* first draft

examples/companion_radio/DataStore.cpp

@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ File file = openRead(_getContactsChannelsFS(), "/contacts3");
     }
 }
 
-void DataStore::saveContacts(DataStoreHost* host) {
+void DataStore::saveContacts(DataStoreHost* host, bool (*filter)(const ContactInfo& c)) {
   File file = openWrite(_getContactsChannelsFS(), "/contacts3");
   if (file) {
     uint32_t idx = 0;
@@ -317,6 +317,10 @@ void DataStore::saveContacts(DataStoreHost* host) {
     uint8_t unused = 0;
 
     while (host->getContactForSave(idx, c)) {
+      if (filter && !filter(c)) {
+        idx++;  // advance to next contact
+        continue;
+      }
       bool success = (file.write(c.id.pub_key, 32) == 32);
       success = success && (file.write((uint8_t *)&c.name, 32) == 32);
       success = success && (file.write(&c.type, 1) == 1);

examples/companion_radio/DataStore.h

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ public:
   void loadPrefs(NodePrefs& prefs, double& node_lat, double& node_lon);
   void savePrefs(const NodePrefs& prefs, double node_lat, double node_lon);
   void loadContacts(DataStoreHost* host);
-  void saveContacts(DataStoreHost* host);
+  void saveContacts(DataStoreHost* host, bool (*filter)(const ContactInfo& c) = NULL);
   void loadChannels(DataStoreHost* host);
   void saveChannels(DataStoreHost* host);
   void migrateToSecondaryFS();

examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp

@@ -1536,6 +1536,15 @@ void MyMesh::handleCmdFrame(size_t len) {
   } else if (cmd_frame[0] == CMD_SEND_ANON_REQ && len > 1 + PUB_KEY_SIZE) {
     uint8_t *pub_key = &cmd_frame[1];
     ContactInfo *recipient = lookupContactByPubKey(pub_key, PUB_KEY_SIZE);
+    ContactInfo anon;
+    if (recipient == NULL) { // FIRMWARE_VER_CODE 13+,  allow non-contact requests
+      memset(&anon, 0, sizeof(anon));
+      memcpy(anon.id.pub_key, pub_key, PUB_KEY_SIZE);
+      anon.out_path_len = OUT_PATH_UNKNOWN;
+      anon.type = ADV_TYPE_NONE;  // unknown
+
+      if (addContact(anon)) recipient = &anon;
+    }
     uint8_t *data = &cmd_frame[1 + PUB_KEY_SIZE];
     if (recipient) {
       uint32_t tag, est_timeout;
@@ -1552,7 +1561,7 @@ void MyMesh::handleCmdFrame(size_t len) {
         _serial->writeFrame(out_frame, 10);
       }
     } else {
-      writeErrFrame(ERR_CODE_NOT_FOUND); // contact not found
+      writeErrFrame(ERR_CODE_TABLE_FULL); // contacts full
     }
   } else if (cmd_frame[0] == CMD_SEND_STATUS_REQ && len >= 1 + PUB_KEY_SIZE) {
     uint8_t *pub_key = &cmd_frame[1];
@@ -1983,6 +1992,14 @@ void MyMesh::handleCmdFrame(size_t len) {
   }
 }
 
+static bool save_filter(const ContactInfo& c) {
+  return c.type != ADV_TYPE_NONE;   // don't save the transient/anon entries
+}
+
+void MyMesh::saveContacts() {
+  _store->saveContacts(this, save_filter);
+}
+
 void MyMesh::enterCLIRescue() {
   _cli_rescue = true;
   cli_command[0] = 0;

examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.h

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include "AbstractUITask.h"
 
 /*------------ Frame Protocol --------------*/
-#define FIRMWARE_VER_CODE 12
+#define FIRMWARE_VER_CODE 13
 
 #ifndef FIRMWARE_BUILD_DATE
 #define FIRMWARE_BUILD_DATE "19 Apr 2026"
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ private:
 
   // helpers, short-cuts
   void saveChannels() { _store->saveChannels(this); }
-  void saveContacts() { _store->saveContacts(this); }
+  void saveContacts();
 
   DataStore* _store;
   NodePrefs _prefs;