diff --git a/adafruit_bluefruitspi.py b/adafruit_bluefruitspi.py
index 20b00d3..7e7a071 100644
--- a/adafruit_bluefruitspi.py
+++ b/adafruit_bluefruitspi.py
@@ -42,92 +42,63 @@
 * Adafruit's Bus Device library: https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_BusDevice
 """
 
-# imports
-
 __version__ = "0.0.0-auto.0"
 __repo__ = "https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_BluefruitSPI.git"
 
 import time
+import struct
 from digitalio import Direction, Pull
 from adafruit_bus_device.spi_device import SPIDevice
 from micropython import const
-import struct
-
 
-class MsgType:  #pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods,bad-whitespace
-    """An enum-like class representing the possible message types.
-    Possible values are:
-    - ``MsgType.COMMAND``
-    - ``MsgType.RESPONSE``
-    - ``MsgType.ALERT``
-    - ``MsgType.ERROR``
-    """
-    COMMAND   = const(0x10)  # Command message
-    RESPONSE  = const(0x20)  # Response message
-    ALERT     = const(0x40)  # Alert message
-    ERROR     = const(0x80)  # Error message
-
-
-class SDEPCommand:  #pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods,bad-whitespace
-    """An enum-like class representing the possible SDEP commands.
-    Possible values are:
-    - ``SDEPCommand.INITIALIZE``
-    - ``SDEPCommand.ATCOMMAND``
-    - ``SDEPCommand.BLEUART_TX``
-    - ``SDEPCommand.BLEUART_RX``
-    """
-    INITIALIZE = const(0xBEEF) # Resets the Bluefruit device
-    ATCOMMAND  = const(0x0A00) # AT command wrapper
-    BLEUART_TX = const(0x0A01) # BLE UART transmit data
-    BLEUART_RX = const(0x0A02) # BLE UART read data
-
-
-class ArgType:  #pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods,bad-whitespace
-    """An enum-like class representing the possible argument types.
-    Possible values are
-    - ``ArgType.STRING``
-    - ``ArgType.BYTEARRAY``
-    - ``ArgType.INT32``
-    - ``ArgType.UINT32``
-    - ``ArgType.INT16``
-    - ``ArgType.UINT16``
-    - ``ArgType.INT8``
-    - ``ArgType.UINT8``
-    """
-    STRING    = const(0x0100) # String data type
-    BYTEARRAY = const(0x0200) # Byte array data type
-    INT32     = const(0x0300) # Signed 32-bit integer data type
-    UINT32    = const(0x0400) # Unsigned 32-bit integer data type
-    INT16     = const(0x0500) # Signed 16-bit integer data type
-    UINT16    = const(0x0600) # Unsigned 16-bit integer data type
-    INT8      = const(0x0700) # Signed 8-bit integer data type
-    UINT8     = const(0x0800) # Unsigned 8-bit integer data type
-
-
-class ErrorCode:  #pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods,bad-whitespace
-    """An enum-like class representing possible error codes.
-    Possible values are
-    - ``ErrorCode.``
-    """
-    INVALIDMSGTYPE = const(0x8021) # SDEP: Unexpected SDEP MsgType
-    INVALIDCMDID   = const(0x8022) # SDEP: Unknown command ID
-    INVALIDPAYLOAD = const(0x8023) # SDEP: Payload problem
-    INVALIDLEN     = const(0x8024) # SDEP: Indicated len too large
-    INVALIDINPUT   = const(0x8060) # AT: Invalid data
-    UNKNOWNCMD     = const(0x8061) # AT: Unknown command name
-    INVALIDPARAM   = const(0x8062) # AT: Invalid param value
-    UNSUPPORTED    = const(0x8063) # AT: Unsupported command
+# pylint: disable=bad-whitespace
+_MSG_COMMAND   = const(0x10)  # Command message
+_MSG_RESPONSE  = const(0x20)  # Response message
+_MSG_ALERT     = const(0x40)  # Alert message
+_MSG_ERROR     = const(0x80)  # Error message
+
+_SDEP_INITIALIZE = const(0xBEEF) # Resets the Bluefruit device
+_SDEP_ATCOMMAND  = const(0x0A00) # AT command wrapper
+_SDEP_BLEUART_TX = const(0x0A01) # BLE UART transmit data
+_SDEP_BLEUART_RX = const(0x0A02) # BLE UART read data
+
+_ARG_STRING    = const(0x0100) # String data type
+_ARG_BYTEARRAY = const(0x0200) # Byte array data type
+_ARG_INT32     = const(0x0300) # Signed 32-bit integer data type
+_ARG_UINT32    = const(0x0400) # Unsigned 32-bit integer data type
+_ARG_INT16     = const(0x0500) # Signed 16-bit integer data type
+_ARG_UINT16    = const(0x0600) # Unsigned 16-bit integer data type
+_ARG_INT8      = const(0x0700) # Signed 8-bit integer data type
+_ARG_UINT8     = const(0x0800) # Unsigned 8-bit integer data type
+
+_ERROR_INVALIDMSGTYPE = const(0x8021) # SDEP: Unexpected SDEP MsgType
+_ERROR_INVALIDCMDID   = const(0x8022) # SDEP: Unknown command ID
+_ERROR_INVALIDPAYLOAD = const(0x8023) # SDEP: Payload problem
+_ERROR_INVALIDLEN     = const(0x8024) # SDEP: Indicated len too large
+_ERROR_INVALIDINPUT   = const(0x8060) # AT: Invalid data
+_ERROR_UNKNOWNCMD     = const(0x8061) # AT: Unknown command name
+_ERROR_INVALIDPARAM   = const(0x8062) # AT: Invalid param value
+_ERROR_UNSUPPORTED    = const(0x8063) # AT: Unsupported command
+
+# For the Bluefruit Connect packets
+_PACKET_BUTTON_LEN    = const(5)
+_PACKET_COLOR_LEN     = const(6)
+
+# pylint: enable=bad-whitespace
 
