diff --git a/src/fdrs_gateway.h b/src/fdrs_gateway.h
index 399c203..e9f25c9 100644
--- a/src/fdrs_gateway.h
+++ b/src/fdrs_gateway.h
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ DataReading theData[256];
 uint8_t ln;
 uint8_t newData = event_clear;
 uint8_t newCmd = cmd_clear;
-bool is_ping = false;
 
 DataReading fdrsData[256]; // buffer for loadFDRS()
 uint8_t data_count = 0;
diff --git a/src/fdrs_gateway_lora.h b/src/fdrs_gateway_lora.h
index 3caffd2..a73092c 100644
--- a/src/fdrs_gateway_lora.h
+++ b/src/fdrs_gateway_lora.h
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ RADIOLIB_MODULE radio = new Module(LORA_SS, LORA_DIO, LORA_RST, -1, LORA_SPI);
 RADIOLIB_MODULE radio = new Module(LORA_SS, LORA_DIO, LORA_RST, -1);
 #endif // CUSTOM_SPI
 
+bool pingFlag = false;
 bool transmitFlag = false;            // flag to indicate transmission or reception state
 volatile bool enableInterrupt = true; // disable interrupt when it's not needed
 volatile bool operationDone = false;  // flag to indicate that a packet was sent or received
@@ -120,8 +121,8 @@ bool tx_time_set = false;
 #endif // USE_LORA
 
 // Function prototypes
-void transmitLoRa(uint16_t *, DataReading *, uint8_t);
-void transmitLoRa(uint16_t *, SystemPacket *, uint8_t);
+crcResult transmitLoRa(uint16_t *, DataReading *, uint8_t);
+crcResult transmitLoRa(uint16_t *, SystemPacket *, uint8_t);
 static uint16_t crc16_update(uint16_t, uint8_t);
 
 // CRC16 from https://github.com/4-20ma/ModbusMaster/blob/3a05ff87677a9bdd8e027d6906dc05ca15ca8ade/src/util/crc16.h#L71
@@ -167,8 +168,9 @@ void setFlag(void)
   operationDone = true;
 }
 
-void transmitLoRa(uint16_t *destMac, DataReading *packet, uint8_t len)
+crcResult transmitLoRa(uint16_t *destMac, DataReading *packet, uint8_t len)
 {
+  crcResult crcReturned = CRC_NULL;
   uint16_t calcCRC = 0x0000;
 
   uint8_t pkt[6 + (len * sizeof(DataReading))];
@@ -201,9 +203,12 @@ void transmitLoRa(uint16_t *destMac, DataReading *packet, uint8_t len)
     while (true)
       ;
   }
+  return crcReturned;
 }
-void transmitLoRa(uint16_t *destMac, SystemPacket *packet, uint8_t len)
+
+crcResult transmitLoRa(uint16_t *destMac, SystemPacket *packet, uint8_t len)
 {
+  crcResult crcReturned = CRC_NULL;
   uint16_t calcCRC = 0x0000;
 
   uint8_t pkt[6 + (len * sizeof(SystemPacket))];
@@ -234,6 +239,7 @@ void transmitLoRa(uint16_t *destMac, SystemPacket *packet, uint8_t len)
     while (true)
       ;
   }
+  return crcReturned;
 }
 #endif // USE_LORA
 
@@ -381,7 +387,7 @@ crcResult getLoRa()
           { // We have received a ping request or reply??
             if (receiveData[0].param == 1)
             { // This is a reply to our ping request
-              is_ping = true;
+              pingFlag = true;
               DBG("We have received a ping reply via LoRa from address " + String(sourceMAC, HEX));
             }
             else if (receiveData[0].param == 0)
@@ -410,7 +416,7 @@ crcResult getLoRa()
           { // We have received a ping request or reply??
             if (receiveData[0].param == 1)
             { // This is a reply to our ping request
-              is_ping = true;
+              pingFlag = true;
               DBG("We have received a ping reply via LoRa from address " + String(sourceMAC, HEX));
             }
             else if (receiveData[0].param == 0)
@@ -591,8 +597,9 @@ void asyncReleaseLoRaFirst()
   asyncReleaseLoRa(true);
 }
 
