diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/menu/games_list_menu.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/menu/games_list_menu.xml
index fd91b60d7..c12368203 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/menu/games_list_menu.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/menu/games_list_menu.xml
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
     <!-- <item android:id="@+id/gamel_menu_view_hidden" -->
     <!--       android:title="@string/gamel_menu_view_hidden" -->
     <!--       /> -->
+    <item android:id="@+id/gamel_menu_btping"
+          android:title="bt ping"
+          />
     <item android:id="@+id/gamel_menu_newgame"
           android:title="@string/button_new_game"
           android:icon="@android:drawable/ic_menu_add"
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BTConnection.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BTConnection.java
index bc3d3115f..8b094d92f 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BTConnection.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BTConnection.java
@@ -23,46 +23,67 @@ package org.eehouse.android.xw4;
 import android.bluetooth.BluetoothAdapter;
 import android.bluetooth.BluetoothServerSocket;
 import android.bluetooth.BluetoothSocket;
+import android.bluetooth.BluetoothDevice;
 
 import android.content.BroadcastReceiver;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.Intent;
 import java.io.InputStream;
+import java.io.OutputStream;
+import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.UUID;
 
 public class BTConnection extends BroadcastReceiver {
-    private static BluetoothAdapter s_btAdapter = BluetoothAdapter.getDefaultAdapter();
+    private static final byte PING = 1;
+    private static final byte PONG = 2;
+
+    private static BluetoothAdapter s_btAdapter = 
+        BluetoothAdapter.getDefaultAdapter();
     private static BluetoothServerSocket s_serverSocket;
 
     private class BTListener extends Thread {
+
         @Override
         public void run() {
             byte[] buffer = new byte[1024];
-            for ( ; ; ) {
-                try {
-                    s_serverSocket = s_btAdapter.
-                        listenUsingRfcommWithServiceRecord( XWApp.getAppName(),
-                                                            XWApp.getAppUUID() );
-                } catch ( java.io.IOException ioe ) {
-                    DbgUtils.logf( "listenUsingRfcommWithServiceRecord=>%s", ioe.toString() );
-                    break;
-                }
+            try {
+                s_serverSocket = s_btAdapter.
+                    listenUsingRfcommWithServiceRecord( XWApp.getAppName(),
+                                                        XWApp.getAppUUID() );
+            } catch ( java.io.IOException ioe ) {
+                DbgUtils.logf( "listenUsingRfcommWithServiceRecord=>%s", 
+                               ioe.toString() );
+                s_serverSocket = null;
+            }
 
+            while ( null != s_serverSocket ) {
                 BluetoothSocket socket = null;
                 InputStream inStream = null;
+                int nRead = 0;
                 try {
+                    DbgUtils.logf( "run: calling accept()" );
                     socket = s_serverSocket.accept(); // blocks
+                    DbgUtils.logf( "run: accept() returned" );
                     inStream = socket.getInputStream();
-                    int nRead = inStream.read( buffer );
+                    nRead = inStream.read( buffer );
                     DbgUtils.logf( "read %d bytes from BT socket", nRead );
+
+                    // now handle what's on the socket
+                    if ( 0 < nRead && buffer[0] == PING ) {
+                        DbgUtils.logf( "got PING!!!" );
+                        OutputStream os = socket.getOutputStream();
+                        os.write( PONG );
+                        os.flush();
+                    }
+
                     socket.close();
                 } catch ( java.io.IOException ioe ) {
                     DbgUtils.logf( "accept=>%s", ioe.toString() );
-                    break;
+                    DbgUtils.logf( "trying again..." );
+                    continue;
                 }
 
-                // now handle what's on the socket
-
-            } // for ( ; ; )
+            }
 
             if ( null != s_serverSocket ) {
                 try {
@@ -70,6 +91,7 @@ public class BTConnection extends BroadcastReceiver {
                 } catch ( java.io.IOException ioe ) {
                     DbgUtils.logf( "close()=>%s", ioe.toString() );
                 }
+                s_serverSocket = null;
             }
         }
     }
@@ -109,4 +131,40 @@ public class BTConnection extends BroadcastReceiver {
 
     } // onReceive
 
+    // Test whether there's another device running Crosswords and it
+    // can respond.
+    private static class PingThread extends Thread {
+        public void run() {
+            BluetoothDevice xwdev = null;
+            UUID myUUID = XWApp.getAppUUID();
+
+            Set<BluetoothDevice> pairedDevs = s_btAdapter.getBondedDevices();
+            DbgUtils.logf( "ping: got %d paired devices", pairedDevs.size() );
+            for ( BluetoothDevice dev : pairedDevs ) {
+                BluetoothSocket socket = null;
+                try {
+                    socket = dev.createRfcommSocketToServiceRecord( myUUID );
+                    DbgUtils.logf( "PingThread: got socket to device %s", 
+                                   dev.getName() );
+                    socket.connect();
+                    DbgUtils.logf( "PingThread: connected" );
+                    OutputStream os = socket.getOutputStream();
+                    os.write( PING );
+                    DbgUtils.logf( "PingThread: wrote" );
+                    os.flush();
+                    socket.close();
+                    DbgUtils.logf( "PingThread: closed" );
+                    break;
+                } catch ( java.io.IOException ioe ) {
+                    DbgUtils.logf( "PingThread: %s", ioe.toString() );
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public static void ping( Context context ) {
+        PingThread pt = new PingThread();
+        pt.start();
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java
index 090c5debb..db45898d8 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java
@@ -514,6 +514,11 @@ public class GamesList extends XWListActivity
         Intent intent;
 
         switch (item.getItemId()) {
+            
+        case R.id.gamel_menu_btping:
+            BTConnection.ping( this );
+            break;
+
         case R.id.gamel_menu_newgame:
             startNewGameActivity();
             break;