 
 class BluefruitSPI:
     """Helper for the Bluefruit LE SPI Friend"""
 
-    def __init__(self, spi, cs, irq, reset, debug=False):
+    def __init__(self, spi, cs, irq, reset, debug=False): # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
         self._irq = irq
         self._buf_tx = bytearray(20)
         self._buf_rx = bytearray(20)
         self._debug = debug
 
+        # a cache of data, used for packet parsing
+        self._buffer = []
+
         # Reset
         reset.direction = Direction.OUTPUT
         reset.value = False
@@ -146,7 +117,7 @@ def __init__(self, spi, cs, irq, reset, debug=False):
         self._spi_device = SPIDevice(spi, cs,
                                      baudrate=4000000, phase=0, polarity=0)
 
-    def _cmd(self, cmd):
+    def _cmd(self, cmd):  # pylint: disable=too-many-branches
         """
         Executes the supplied AT command, which must be terminated with
         a new-line character.
@@ -172,16 +143,19 @@ def _cmd(self, cmd):
                 plen = 16
             # Note the 'more' value in bit 8 of the packet len
             struct.pack_into("<BHB16s", self._buf_tx, 0,
-                             MsgType.COMMAND, SDEPCommand.ATCOMMAND,
+                             _MSG_COMMAND, _SDEP_ATCOMMAND,
                              plen | more, cmd[pos:pos+plen])
             if self._debug:
                 print("Writing: ", [hex(b) for b in self._buf_tx])
+            else:
+                time.sleep(0.05)
+
             # Update the position if there is data remaining
             pos += plen
 
             # Send out the SPI bus
             with self._spi_device as spi:
-                spi.write(self._buf_tx, end=len(cmd) + 4)
+                spi.write(self._buf_tx, end=len(cmd) + 4) # pylint: disable=no-member
 
         # Wait up to 200ms for a response
         timeout = 0.2
@@ -212,7 +186,8 @@ def _cmd(self, cmd):
                 rsp += self._buf_rx[4:rsplen+4]
             if self._debug:
                 print("Reading: ", [hex(b) for b in self._buf_rx])
-
+            else:
+                time.sleep(0.05)
         # Clean up the response buffer
         if self._debug:
             print(rsp)
@@ -226,46 +201,105 @@ def init(self):
         """
         # Construct the SDEP packet
         struct.pack_into("<BHB", self._buf_tx, 0,
-                         MsgType.COMMAND, SDEPCommand.INITIALIZE, 0)
+                         _MSG_COMMAND, _SDEP_INITIALIZE, 0)
         if self._debug:
             print("Writing: ", [hex(b) for b in self._buf_tx])
 
         # Send out the SPI bus
         with self._spi_device as spi:
-            spi.write(self._buf_tx, end=4)
+            spi.write(self._buf_tx, end=4) # pylint: disable=no-member
 
         # Wait 1 second for the command to complete.
         time.sleep(1)
 
-    def uarttx(self, txt):
+    @property
+    def connected(self):
+        """Whether the Bluefruit module is connected to the central"""
+        return int(self.command_check_OK(b'AT+GAPGETCONN')) == 1
+
+    def uart_tx(self, data):
         """
-        Sends the specific string out over BLE UART.
-        :param txt: The new-line terminated string to send.
+        Sends the specific bytestring out over BLE UART.
+        :param data: The bytestring to send.
         """
-        return self._cmd("AT+BLEUARTTX="+txt+"\n")
+        return self._cmd(b'AT+BLEUARTTX='+data+b'\r\n')
 