-void handleLoRa()
+crcResult handleLoRa()
 {
+  crcResult crcReturned = CRC_NULL;
   if (operationDone) // the interrupt was triggered
   {
     enableInterrupt = false;
@@ -618,7 +625,7 @@ void handleLoRa()
     }
     else // the previous operation was reception
     {
-      returnCRC = getLoRa();
+      crcReturned = getLoRa();
       if (!transmitFlag) // return to listen if no transmission was begun
       {
         radio.startReceive();
@@ -626,5 +633,6 @@ void handleLoRa()
       enableInterrupt = true;
     }
   }
+  return crcReturned;
 }
 #endif // USE_LORA
diff --git a/src/fdrs_node.h b/src/fdrs_node.h
index 0e29606..4aa5286 100644
--- a/src/fdrs_node.h
+++ b/src/fdrs_node.h
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ uint8_t ln;
 bool newData;
 uint8_t gatewayAddress[] = {MAC_PREFIX, GTWY_MAC};
 const uint16_t espnow_size = 250 / sizeof(DataReading);
+crcResult crcReturned = CRC_NULL;
 
 uint32_t gtwy_timeout = 0;
 uint8_t incMAC[6];
@@ -53,7 +54,6 @@ DataReading fdrsData[espnow_size];
 DataReading incData[espnow_size];
 
 uint8_t data_count = 0;
-bool is_ping = false;
 
 uint32_t last_refresh;
 void (*callback_ptr)(DataReading);
@@ -173,6 +173,9 @@ void handleIncoming()
 
 bool sendFDRS()
 {
+  if(data_count == 0) {
+    return false;
+  }
   DBG("Sending FDRS Packet!");
 #ifdef USE_ESPNOW
   esp_now_send(gatewayAddress, (uint8_t *)&fdrsData, data_count * sizeof(DataReading));
@@ -193,13 +196,26 @@ bool sendFDRS()
   }
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_LORA
-  transmitLoRa(&gtwyAddress, fdrsData, data_count);
-  DBG(" LoRa sent.");
+  crcReturned = transmitLoRa(&gtwyAddress, fdrsData, data_count);
+  // DBG(" LoRa sent.");
+#ifdef LORA_ACK
+  if(crcReturned == CRC_OK) {
   data_count = 0;
-  returnCRC = CRC_NULL;
+    return true;
+  }
 #endif
+#ifndef LORA_ACK
+  if(crcReturned == CRC_OK || crcReturned == CRC_NULL) {
+    data_count = 0;
   return true;
 }
+#endif
+  else {
+    data_count = 0;
+    return false;
+  }
+#endif
+}
 
 void loadFDRS(float d, uint8_t t)
 {
@@ -227,7 +243,6 @@ void loadFDRS(float d, uint8_t t, uint16_t id)
 }
 void sleepFDRS(int sleep_time)
 {
-  DBG("Sleepytime!");
 #ifdef DEEP_SLEEP
   DBG(" Deep sleeping.");
 #ifdef ESP32
@@ -344,27 +359,14 @@ bool addFDRS(int timeout, void (*new_cb_ptr)(DataReading))
   return true;
 }
 
-uint32_t pingFDRS(int timeout)
+uint32_t pingFDRS(uint32_t timeout)
 {
-  SystemPacket sys_packet = {.cmd = cmd_ping, .param = 0};
 #ifdef USE_ESPNOW
-  esp_now_send(gatewayAddress, (uint8_t *)&sys_packet, sizeof(SystemPacket));
-  DBG(" ESP-NOW ping sent.");
-  uint32_t ping_start = millis();
-  is_ping = false;
-  while ((millis() - ping_start) <= timeout)
-  {
-    yield(); // do I need to yield or does it automatically?
-    if (is_ping)
-    {
-      DBG("Ping Returned:" + String(millis() - ping_start) + " from " + String(incMAC[5]));
-      return millis() - ping_start;
-    }
-  }
+  uint32_t pingResponseMs = pingFDRSEspNow(gatewayAddress, timeout);
+  return pingResponseMs;
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_LORA
-  // transmitLoRa(gtwyAddress, sys_packet, data_count); // TODO: Make this congruent to esp_now_send()
-  DBG(" LoRa ping not sent because it isn't implemented.");
+  uint32_t pingResponseMs = pingFDRSLoRa(&gtwyAddress, timeout);
+  return pingResponseMs;
 #endif
-  return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/fdrs_node_espnow.h b/src/fdrs_node_espnow.h
index a7bc395..3feac92 100644
--- a/src/fdrs_node_espnow.h
+++ b/src/fdrs_node_espnow.h
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@ uint8_t broadcast_mac[] = {0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF};
 crcResult esp_now_ack_flag;
 bool is_added = false;
 
