diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
index fbb73c8a..d1813dcf 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ static uint32_t _atoi(const char* sp) {
 #define CMD_DEVICE_QEURY          22
 #define CMD_EXPORT_PRIVATE_KEY    23
 #define CMD_IMPORT_PRIVATE_KEY    24
+#define CMD_SEND_RAW_DATA         25
 
 #define RESP_CODE_OK                0
 #define RESP_CODE_ERR               1
@@ -146,6 +147,7 @@ static uint32_t _atoi(const char* sp) {
 #define PUSH_CODE_PATH_UPDATED      0x81
 #define PUSH_CODE_SEND_CONFIRMED    0x82
 #define PUSH_CODE_MSG_WAITING       0x83
+#define PUSH_CODE_RAW_DATA          0x84
 
 /* -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
@@ -480,6 +482,21 @@ protected:
     // TODO: check for Get Stats response
   }
 
+  void onRawDataRecv(mesh::Packet* packet) override {
+    int i = 0;
+    out_frame[i++] = PUSH_CODE_RAW_DATA;
+    out_frame[i++] = (int8_t)(_radio->getLastSNR() * 4);
+    out_frame[i++] = (int8_t)(_radio->getLastRSSI());
+    out_frame[i++] = 0xFF;   // reserved (possibly path_len in future)
+    memcpy(&out_frame[i], packet->payload, packet->payload_len); i += packet->payload_len;
+
+    if (_serial->isConnected()) {
+      _serial->writeFrame(out_frame, i);
+    } else {
+      MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("onRawDataRecv(), data received while app offline");
+    }
+  }
+
   uint32_t calcFloodTimeoutMillisFor(uint32_t pkt_airtime_millis) const override {
     return SEND_TIMEOUT_BASE_MILLIS + (FLOOD_SEND_TIMEOUT_FACTOR * pkt_airtime_millis);
   }
@@ -887,6 +904,21 @@ public:
       #else
         writeDisabledFrame();
       #endif
+    } else if (cmd_frame[0] == CMD_SEND_RAW_DATA && len >= 6) {
+      int i = 1;
+      int8_t path_len = cmd_frame[i++];
+      if (path_len >= 0 && i + path_len + 4 <= len) {  // minimum 4 byte payload
+        uint8_t* path = &cmd_frame[i]; i += path_len;
+        auto pkt = createRawData(&cmd_frame[i], len - i);
+        if (pkt) {
+          sendDirect(pkt, path, path_len);
+          writeOKFrame();
+        } else {
+          writeErrFrame();
+        }
+      } else {
+        writeErrFrame();  // flood, not supported (yet)
+      }
     } else {
       writeErrFrame();
       MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("ERROR: unknown command: %02X", cmd_frame[0]);
diff --git a/src/Mesh.cpp b/src/Mesh.cpp
index c1da4677..be0ba118 100644
--- a/src/Mesh.cpp
+++ b/src/Mesh.cpp
@@ -213,6 +213,13 @@ DispatcherAction Mesh::onRecvPacket(Packet* pkt) {
       }
       break;
     }
+    case PAYLOAD_TYPE_RAW_CUSTOM: {
+      if (pkt->isRouteDirect() && !_tables->hasSeen(pkt)) {
+        onRawDataRecv(pkt);
+        //action = routeRecvPacket(pkt);    don't flood route these (yet)
+      }
+      break;
+    }
     default:
       MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("%s Mesh::onRecvPacket(): unknown payload type, header: %d", getLogDateTime(), (int) pkt->header);
       // Don't flood route unknown packet types!   action = routeRecvPacket(pkt);
@@ -401,6 +408,22 @@ Packet* Mesh::createAck(uint32_t ack_crc) {
   return packet;
 }
 
+Packet* Mesh::createRawData(const uint8_t* data, size_t len) {
+  if (len > sizeof(Packet::payload)) return NULL;  // invalid arg
+
+  Packet* packet = obtainNewPacket();
+  if (packet == NULL) {
+    MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("%s Mesh::createRawData(): error, packet pool empty", getLogDateTime());
+    return NULL;
+  }
+  packet->header = (PAYLOAD_TYPE_RAW_CUSTOM << PH_TYPE_SHIFT);  // ROUTE_TYPE_* set later
+
+  memcpy(packet->payload, data, len);
+  packet->payload_len = len;
+
+  return packet;
+}
+
 void Mesh::sendFlood(Packet* packet, uint32_t delay_millis) {
   packet->header &= ~PH_ROUTE_MASK;
   packet->header |= ROUTE_TYPE_FLOOD;
diff --git a/src/Mesh.h b/src/Mesh.h
index d347f017..4552c85b 100644
--- a/src/Mesh.h
+++ b/src/Mesh.h
@@ -125,6 +125,11 @@ protected:
   */
   virtual void onPathRecv(Packet* packet, Identity& sender, uint8_t* path, uint8_t path_len, uint8_t extra_type, uint8_t* extra, uint8_t extra_len) { }
 
+  /**
+   * \brief  A packet with PAYLOAD_TYPE_RAW_CUSTOM has been received.
+  */
+  virtual void onRawDataRecv(Packet* packet) { }
+
   /**
    * \brief  Perform search of local DB of matching GroupChannels.
    * \param  channels  OUT - store matching channels in this array, up to max_matches
@@ -169,6 +174,7 @@ public:
   Packet* createAck(uint32_t ack_crc);
   Packet* createPathReturn(const uint8_t* dest_hash, const uint8_t* secret, const uint8_t* path, uint8_t path_len, uint8_t extra_type, const uint8_t*extra, size_t extra_len);
   Packet* createPathReturn(const Identity& dest, const uint8_t* secret, const uint8_t* path, uint8_t path_len, uint8_t extra_type, const uint8_t*extra, size_t extra_len);
+  Packet* createRawData(const uint8_t* data, size_t len);
 
   /**
    * \brief  send a locally-generated Packet with flood routing
diff --git a/src/Packet.h b/src/Packet.h
index c8769d8c..bff04321 100644
--- a/src/Packet.h
+++ b/src/Packet.h
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ namespace mesh {
 #define PAYLOAD_TYPE_ANON_REQ    0x07    // generic request (prefixed with dest_hash, ephemeral pub_key, MAC) (enc data: ...)
 #define PAYLOAD_TYPE_PATH        0x08    // returned path (prefixed with dest/src hashes, MAC) (enc data: path, extra)
 //...
-#define PAYLOAD_TYPE_RESERVEDM   0x0F    // FUTURE
+#define PAYLOAD_TYPE_RAW_CUSTOM   0x0F    // custom packet as raw bytes, for applications with custom encryption, payloads, etc
 
 #define PAYLOAD_VER_1       0x00   // 1-byte src/dest hashes, 2-byte MAC
 #define PAYLOAD_VER_2       0x01   // FUTURE (eg. 2-byte hashes, 4-byte MAC ??)