diff --git a/bin/version.sh b/bin/version.sh
index 4b3996936..befa884d6 100644
--- a/bin/version.sh
+++ b/bin/version.sh
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 
 
-export VERSION=0.6.8
\ No newline at end of file
+export VERSION=0.7.4
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/software/power.md b/docs/software/power.md
index 84c397519..cd0d2c913 100644
--- a/docs/software/power.md
+++ b/docs/software/power.md
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ From lower to higher power consumption.
   onEntry: setBluetoothOn(true), screen.setOn(true)
   onExit: screen.setOn(false)
 
+- serial API usage (SERIAL) - Screen is on, device doesn't sleep, bluetooth off
+  onEntry: setBluetooth off, screen on
+  onExit:
+
 ## Behavior
 
 ### events that increase CPU activity
@@ -51,9 +55,11 @@ From lower to higher power consumption.
 - While in DARK/ON: If we receive EVENT_BLUETOOTH_PAIR we transition to ON and start our screen_on_secs timeout
 - While in NB/DARK/ON: If we receive EVENT_NODEDB_UPDATED we transition to ON (so the new screen can be shown)
 - While in DARK: While the phone talks to us over BLE (EVENT_CONTACT_FROM_PHONE) reset any sleep timers and stay in DARK (needed for bluetooth sw update and nice user experience if the user is reading/replying to texts)
+- while in LS/NB/DARK: if SERIAL_CONNECTED, go to serial
 
 ### events that decrease cpu activity
 
+- While in SERIAL: if SERIAL_DISCONNECTED, go to NB
 - While in ON: If PRESS event occurs, reset screen_on_secs timer and tell the screen to handle the pess
 - While in ON: If it has been more than screen_on_secs since a press, lower to DARK
 - While in DARK: If time since last contact by our phone exceeds phone_timeout_secs (15 minutes), we transition down into NB mode
diff --git a/src/PowerFSM.cpp b/src/PowerFSM.cpp
index 22b2ccd72..1e9adbec9 100644
--- a/src/PowerFSM.cpp
+++ b/src/PowerFSM.cpp
@@ -104,6 +104,12 @@ static void darkEnter()
     screen.setOn(false);
 }
 
+static void serialEnter()
+{
+    setBluetoothEnable(false);
+    screen.setOn(true);
+}
+
 static void onEnter()
 {
     screen.setOn(true);
@@ -133,6 +139,7 @@ State stateSDS(sdsEnter, NULL, NULL, "SDS");
 State stateLS(lsEnter, lsIdle, lsExit, "LS");
 State stateNB(nbEnter, NULL, NULL, "NB");
 State stateDARK(darkEnter, NULL, NULL, "DARK");
+State stateSERIAL(serialEnter, NULL, NULL, "SERIAL");
 State stateBOOT(bootEnter, NULL, NULL, "BOOT");
 State stateON(onEnter, NULL, NULL, "ON");
 Fsm powerFSM(&stateBOOT);
@@ -148,7 +155,7 @@ void PowerFSM_setup()
 
     powerFSM.add_transition(&stateNB, &stateNB, EVENT_RECEIVED_PACKET, NULL, "Received packet, resetting win wake");
 
-    // Handle press events
+    // Handle press events - note: we ignore button presses when in API mode
     powerFSM.add_transition(&stateLS, &stateON, EVENT_PRESS, NULL, "Press");
     powerFSM.add_transition(&stateNB, &stateON, EVENT_PRESS, NULL, "Press");
     powerFSM.add_transition(&stateDARK, &stateON, EVENT_PRESS, NULL, "Press");
@@ -160,6 +167,7 @@ void PowerFSM_setup()
     powerFSM.add_transition(&stateNB, &stateSDS, EVENT_LOW_BATTERY, NULL, "LowBat");
     powerFSM.add_transition(&stateDARK, &stateSDS, EVENT_LOW_BATTERY, NULL, "LowBat");
     powerFSM.add_transition(&stateON, &stateSDS, EVENT_LOW_BATTERY, NULL, "LowBat");
+    powerFSM.add_transition(&stateSERIAL, &stateSDS, EVENT_LOW_BATTERY, NULL, "LowBat");
 