+
 #ifdef USE_ESPNOW
+bool pingFlag = false;
+
 // Set ESP-NOW send and receive callbacks for either ESP8266 or ESP32
 #if defined(ESP8266)
 void OnDataSent(uint8_t *mac_addr, uint8_t sendStatus)
@@ -49,7 +52,7 @@ void OnDataRecv(const uint8_t *mac, const uint8_t *incomingData, int len)
         switch (command.cmd)
         {
         case cmd_ping:
-            is_ping = true;
+            pingFlag = true;
             break;
         case cmd_add:
             is_added = true;
@@ -64,4 +67,28 @@ void OnDataRecv(const uint8_t *mac, const uint8_t *incomingData, int len)
         newData = true;
     }
 }
+
+// FDRS node pings gateway and listens for a defined amount of time for a reply
+// Blocking function for timeout amount of time (up to timeout time waiting for reply)(IE no callback)
+// Returns the amount of time in ms that the ping takes or predefined value if ping fails within timeout
+uint32_t pingFDRSEspNow(uint8_t *address, uint32_t timeout) {
+    SystemPacket sys_packet = {.cmd = cmd_ping, .param = 0};
+    
+    esp_now_send(address, (uint8_t *)&sys_packet, sizeof(SystemPacket));
+    DBG(" ESP-NOW ping sent.");
+    uint32_t ping_start = millis();
+    pingFlag = false;
+    while ((millis() - ping_start) <= timeout)
+    {
+        yield(); // do I need to yield or does it automatically?
+        if (pingFlag)
+        {
+            DBG("ESP-NOW Ping Reply in " + String(millis() - ping_start) + "ms from " + String(address[0], HEX) + ":" + String(address[1], HEX) + ":" + String(address[2], HEX) + ":" + String(address[3], HEX) + ":" + String(address[4], HEX) + ":" + String(address[5], HEX));
+            return (millis() - ping_start);
+        }
+    }
+    DBG("No ESP-NOW ping returned within " + String(timeout) + "ms.");
+    return UINT32_MAX;
+}
+
 #endif // USE_ESPNOW
diff --git a/src/fdrs_node_lora.h b/src/fdrs_node_lora.h
index 8f8bc74..9ab4ef3 100644
--- a/src/fdrs_node_lora.h
+++ b/src/fdrs_node_lora.h
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ RADIOLIB_MODULE radio = new Module(LORA_SS, LORA_DIO, LORA_RST, -1, LORA_SPI);
 #else
 RADIOLIB_MODULE radio = new Module(LORA_SS, LORA_DIO, LORA_RST, -1);
 #endif                                // CUSTOM_SPI
+
+bool pingFlag = false;
 bool transmitFlag = false;            // flag to indicate transmission or reception state
 volatile bool enableInterrupt = true; // disable interrupt when it's not needed
 volatile bool operationDone = false;  // flag to indicate that a packet was sent or received
@@ -94,6 +96,8 @@ unsigned long msgOkLoRa = 0;           // Number of total LoRa packets with vali
 void printLoraPacket(uint8_t *p, int size);
 
 uint16_t gtwyAddress = ((gatewayAddress[4] << 8) | GTWY_MAC);
+
+// Function prototypes
 crcResult getLoRa();
 
 #if defined(ESP8266) || defined(ESP32)
@@ -109,11 +113,13 @@ void setFlag(void)
 }
 #endif // USE_LORA
 
-void handleLoRa()
+crcResult handleLoRa()
 {
 #ifdef USE_LORA
+    crcResult crcReturned = CRC_NULL;
     if (operationDone)
     { // the interrupt was triggered
+        // DBG("Interrupt Triggered.");
         enableInterrupt = false;
         operationDone = false;
         if (transmitFlag)
@@ -124,7 +130,7 @@ void handleLoRa()
         }
         else
         { // the previous operation was reception
-            returnCRC = getLoRa();
+            crcReturned = getLoRa();
             if (!transmitFlag) // return to listen if no transmission was begun
             {
                 radio.startReceive();
@@ -132,6 +138,7 @@ void handleLoRa()
             enableInterrupt = true;
         }
     }
+    return crcReturned;
 #endif // USE_LORA
 }
 