-    def uartrx(self):
+    def uart_rx(self):
         """
-        Reads data from the BLE UART FIFO.
+        Reads byte data from the BLE UART FIFO.
         """
-        return self._cmd("AT+BLEUARTRX\n")
+        data = self.command_check_OK(b'AT+BLEUARTRX')
+        if data:
+            # remove \r\n from ending
+            return data[:-2]
+        return None
 
     def command(self, string):
+        """Send a command and check response code"""
         try:
             msgtype, msgid, rsp = self._cmd(string+"\n")
-            if msgtype == MsgType.ERROR:
+            if msgtype == _MSG_ERROR:
                 raise RuntimeError("Error (id:{0})".format(hex(msgid)))
-            if msgtype == MsgType.RESPONSE:
+            if msgtype == _MSG_RESPONSE:
                 return rsp
+            else:
+                raise RuntimeError("Unknown response (id:{0})".format(hex(msgid)))
         except RuntimeError as error:
             raise RuntimeError("AT command failure: " + repr(error))
 
-    def command_check_OK(self, string, delay=0.0):
-        ret = self.command(string)
+    def command_check_OK(self, command, delay=0.0):   # pylint: disable=invalid-name
+        """Send a fully formed bytestring AT command, and check
+        whether we got an 'OK' back. Returns payload bytes if there is any"""
+        ret = self.command(command)
         time.sleep(delay)
         if not ret or not ret[-4:]:
             raise RuntimeError("Not OK")
         if ret[-4:] != b'OK\r\n':
             raise RuntimeError("Not OK")
         if ret[:-4]:
-            return str(ret[:-4], 'utf-8')
+            return ret[:-4]
+        return None
+
+    def read_packet(self):   # pylint: disable=too-many-return-statements
+        """
+        Will read a Bluefruit Connect packet and return it in a parsed format.
+        Currently supports Button and Color packets only
+        """
+        data = self.uart_rx()
+        if not data:
+            return None
+        # convert to an array of character bytes
+        self._buffer += [chr(b) for b in data]
+        # Find beginning of new packet, starts with a '!'
+        while self._buffer and self._buffer[0] != '!':
+            self._buffer.pop(0)
+        # we need at least 2 bytes in the buffer
+        if len(self._buffer) < 2:
+            return None
+
+        # Packet beginning found
+        if self._buffer[1] == 'B':
+            plen = _PACKET_BUTTON_LEN
+        elif self._buffer[1] == 'C':
+            plen = _PACKET_COLOR_LEN
+        else:
+            # unknown packet type
+            self._buffer.pop(0)
+            return None
+
+        # split packet off of buffer cache
+        packet = self._buffer[0:plen]
+
+        self._buffer = self._buffer[plen:]    # remove packet from buffer
+        if sum([ord(x) for x in packet]) % 256 != 255: # check sum
+            return None
+
+        # OK packet's good!
+        if packet[1] == 'B':  # buttons have 2 int args to parse
+            # button number & True/False press
+            return ('B', int(packet[2]), packet[3] == '1')
+        if packet[1] == 'C':  # colorpick has 3 int args to parse
+            # red, green and blue
+            return ('C', ord(packet[2]), ord(packet[3]), ord(packet[4]))
+        # We don't nicely parse this yet
+        return packet[1:-1]
diff --git a/examples/bluefruitspi_neocolorpicker.py b/examples/bluefruitspi_neocolorpicker.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a263c57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/bluefruitspi_neocolorpicker.py
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+# NeoPixel Color Picker demo - wire up some NeoPixels and set their color
+# using Adafruit Bluefruit Connect App on your phone
+
+import time
+import busio
+import board
+from digitalio import DigitalInOut
+from adafruit_bluefruitspi import BluefruitSPI
+import neopixel
+
+ADVERT_NAME = b'BlinkaNeoLamp'
+
+# 16 neopixels on a digital pin, adjust as necessary!
+pixels = neopixel.NeoPixel(board.D5, 16)
+pixels.fill(0)
+
+spi_bus = busio.SPI(board.SCK, MOSI=board.MOSI, MISO=board.MISO)
+cs = DigitalInOut(board.D8)
+irq = DigitalInOut(board.D7)
+rst = DigitalInOut(board.D4)
+bluefruit = BluefruitSPI(spi_bus, cs, irq, rst, debug=False)
+
+def init_bluefruit():
+    # Initialize the device and perform a factory reset
+    print("Initializing the Bluefruit LE SPI Friend module")
+    bluefruit.init()
+    bluefruit.command_check_OK(b'AT+FACTORYRESET', delay=1)
+    # Print the response to 'ATI' (info request) as a string
+    print(str(bluefruit.command_check_OK(b'ATI'), 'utf-8'))
+    # Change advertised name
+    bluefruit.command_check_OK(b'AT+GAPDEVNAME='+ADVERT_NAME)
+
+def wait_for_connection():
+    print("Waiting for a connection to Bluefruit LE Connect ...")
+    # Wait for a connection ...
+    dotcount = 0
+    while not bluefruit.connected:
+        print(".", end="")
+        dotcount = (dotcount + 1) % 80
+        if dotcount == 79:
+            print("")
+        time.sleep(0.5)
+
+# This code will check the connection but only query the module if it has been
+# at least 'n_sec' seconds. Otherwise it 'caches' the response, to keep from
+# hogging the Bluefruit connection with constant queries
+connection_timestamp = None
+is_connected = None
+def check_connection(n_sec):
+    # pylint: disable=global-statement
+    global connection_timestamp, is_connected
+    if (not connection_timestamp) or (time.monotonic() - connection_timestamp > n_sec):