     powerFSM.add_transition(&stateDARK, &stateON, EVENT_BLUETOOTH_PAIR, NULL, "Bluetooth pairing");
     powerFSM.add_transition(&stateON, &stateON, EVENT_BLUETOOTH_PAIR, NULL, "Bluetooth pairing");
@@ -173,6 +181,13 @@ void PowerFSM_setup()
     powerFSM.add_transition(&stateDARK, &stateON, EVENT_RECEIVED_TEXT_MSG, NULL, "Received text");
     powerFSM.add_transition(&stateON, &stateON, EVENT_RECEIVED_TEXT_MSG, NULL, "Received text"); // restarts the sleep timer
 
+    powerFSM.add_transition(&stateLS, &stateSERIAL, EVENT_SERIAL_CONNECTED, NULL, "serial API");
+    powerFSM.add_transition(&stateNB, &stateSERIAL, EVENT_SERIAL_CONNECTED, NULL, "serial API");
+    powerFSM.add_transition(&stateDARK, &stateSERIAL, EVENT_SERIAL_CONNECTED, NULL, "serial API");
+    powerFSM.add_transition(&stateON, &stateSERIAL, EVENT_SERIAL_CONNECTED, NULL, "serial API");
+
+    powerFSM.add_transition(&stateSERIAL, &stateNB, EVENT_SERIAL_DISCONNECTED, NULL, "serial disconnect");
+
     powerFSM.add_transition(&stateDARK, &stateDARK, EVENT_CONTACT_FROM_PHONE, NULL, "Contact from phone");
 
     powerFSM.add_transition(&stateNB, &stateDARK, EVENT_PACKET_FOR_PHONE, NULL, "Packet for phone");
diff --git a/src/PowerFSM.h b/src/PowerFSM.h
index ecaea70ac..c89ad9148 100644
--- a/src/PowerFSM.h
+++ b/src/PowerFSM.h
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 #define EVENT_NODEDB_UPDATED 8     // NodeDB has a big enough change that we think you should turn on the screen
 #define EVENT_CONTACT_FROM_PHONE 9 // the phone just talked to us over bluetooth
 #define EVENT_LOW_BATTERY 10 // Battery is critically low, go to sleep
+#define EVENT_SERIAL_CONNECTED 11
+#define EVENT_SERIAL_DISCONNECTED 12
 
 extern Fsm powerFSM;
 
diff --git a/src/SerialConsole.cpp b/src/SerialConsole.cpp
index 9e84a958f..683886ed5 100644
--- a/src/SerialConsole.cpp
+++ b/src/SerialConsole.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "SerialConsole.h"
+#include "PowerFSM.h"
 #include "configuration.h"
 #include <Arduino.h>
 
@@ -26,12 +27,19 @@ void SerialConsole::init()
  */
 void SerialConsole::handleToRadio(const uint8_t *buf, size_t len)
 {
-    // Note: for the time being we could _allow_ debug printing to keep going out the console
-    // I _think_ this is okay because we currently only print debug msgs from loop() and we are only
-    // dispatching serial protobuf msgs from loop() as well.  When things are more threaded in the future this
-    // will need to change.
-    // setDestination(&noopPrint);
+    // Turn off debug serial printing once the API is activated, because other threads could print and corrupt packets
+    setDestination(&noopPrint);
     canWrite = true;
 
