receive. Takes effect on the next RX re-arm.
+  void setPowerSaving(bool en) { _power_save = en; }
+  bool getPowerSaving() const { return _power_save; }
   virtual void powerOff() { _radio->sleep(); }
   int recvRaw(uint8_t* bytes, int sz) override;
   uint32_t getEstAirtimeFor(int len_bytes) override;