@@ -165,6 +172,7 @@ void begin_lora()
 #endif
     radio.setCRC(false);
     LoRaAddress = ((radio.randomByte() << 8) | radio.randomByte());
+    DBG("LoRa node address is " + String(LoRaAddress, HEX) + " (hex).");
     state = radio.startReceive(); // start listening for LoRa packets
     if (state == RADIOLIB_ERR_NONE)
     {
@@ -178,9 +186,13 @@ void begin_lora()
 #endif // USE_LORA
 }
 
-void transmitLoRa(uint16_t *destMAC, DataReading *packet, uint8_t len)
+// Transmits Lora data by calling RadioLib library function
+// Returns the CRC result if ACKs are enabled otherwise returns CRC_NULL
+
+crcResult transmitLoRa(uint16_t *destMAC, DataReading *packet, uint8_t len)
 {
 #ifdef USE_LORA
+    crcResult crcReturned = CRC_NULL;
     uint8_t pkt[6 + (len * sizeof(DataReading))];
     uint16_t calcCRC = 0x0000;
 
@@ -223,17 +235,17 @@ void transmitLoRa(uint16_t *destMAC, DataReading *packet, uint8_t len)
         unsigned long loraAckTimeout = millis() + FDRS_ACK_TIMEOUT;
         retries--;
         delay(10);
-        while (returnCRC == CRC_NULL && (millis() < loraAckTimeout))
+        while (crcReturned == CRC_NULL && (millis() < loraAckTimeout))
         {
-            handleLoRa();
+            crcReturned = handleLoRa();
         }
-        if (returnCRC == CRC_OK)
+        if (crcReturned == CRC_OK)
         {
             // DBG("LoRa ACK Received! CRC OK");
             msgOkLoRa++;
-            return; // we're done
+            return CRC_OK; // we're done
         }
-        else if (returnCRC == CRC_BAD)
+        else if (crcReturned == CRC_BAD)
         {
             // DBG("LoRa ACK Received! CRC BAD");
             //  Resend original packet again if retries are available
@@ -260,29 +272,38 @@ void transmitLoRa(uint16_t *destMAC, DataReading *packet, uint8_t len)
     }
     transmitLoRaMsgwAck++;
 #endif // LORA_ACK
+    return crcReturned;
 #endif // USE_LORA
 }
 
 // For now SystemPackets will not use ACK but will calculate CRC
-void transmitLoRa(uint16_t *destMAC, SystemPacket *packet, uint8_t len)
+// Returns CRC_NULL ask SystemPackets do not use ACKS at current time
+crcResult transmitLoRa(uint16_t *destMAC, SystemPacket *packet, uint8_t len)
 {
 #ifdef USE_LORA
+    crcResult crcReturned = CRC_NULL;
     uint8_t pkt[6 + (len * sizeof(SystemPacket))];
     uint16_t calcCRC = 0x0000;
 
+    // Building packet -- address portion - first 4 bytes
     pkt[0] = (*destMAC >> 8);
     pkt[1] = (*destMAC & 0x00FF);
     pkt[2] = (LoRaAddress >> 8);
     pkt[3] = (LoRaAddress & 0x00FF);
+    // Building packet -- data portion - 5 bytes
     memcpy(&pkt[4], packet, len * sizeof(SystemPacket));
+    // Calculate CRC of address and data portion of the packet
+    // Last 2 bytes are CRC so do not include them in the calculation itself
     for (int i = 0; i < (sizeof(pkt) - 2); i++)
-    { // Last 2 bytes are CRC so do not include them in the calculation itself
+    { 
         // printf("CRC: %02X : %d\n",calcCRC, i);
         calcCRC = crc16_update(calcCRC, pkt[i]);
     }
     calcCRC = crc16_update(calcCRC, 0xA1); // Recalculate CRC for No ACK
+    // Building packet -- adding CRC - last 2 bytes
     pkt[len * sizeof(SystemPacket) + 4] = (calcCRC >> 8);
     pkt[len * sizeof(SystemPacket) + 5] = (calcCRC & 0x00FF);
+    // Packet is constructed now transmit the packet
     DBG("Transmitting LoRa message of size " + String(sizeof(pkt)) + " bytes with CRC 0x" + String(calcCRC, HEX) + " to destination 0x" + String(*destMAC, HEX));
     // printLoraPacket(pkt,sizeof(pkt));
     int state = radio.startTransmit(pkt, sizeof(pkt));
@@ -296,9 +317,11 @@ void transmitLoRa(uint16_t *destMAC, SystemPacket *packet, uint8_t len)
         while (true)
             ;
     }
+    return crcReturned;
 #endif // USE_LORA
 }
 