+        connection_timestamp = time.monotonic()
+        is_connected = bluefruit.connected
+    return is_connected
+
+# Unlike most circuitpython code, this runs in two loops
+# one outer loop manages reconnecting bluetooth if we lose connection
+# then one inner loop for doing what we want when connected!
+while True:
+    # Initialize the module
+    try:        # Wireless connections can have corrupt data or other runtime failures
+                # This try block will reset the module if that happens
+        init_bluefruit()
+        wait_for_connection()
+        print("\n *Connected!*")
+
+        # Once connected, check for incoming BLE UART data
+        while check_connection(3):  # Check our connection status every 3 seconds
+            # OK we're still connected, see if we have any data waiting
+            resp = bluefruit.read_packet()
+            if not resp:
+                continue  # nothin'
+            print("Read packet", resp)
+            # Look for a 'C'olor packet
+            if resp[0] != 'C':
+                continue
+            # Set the neopixels to the three bytes in the packet
+            pixels.fill(resp[1:4])
+        print("Connection lost.")
+
+    except RuntimeError as e:
+        print(e)  # Print what happened
+        continue  # retry!
diff --git a/examples/bluefruitspi_ruggedechotest.py b/examples/bluefruitspi_ruggedechotest.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..27394cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/bluefruitspi_ruggedechotest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+# A more 'rugged' echo test for the Feather M0 Bluefruit
+# Sets the name, then echo's all RX'd data with a reversed packet
+# we wrap the loop in a try/except block and have multiple loops
+# and functions to keep our connection up and running no matter what
+
+import time
+import busio
+import board
+from digitalio import DigitalInOut
+from adafruit_bluefruitspi import BluefruitSPI
+
+ADVERT_NAME = b'BlinkaBLE'
+
+spi_bus = busio.SPI(board.SCK, MOSI=board.MOSI, MISO=board.MISO)
+cs = DigitalInOut(board.D8)
+irq = DigitalInOut(board.D7)
+rst = DigitalInOut(board.D4)
+bluefruit = BluefruitSPI(spi_bus, cs, irq, rst, debug=False)
+
+def init_bluefruit():
+    # Initialize the device and perform a factory reset
+    print("Initializing the Bluefruit LE SPI Friend module")
+    bluefruit.init()
+    bluefruit.command_check_OK(b'AT+FACTORYRESET', delay=1)
+    # Print the response to 'ATI' (info request) as a string
+    print(str(bluefruit.command_check_OK(b'ATI'), 'utf-8'))
+    # Change advertised name
+    bluefruit.command_check_OK(b'AT+GAPDEVNAME='+ADVERT_NAME)
+
+def wait_for_connection():
+    print("Waiting for a connection to Bluefruit LE Connect ...")
+    # Wait for a connection ...
+    dotcount = 0
+    while not bluefruit.connected:
+        print(".", end="")
+        dotcount = (dotcount + 1) % 80
+        if dotcount == 79:
+            print("")
+        time.sleep(0.5)
+
+# This code will check the connection but only query the module if it has been
+# at least 'n_sec' seconds. Otherwise it 'caches' the response, to keep from
+# hogging the Bluefruit connection with constant queries
+connection_timestamp = None
+is_connected = None
+def check_connection(n_sec):
+    # pylint: disable=global-statement
+    global connection_timestamp, is_connected
+    if (not connection_timestamp) or (time.monotonic() - connection_timestamp > n_sec):
+        connection_timestamp = time.monotonic()
+        is_connected = bluefruit.connected
+    return is_connected
+
+# Unlike most circuitpython code, this runs in two loops
+# one outer loop manages reconnecting bluetooth if we lose connection
+# then one inner loop for doing what we want when connected!
+while True:
+    # Initialize the module
+    try:        # Wireless connections can have corrupt data or other runtime failures
+                # This try block will reset the module if that happens
+        init_bluefruit()
+        wait_for_connection()
+        print("\n *Connected!*")
+
+        # Once connected, check for incoming BLE UART data
+        while check_connection(3):  # Check our connection status every 3 seconds
+            # OK we're still connected, see if we have any data waiting
+            resp = bluefruit.uart_rx()
+            if not resp:
+                continue  # nothin'
+            print("Read %d bytes: %s" % (len(resp), resp))
+            # Now write it!
+            print("Writing reverse...")
+            send = []
+            for i in range(len(resp), 0, -1):
+                send.append(resp[i-1])
+            print(bytes(send))
+            bluefruit.uart_tx(bytes(send))
+        print("Connection lost.")
+
+    except RuntimeError as e:
+        print(e)  # Print what happened
+        continue  # retry!
diff --git a/examples/bluefruitspi_simpletest.py b/examples/bluefruitspi_simpletest.py
index 4ef9017..58e2a17 100644
--- a/examples/bluefruitspi_simpletest.py
+++ b/examples/bluefruitspi_simpletest.py
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
+# A simple echo test for the Feather M0 Bluefruit
+# Sets the name, then echo's all RX'd data with a reversed packet
+
+import time
 import busio
-from digitalio import DigitalInOut, Direction
 import board
-import time
-from adafruit_bluefruitspi import BluefruitSPI, MsgType
+from digitalio import DigitalInOut
+from adafruit_bluefruitspi import BluefruitSPI
 