     StreamAPI::handleToRadio(buf, len);
+}
+
+/// Hookable to find out when connection changes
+void SerialConsole::onConnectionChanged(bool connected)
+{
+    if (connected) { // To prevent user confusion, turn off bluetooth while using the serial port api
+        powerFSM.trigger(EVENT_SERIAL_CONNECTED);
+    } else {
+        powerFSM.trigger(EVENT_SERIAL_DISCONNECTED);
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/SerialConsole.h b/src/SerialConsole.h
index b39eda23b..17cb16943 100644
--- a/src/SerialConsole.h
+++ b/src/SerialConsole.h
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ class SerialConsole : public StreamAPI, public RedirectablePrint
             RedirectablePrint::write('\r');
         return RedirectablePrint::write(c);
     }
+
+  protected:
+    /// Hookable to find out when connection changes
+    virtual void onConnectionChanged(bool connected);
 };
 
 extern SerialConsole console;
diff --git a/src/esp32/BluetoothSoftwareUpdate.cpp b/src/esp32/BluetoothSoftwareUpdate.cpp
index 0f56cecaa..f5f98a47f 100644
--- a/src/esp32/BluetoothSoftwareUpdate.cpp
+++ b/src/esp32/BluetoothSoftwareUpdate.cpp
@@ -30,8 +30,6 @@ class TotalSizeCharacteristic : public CallbackCharacteristic
 
     void onWrite(BLECharacteristic *c)
     {
-        BLEKeepAliveCallbacks::onWrite(c);
-
         LockGuard g(updateLock);
         // Check if there is enough to OTA Update
         uint32_t len = getValue32(c, 0);
@@ -67,8 +65,6 @@ class DataCharacteristic : public CallbackCharacteristic
 
     void onWrite(BLECharacteristic *c)
     {
-        BLEKeepAliveCallbacks::onWrite(c);
-
         LockGuard g(updateLock);
         std::string value = c->getValue();
         uint32_t len = value.length();
@@ -92,8 +88,6 @@ class CRC32Characteristic : public CallbackCharacteristic
 
     void onWrite(BLECharacteristic *c)
     {
-        BLEKeepAliveCallbacks::onWrite(c);
-
         LockGuard g(updateLock);
         uint32_t expectedCRC = getValue32(c, 0);
         uint32_t actualCRC = crc.finalize();
diff --git a/src/esp32/CallbackCharacteristic.h b/src/esp32/CallbackCharacteristic.h
index daec1d500..9c4f59a05 100644
--- a/src/esp32/CallbackCharacteristic.h
+++ b/src/esp32/CallbackCharacteristic.h
@@ -1,33 +1,12 @@
 #pragma once
-#include "PowerFSM.h" // FIXME - someday I want to make this OTA thing a separate lb at at that point it can't touch this
 #include "BLECharacteristic.h"
-
-/**
- * This mixin just lets the power management state machine know the phone is still talking to us
- */
-class BLEKeepAliveCallbacks : public BLECharacteristicCallbacks
-{
-public:
-    void onRead(BLECharacteristic *c)
-    {
-        powerFSM.trigger(EVENT_CONTACT_FROM_PHONE);
-    }
-
-    void onWrite(BLECharacteristic *c)
-    {
-        powerFSM.trigger(EVENT_CONTACT_FROM_PHONE);
-    }
-};
+#include "PowerFSM.h" // FIXME - someday I want to make this OTA thing a separate lb at at that point it can't touch this
 
 /**
  * A characterstic with a set of overridable callbacks
  */
-class CallbackCharacteristic : public BLECharacteristic, public BLEKeepAliveCallbacks
+class CallbackCharacteristic : public BLECharacteristic, public BLECharacteristicCallbacks
 {
-public:
-    CallbackCharacteristic(const char *uuid, uint32_t btprops)
-        : BLECharacteristic(uuid, btprops)
-    {
-        setCallbacks(this);
-    }
+  public:
+    CallbackCharacteristic(const char *uuid, uint32_t btprops) : BLECharacteristic(uuid, btprops) { setCallbacks(this); }
 };
diff --git a/src/esp32/MeshBluetoothService.cpp b/src/esp32/MeshBluetoothService.cpp
index ecda8bf40..3e803ad66 100644
--- a/src/esp32/MeshBluetoothService.cpp
+++ b/src/esp32/MeshBluetoothService.cpp
@@ -23,9 +23,6 @@ static CallbackCharacteristic *meshFromNumCharacteristic;
 
