diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
index 0b90df8bd..2433f595e 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ float MyMesh::getAirtimeBudgetFactor() const {
 }
 
 int MyMesh::getInterferenceThreshold() const {
-  return 0; // disabled for now, until currentRSSI() problem is resolved
+  return 1; // non-zero enables hardware CAD (Channel Activity Detection) before TX
 }
 
 int MyMesh::calcRxDelay(float score, uint32_t air_time) const {
diff --git a/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp
index af4706c13..dd282ec81 100644
--- a/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -892,7 +892,7 @@ MyMesh::MyMesh(mesh::MainBoard &board, mesh::Radio &radio, mesh::MillisecondCloc
   _prefs.flood_max = 64;
   _prefs.flood_max_unscoped = 64;
   _prefs.flood_max_advert = 8;
-  _prefs.interference_threshold = 0; // disabled
+  _prefs.interference_threshold = 1; // non-zero enables hardware CAD before TX
 
   // bridge defaults
   _prefs.bridge_enabled = 1;    // enabled
diff --git a/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp
index 349efb445..97ec80ac5 100644
--- a/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ MyMesh::MyMesh(mesh::MainBoard &board, mesh::Radio &radio, mesh::MillisecondCloc
   _prefs.flood_max = 64;
   _prefs.flood_max_unscoped = 64;
   _prefs.flood_max_advert = 8;
-  _prefs.interference_threshold = 0; // disabled
+  _prefs.interference_threshold = 1; // non-zero enables hardware CAD before TX
 #ifdef ROOM_PASSWORD
   StrHelper::strncpy(_prefs.guest_password, ROOM_PASSWORD, sizeof(_prefs.guest_password));
 #endif
diff --git a/examples/simple_sensor/SensorMesh.cpp b/examples/simple_sensor/SensorMesh.cpp
index c0235a143..2a2c7febc 100644
--- a/examples/simple_sensor/SensorMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_sensor/SensorMesh.cpp
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ SensorMesh::SensorMesh(mesh::MainBoard& board, mesh::Radio& radio, mesh::Millise
   _prefs.flood_advert_interval = 0;   // disabled
   _prefs.disable_fwd = true;
   _prefs.flood_max = 64;
-  _prefs.interference_threshold = 0;  // disabled
+  _prefs.interference_threshold = 1;  // non-zero enables hardware CAD before TX
 
   // GPS defaults
   _prefs.gps_enabled = 0;
diff --git a/src/helpers/radiolib/RadioLibWrappers.cpp b/src/helpers/radiolib/RadioLibWrappers.cpp
index b6519aefa..c67ab768c 100644
--- a/src/helpers/radiolib/RadioLibWrappers.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/radiolib/RadioLibWrappers.cpp
@@ -178,10 +178,17 @@ void RadioLibWrapper::onSendFinished() {
   state = STATE_IDLE;
 }
 
+int16_t RadioLibWrapper::performChannelScan() {
+  return _radio->scanChannel();
+}
+
 bool RadioLibWrapper::isChannelActive() {
-  return _threshold == 0 
-          ? false    // interference check is disabled
-          : getCurrentRSSI() > _noise_floor + _threshold;
+  if (_threshold == 0) return false;    // interference check is disabled
+
+  int16_t result = performChannelScan();
+  // scanChannel() leaves radio in standby — restart RX regardless of result
+  startRecv();
+  return (result == RADIOLIB_LORA_DETECTED);
 }
 
 float RadioLibWrapper::getLastRSSI() const {
diff --git a/src/helpers/radiolib/RadioLibWrappers.h b/src/helpers/radiolib/RadioLibWrappers.h
index efd3e1793..c1ece6448 100644
--- a/src/helpers/radiolib/RadioLibWrappers.h
+++ b/src/helpers/radiolib/RadioLibWrappers.h
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ public:
   bool isInRecvMode() const override;
   bool isChannelActive();
 
-  bool isReceiving() override { 
+  bool isReceiving() override {
     if (isReceivingPacket()) return true;
 
     return isChannelActive();
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ public:
   virtual uint8_t getSpreadingFactor() const { return LORA_SF; }
   static uint16_t preambleLengthForSF(uint8_t sf) { return sf <= 8 ? 32 : 16; }
   void updatePreamble(uint8_t sf) { _preamble_sf = sf; _radio->setPreambleLength(preambleLengthForSF(sf)); }
+  virtual int16_t performChannelScan();
 
   int getNoiseFloor() const override { return _noise_floor; }
   void triggerNoiseFloorCalibrate(int threshold) override;