+// ****DO NOT CALL getLoRa() directly! *****   Call handleLoRa() instead!
 // getLoRa for Sensors
 //  USED to get ACKs (SystemPacket type) from LoRa gateway at this point.  May be used in the future to get other data
 // Return type is crcResult struct - CRC_OK, CRC_BAD, CRC_NULL.  CRC_NULL used for non-ack data
@@ -320,7 +343,7 @@ crcResult getLoRa()
         destMAC = (packet[0] << 8) | packet[1];
         sourceMAC = (packet[2] << 8) | packet[3];
         packetCRC = ((packet[packetSize - 2] << 8) | packet[packetSize - 1]);
-        // DBG("Packet Address: 0x" + String(packet[0], HEX) + String(packet[1], HEX) + " Self Address: 0x" + String(selfAddress[4], HEX) + String(selfAddress[5], HEX));
+        // DBG("Source Address: 0x" + String(packet[2], HEX) + String(packet[3], HEX) + " Destination Address: 0x" + String(packet[0], HEX) + String(packet[1], HEX));
         if ((destMAC == LoRaAddress) || (destMAC == 0xFFFF))
         { // Check if addressed to this device or broadcast
             // printLoraPacket(packet,sizeof(packet));
@@ -381,7 +404,7 @@ crcResult getLoRa()
                     { // We have received a ping request or reply??
                         if (receiveData[0].param == 1)
                         { // This is a reply to our ping request
-                            is_ping = true;
+                            pingFlag = true;
                             DBG("We have received a ping reply via LoRa from address " + String(sourceMAC, HEX));
                         }
                         else if (receiveData[0].param == 0)
@@ -410,7 +433,7 @@ crcResult getLoRa()
                     { // We have received a ping request or reply??
                         if (receiveData[0].param == 1)
                         { // This is a reply to our ping request
-                            is_ping = true;
+                            pingFlag = true;
                             DBG("We have received a ping reply via LoRa from address " + String(sourceMAC, HEX));
                         }
                         else if (receiveData[0].param == 0)
@@ -437,8 +460,8 @@ crcResult getLoRa()
         }
         else
         {
-            // DBG("Incoming LoRa packet of " + String(packetSize) + " bytes received from address 0x" + String(sourceMAC, HEX) + " destined for node address 0x" + String(destMAC, HEX));
-            //  printLoraPacket(packet,sizeof(packet));
+            DBG("Incoming LoRa packet of " + String(packetSize) + " bytes received from address 0x" + String(sourceMAC, HEX) + " destined for node address 0x" + String(destMAC, HEX));
+            // printLoraPacket(packet,sizeof(packet));
             return CRC_NULL;
         }
     }
@@ -453,9 +476,39 @@ crcResult getLoRa()
             return CRC_NULL;
         }
     }
-#endif // USE_LORA
     return CRC_NULL;
+#endif // USE_LORA
 }
+
+// FDRS Sensor pings gateway and listens for a defined amount of time for a reply
+// Blocking function for timeout amount of time (up to timeout time waiting for reply)(IE no callback)
+// Returns the amount of time in ms that the ping takes or predefined value if ping fails within timeout
+uint32_t pingFDRSLoRa(uint16_t *address, uint32_t timeout)
+{
+#ifdef USE_LORA
+    SystemPacket sys_packet = {.cmd = cmd_ping, .param = 0};
+
+    transmitLoRa(address, &sys_packet, 1);
+    DBG("LoRa ping sent to address: 0x" + String(*address, HEX));
+    uint32_t ping_start = millis();
+    pingFlag = false;
+    while ((millis() - ping_start) <= timeout)
+    {
+        handleLoRa();
+        yield(); //do I need to yield or does it automatically?
+        if (pingFlag)
+        {
+            DBG("LoRa Ping Returned: " + String(millis() - ping_start) + "ms.");
+            pingFlag = false;
+            return (millis() - ping_start);
+        }
+    }
+    DBG("No LoRa ping returned within " + String(timeout) + "ms.");
+    return UINT32_MAX;
+#endif // USE_LORA
+}
+
+
 void printLoraPacket(uint8_t *p, int size)
 {
     printf("Printing packet of size %d.", size);