 BLEService *meshService;
 
-// If defined we will also support the old API
-#define SUPPORT_OLD_BLE_API
-
 class BluetoothPhoneAPI : public PhoneAPI
 {
     /**
@@ -58,17 +55,12 @@ class ProtobufCharacteristic : public CallbackCharacteristic
 
     void onRead(BLECharacteristic *c)
     {
-        BLEKeepAliveCallbacks::onRead(c);
         size_t numbytes = pb_encode_to_bytes(trBytes, sizeof(trBytes), fields, my_struct);
         DEBUG_MSG("pbread from %s returns %d bytes\n", c->getUUID().toString().c_str(), numbytes);
         c->setValue(trBytes, numbytes);
     }
 
-    void onWrite(BLECharacteristic *c)
-    {
-        BLEKeepAliveCallbacks::onWrite(c);
-        writeToDest(c, my_struct);
-    }
+    void onWrite(BLECharacteristic *c) { writeToDest(c, my_struct); }
 
   protected:
     /// like onWrite, but we provide an different destination to write to, for use by subclasses that
@@ -83,112 +75,6 @@ class ProtobufCharacteristic : public CallbackCharacteristic
     }
 };
 
-#ifdef SUPPORT_OLD_BLE_API
-class NodeInfoCharacteristic : public BLECharacteristic, public BLEKeepAliveCallbacks
-{
-  public:
-    NodeInfoCharacteristic()
-        : BLECharacteristic("d31e02e0-c8ab-4d3f-9cc9-0b8466bdabe8",
-                            BLECharacteristic::PROPERTY_WRITE | BLECharacteristic::PROPERTY_READ)
-    {
-        setCallbacks(this);
-    }
-
-    void onRead(BLECharacteristic *c)
-    {
-        BLEKeepAliveCallbacks::onRead(c);
-
-        const NodeInfo *info = nodeDB.readNextInfo();
-
-        if (info) {
-            DEBUG_MSG("Sending nodeinfo: num=0x%x, lastseen=%u, id=%s, name=%s\n", info->num, info->position.time, info->user.id,
-                      info->user.long_name);
-            size_t numbytes = pb_encode_to_bytes(trBytes, sizeof(trBytes), NodeInfo_fields, info);
-            c->setValue(trBytes, numbytes);
-        } else {
-            c->setValue(trBytes, 0); // Send an empty response
-            DEBUG_MSG("Done sending nodeinfos\n");
-        }
-    }
-
-    void onWrite(BLECharacteristic *c)
-    {
-        BLEKeepAliveCallbacks::onWrite(c);
-        DEBUG_MSG("Reset nodeinfo read pointer\n");
-        nodeDB.resetReadPointer();
-    }
-};
-
-// wrap our protobuf version with something that forces the service to reload the config
-class RadioCharacteristic : public ProtobufCharacteristic
-{
-  public:
-    RadioCharacteristic()
-        : ProtobufCharacteristic("b56786c8-839a-44a1-b98e-a1724c4a0262",
-                                 BLECharacteristic::PROPERTY_WRITE | BLECharacteristic::PROPERTY_READ, RadioConfig_fields,
-                                 &radioConfig)
-    {
-    }
-
-    void onRead(BLECharacteristic *c)
-    {
-        DEBUG_MSG("Reading radio config, sdsecs %u\n", radioConfig.preferences.sds_secs);
-        ProtobufCharacteristic::onRead(c);
-    }
-
-    void onWrite(BLECharacteristic *c)
-    {
-        DEBUG_MSG("Writing radio config\n");
-        ProtobufCharacteristic::onWrite(c);
-        bluetoothPhoneAPI->handleSetRadio(radioConfig);
-    }
-};
-
-// wrap our protobuf version with something that forces the service to reload the owner
-class OwnerCharacteristic : public ProtobufCharacteristic
-{
-  public:
-    OwnerCharacteristic()
-        : ProtobufCharacteristic("6ff1d8b6-e2de-41e3-8c0b-8fa384f64eb6",
-                                 BLECharacteristic::PROPERTY_WRITE | BLECharacteristic::PROPERTY_READ, User_fields, &owner)
-    {
-    }
-
-    void onWrite(BLECharacteristic *c)
-    {
-        BLEKeepAliveCallbacks::onWrite(
-            c); // NOTE: We do not call the standard ProtobufCharacteristic superclass, because we want custom write behavior
-
-        static User o; // if the phone doesn't set ID we are careful to keep ours, we also always keep our macaddr
-        if (writeToDest(c, &o)) {
-            bluetoothPhoneAPI->handleSetOwner(o);
-        }
-    }
-};
-
-class MyNodeInfoCharacteristic : public ProtobufCharacteristic
-{
-  public:
-    MyNodeInfoCharacteristic()
-        : ProtobufCharacteristic("ea9f3f82-8dc4-4733-9452-1f6da28892a2", BLECharacteristic::PROPERTY_READ, MyNodeInfo_fields,
-                                 &myNodeInfo)
-    {
-    }
-
-    void onRead(BLECharacteristic *c)
-    {
-        // update gps connection state
-        myNodeInfo.has_gps = gps->isConnected;
-
-        ProtobufCharacteristic::onRead(c);
-
-        myNodeInfo.error_code = 0; // The phone just read us, so throw it away
-        myNodeInfo.error_address = 0;
-    }
-};
-
-#endif
-
 class ToRadioCharacteristic : public CallbackCharacteristic
 {
   public:
@@ -196,7 +82,6 @@ class ToRadioCharacteristic : public CallbackCharacteristic
 
