diff --git a/src/hal/si4707_hal.h b/src/hal/si4707_hal.h
index fe16d9c..59dd89e 100644
--- a/src/hal/si4707_hal.h
+++ b/src/hal/si4707_hal.h
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ struct Si4707_HAL_FPs {
   void (*reset)();
   void (*power_up)();
   void (*send_command)(const uint8_t cmd, const struct Si4707_Command_Args* args);
-
+  void (*send_command_and_read_response)(const bool wait_for_cts_command, const uint8_t cmd, const struct Si4707_Command_Args* args, 
+                                          const bool wait_for_cts_response, const uint8_t resp_length, uint8_t* resp_buf);
 };
 
 #endif // SI4707_HAL_H
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/hal/si4707_hal_rp2040_spi.c b/src/hal/si4707_hal_rp2040_spi.c
index d20c270..bea4abd 100644
--- a/src/hal/si4707_hal_rp2040_spi.c
+++ b/src/hal/si4707_hal_rp2040_spi.c
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@
 #include "pico/stdlib.h"
 #include "hardware/spi.h"
 
+#include "si4707_const.h"
 #include "si4707_hal.h"
+#include "si4707.h"
 
 spi_inst_t* g_hal_rp2040_spi = NULL;
 uint g_hal_rp2040_mosi_pin = 0;
@@ -35,14 +37,16 @@ void hal_rp2040_set_si4707_pinmap(spi_inst_t *spi, uint mosi_pin, uint miso_pin,
 	g_hal_rp2040_pinmap_set = true;
 }
 
-void hal_rp2040_assert_pinmap_set() {
+void hal_rp2040_assert_pinmap_set() 
+{
 	if (!g_hal_rp2040_pinmap_set) {
     printf("RP2040 HAL:  pinmap not set for Si4707 but you're trying to use it\n");
 		abort();
   }
 }
 
-void hal_rp2040_setup_si4707_spi() {
+void hal_rp2040_setup_si4707_spi()
+{
   hal_rp2040_assert_pinmap_set();
 
   // SPI initialization. 400kHz.
@@ -57,7 +61,8 @@ void hal_rp2040_setup_si4707_spi() {
   gpio_put(g_hal_rp2040_cs_pin, 1);
 }
 
-void hal_rp2040_prepare_interface() {
+void hal_rp2040_prepare_interface()
+{
   hal_rp2040_setup_si4707_spi();
 }
 
@@ -117,6 +122,38 @@ void hal_rp2040_si4707_reset()
 	sleep_ms(2);
 }
 
+void si4707_hal_rpi2040_spi_send_command_and_read_response(const bool wait_for_cts_command, const uint8_t cmd, const struct Si4707_Command_Args* args, 
+                                          const bool wait_for_cts_response, const uint8_t resp_length, uint8_t* resp_buf)
+{
+  // note to self:  unclear whether i should use the 
+  // HAL version or the driver version.  kmo 17 jan 2024
+  // si4707_txn_start();
+  hal_rp2040_si4707_txn_start();
+  
+  if (wait_for_cts_command) {
+    si4707_await_cts(CTS_WAIT);
+  }
+
+  uint8_t cmd_buf[9] = { 0x00 };
+  cmd_buf[0] = cmd;
+  cmd_buf[1] = args->ARG1; cmd_buf[2] = args->ARG2; cmd_buf[3] = args->ARG3;
+  cmd_buf[4] = args->ARG4; cmd_buf[5] = args->ARG5; cmd_buf[6] = args->ARG6;
+  cmd_buf[7] = args->ARG7;
+
+  // TODO:  i cannot remember why this is 9 instead of 8 length
+  // kmo 17 jan 2024 20h50
+  spi_write_blocking(g_hal_rp2040_spi, cmd_buf, 9);
+
+  if (wait_for_cts_response) {
+    si4707_await_cts(CTS_WAIT);
+  }
+
+  spi_read_blocking(g_hal_rp2040_spi, 0, resp_buf, resp_length);
+
+  hal_rp2040_si4707_txn_end();
+
+}
+
 struct Si4707_HAL_FPs* hal_rp2040_FPs() 
 {
   struct Si4707_HAL_FPs* function_pointers = (struct Si4707_HAL_FPs*)malloc(sizeof(struct Si4707_HAL_FPs));
@@ -127,4 +164,4 @@ struct Si4707_HAL_FPs* hal_rp2040_FPs()
   function_pointers->reset = hal_rp2040_si4707_reset;
 
   return function_pointers;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/si4707/si4707.c b/src/si4707/si4707.c
index 71b7c91..b83cc34 100644
--- a/src/si4707/si4707.c
+++ b/src/si4707/si4707.c
@@ -17,9 +17,6 @@
 #define MIN(a, b) ((b)>(a)?(a):(b))
 #endif
 
-#define CTS_WAIT 250
-
-
 struct Si4707_HAL_FPs* current_hal = NULL;
 void si4707_set_hal(struct Si4707_HAL_FPs* hal) {
 	current_hal = hal;
diff --git a/src/si4707/si4707_const.h b/src/si4707/si4707_const.h
index 245647f..c875691 100644
--- a/src/si4707/si4707_const.h
+++ b/src/si4707/si4707_const.h
@@ -89,4 +89,6 @@
 // see also HDRRDY (header ready)
 #define SI4707_SAME_STATE_HEADER_COMPLETE		3
 
-// TODO:  this list of available properties is probably not complete.  check AN332.  kmo 9 oct 2023
\ No newline at end of file
+// TODO:  this list of available properties is probably not complete.  check AN332.  kmo 9 oct 2023
+
+#define CTS_WAIT 250