 spi_bus = busio.SPI(board.SCK, MOSI=board.MOSI, MISO=board.MISO)
 cs = DigitalInOut(board.D8)
@@ -13,31 +16,46 @@
 # Initialize the device and perform a factory reset
 print("Initializing the Bluefruit LE SPI Friend module")
 bluefruit.init()
-bluefruit.command_check_OK("AT+FACTORYRESET", 1.0)
-print(bluefruit.command_check_OK("ATI"))
-bluefruit.command_check_OK("AT+GAPDEVNAME=ColorLamp")
+bluefruit.command_check_OK(b'AT+FACTORYRESET', delay=1)
+
+# Print the response to 'ATI' (info request) as a string
+print(str(bluefruit.command_check_OK(b'ATI'), 'utf-8'))
+
+# Change advertised name
+bluefruit.command_check_OK(b'AT+GAPDEVNAME=BlinkaBLE')
 
 while True:
-    connected = False
-    dotcount = 0
     print("Waiting for a connection to Bluefruit LE Connect ...")
     # Wait for a connection ...
-    while not connected:
-        connected = int(bluefruit.command_check_OK("AT+GAPGETCONN")) == 1
-        dotcount += 1
+    dotcount = 0
+    while not bluefruit.connected:
+        print(".", end="")
+        dotcount = (dotcount + 1) % 80
         if dotcount == 79:
-            print(".")
-            dotcount = 0
-        else:
-            print(".", end="")
+            print("")
         time.sleep(0.5)
+
     # Once connected, check for incoming BLE UART data
-    print("\nConnected!")
-    while connected:
-        #bluefruit.command_check_OK("AT+BLEUARTTX=0123456789")
-        resp = bluefruit.command_check_OK("AT+BLEUARTRX")
-        if resp:
-            print(resp)
-        # Check connection status followed by a 500ms delay
-        connected = int(bluefruit.command_check_OK("AT+GAPGETCONN", 0.5)) == 1
+    print("\n *Connected!*")
+    connection_timestamp = time.monotonic()
+    while True:
+        # Check our connection status every 3 seconds
+        if time.monotonic() - connection_timestamp > 3:
+            connection_timestamp = time.monotonic()
+            if not bluefruit.connected:
+                break
+
+        # OK we're still connected, see if we have any data waiting
+        resp = bluefruit.uart_rx()
+        if not resp:
+            continue  # nothin'
+        print("Read %d bytes: %s" % (len(resp), resp))
+        # Now write it!
+        print("Writing reverse...")
+        send = []
+        for i in range(len(resp), 0, -1):
+            send.append(resp[i-1])
+        print(bytes(send))
+        bluefruit.uart_tx(bytes(send))
+
     print("Connection lost.")