     void onWrite(BLECharacteristic *c)
     {
-        BLEKeepAliveCallbacks::onWrite(c);
         DEBUG_MSG("Got on write\n");
 
         bluetoothPhoneAPI->handleToRadio(c->getData(), c->getValue().length());
@@ -212,7 +97,6 @@ class FromRadioCharacteristic : public CallbackCharacteristic
 
     void onRead(BLECharacteristic *c)
     {
-        BLEKeepAliveCallbacks::onRead(c);
         size_t numBytes = bluetoothPhoneAPI->getFromRadio(trBytes);
 
         // Someone is going to read our value as soon as this callback returns.  So fill it with the next message in the queue
@@ -236,11 +120,7 @@ class FromNumCharacteristic : public CallbackCharacteristic
         // observe(&service.fromNumChanged);
     }
 
-    void onRead(BLECharacteristic *c)
-    {
-        BLEKeepAliveCallbacks::onRead(c);
-        DEBUG_MSG("FIXME implement fromnum read\n");
-    }
+    void onRead(BLECharacteristic *c) { DEBUG_MSG("FIXME implement fromnum read\n"); }
 };
 
 /*
@@ -263,12 +143,6 @@ BLEService *createMeshBluetoothService(BLEServer *server)
     addWithDesc(service, meshFromNumCharacteristic, "fromRadio");
     addWithDesc(service, new ToRadioCharacteristic, "toRadio");
     addWithDesc(service, new FromRadioCharacteristic, "fromNum");
-#ifdef SUPPORT_OLD_BLE_API
-    addWithDesc(service, new MyNodeInfoCharacteristic, "myNode");
-    addWithDesc(service, new RadioCharacteristic, "radio");
-    addWithDesc(service, new OwnerCharacteristic, "owner");
-    addWithDesc(service, new NodeInfoCharacteristic, "nodeinfo");
-#endif
 
     meshFromNumCharacteristic->addDescriptor(addBLEDescriptor(new BLE2902())); // Needed so clients can request notification
 
diff --git a/src/mesh/PhoneAPI.cpp b/src/mesh/PhoneAPI.cpp
index 194a15e68..b4c5538ca 100644
--- a/src/mesh/PhoneAPI.cpp
+++ b/src/mesh/PhoneAPI.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "PhoneAPI.h"
 #include "MeshService.h"
 #include "NodeDB.h"
+#include "PowerFSM.h"
 #include <assert.h>
 
 PhoneAPI::PhoneAPI()
@@ -14,11 +15,30 @@ void PhoneAPI::init()
     observe(&service.fromNumChanged);
 }
 
+void PhoneAPI::checkConnectionTimeout()
+{
+    if (isConnected) {
+        bool newConnected = (millis() - lastContactMsec < radioConfig.preferences.phone_timeout_secs * 1000L);
+        if (!newConnected) {
+            isConnected = false;
+            onConnectionChanged(isConnected);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /**
  * Handle a ToRadio protobuf
  */
 void PhoneAPI::handleToRadio(const uint8_t *buf, size_t bufLength)
 {
+    powerFSM.trigger(EVENT_CONTACT_FROM_PHONE); // As long as the phone keeps talking to us, don't let the radio go to sleep
+    lastContactMsec = millis();
+    if (!isConnected) {
+        isConnected = true;
+        onConnectionChanged(isConnected);
+    }
+    // return (lastContactMsec != 0) &&
+
     if (pb_decode_from_bytes(buf, bufLength, ToRadio_fields, &toRadioScratch)) {
         switch (toRadioScratch.which_variant) {
         case ToRadio_packet_tag: {
@@ -227,6 +247,9 @@ void PhoneAPI::handleToRadioPacket(MeshPacket *p) {}
 /// If the mesh service tells us fromNum has changed, tell the phone
 int PhoneAPI::onNotify(uint32_t newValue)
 {
+    checkConnectionTimeout(); // a handy place to check if we've heard from the phone (since the BLE version doesn't call this
+                              // from idle)
+
     if (state == STATE_SEND_PACKETS || state == STATE_LEGACY) {
         DEBUG_MSG("Telling client we have new packets %u\n", newValue);
         onNowHasData(newValue);
diff --git a/src/mesh/PhoneAPI.h b/src/mesh/PhoneAPI.h
index f08c9009f..129ecb5db 100644
--- a/src/mesh/PhoneAPI.h
+++ b/src/mesh/PhoneAPI.h
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ class PhoneAPI
     /// Use to ensure that clients don't get confused about old messages from the radio
     uint32_t config_nonce = 0;
 
+    /** the last msec we heard from the client on the other side of this link */
+    uint32_t lastContactMsec = 0;
+
+    bool isConnected = false;
+
   public:
     PhoneAPI();
 
@@ -85,6 +90,12 @@ class PhoneAPI
     /// Our fromradio packet while it is being assembled
     FromRadio fromRadioScratch;
 
+    /// Hookable to find out when connection changes
+    virtual void onConnectionChanged(bool connected) {}
+
+  /// If we haven't heard from the other side in a while then say not connected
+    void checkConnectionTimeout();
+
     /**
      * Subclasses can use this as a hook to provide custom notifications for their transport (i.e. bluetooth notifies)
      */
diff --git a/src/mesh/StreamAPI.cpp b/src/mesh/StreamAPI.cpp
index 49ccb3d6b..06b80b2fa 100644
--- a/src/mesh/StreamAPI.cpp
+++ b/src/mesh/StreamAPI.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ void StreamAPI::loop()
 {
     writeStream();
     readStream();
+    checkConnectionTimeout();
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/sleep.cpp b/src/sleep.cpp
index 270ecc5cc..18462de79 100644
--- a/src/sleep.cpp
+++ b/src/sleep.cpp
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ static void waitEnterSleep()
 
         if (millis() - now > 30 * 1000) { // If we wait too long just report an error and go to sleep
             recordCriticalError(ErrSleepEnterWait);
+            ESP.restart(); // FIXME - for now we just restart, need to fix bug #167
             break;
         }
     }