diff --git a/platformio.ini b/platformio.ini
index 85b97a9..9def105 100644
--- a/platformio.ini
+++ b/platformio.ini
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [platformio]
-env_default = basic
+env_default = basic, chat
 
 [common]
 framework = arduino
@@ -23,5 +23,15 @@ board = ${common.board}
 upload_speed = ${common.upload_speed}
 monitor_baud = ${common.monitor_baud}
 framework = ${common.framework}
+lib_deps = ${common.lib_deps}
+    PubSubClient
+
+[env:chat]
+src_filter = +<*> -<examples/> +<examples/chat/>
+platform = ${common.platform}
+board = ${common.board}
+upload_speed = ${common.upload_speed}
+monitor_baud = ${common.monitor_baud}
+framework = ${common.framework}
 lib_deps = ${common.lib_deps}
     PubSubClient
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MqttConfig.h b/src/MqttConfig.h
index f079902..37f178a 100644
--- a/src/MqttConfig.h
+++ b/src/MqttConfig.h
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #define JSON_MQTT_CLIENT_NAME "mqttClientName"
 #define JSON_MQTT_BROKER_HOST "mqttBrokerHost"
 #define JSON_MQTT_BROKER_PORT "mqttBrokerPort"
-#define JSON_MQTT_IN_TOPIC_ROOT "mqttInTopicRoot"
+#define JSON_MQTT_TOPIC_ROOT "mqttTopicRoot"
 #define JSON_MQTT_OUT_TOPIC_ROOT "mqttOutTopicRoot"
 
 struct MqttConfig
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@ struct MqttConfig
     const char *clientName;
     const char *brokerHost;
     int brokerPort;
-    const char *inTopicRoot;
-    const char *outTopicRoot;
+    const char *topicRoot;
 };
 
 struct MqttConfigJson : public MqttConfig, public JsonStruct
@@ -25,8 +24,7 @@ struct MqttConfigJson : public MqttConfig, public JsonStruct
         root[JSON_MQTT_CLIENT_NAME] = clientName;
         root[JSON_MQTT_BROKER_HOST] = brokerHost;
         root[JSON_MQTT_BROKER_PORT] = brokerPort;
-        root[JSON_MQTT_IN_TOPIC_ROOT] = inTopicRoot;
-        root[JSON_MQTT_OUT_TOPIC_ROOT] = outTopicRoot;
+        root[JSON_MQTT_TOPIC_ROOT] = topicRoot;
     }
     void fromJsonObject(JsonObject &json)
     {
@@ -39,8 +37,7 @@ struct MqttConfigJson : public MqttConfig, public JsonStruct
         clientName = getAttr(json, JSON_MQTT_CLIENT_NAME);
         brokerHost = getAttr(json, JSON_MQTT_BROKER_HOST);
         brokerPort = getIntAttrFromJson(json, JSON_MQTT_BROKER_PORT);
-        inTopicRoot = getAttr(json, JSON_MQTT_IN_TOPIC_ROOT);
-        outTopicRoot = getAttr(json, JSON_MQTT_OUT_TOPIC_ROOT);
+        topicRoot = getAttr(json, JSON_MQTT_TOPIC_ROOT);
         valid = 1;
     };
 };
diff --git a/src/MqttPlugin.cpp b/src/MqttPlugin.cpp
index 8f91f9a..1aa1a13 100644
--- a/src/MqttPlugin.cpp
+++ b/src/MqttPlugin.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 #include "MqttPlugin.h"
 
-MqttPlugin::MqttPlugin(MqttConfig cfg)
+MqttPlugin::MqttPlugin(MqttConfig cfg, bool bindUp,  bool bindDown)
 {
+    bindUpstream = bindUp;
+    bindDownstream = bindDown;
     applyConfig(cfg);
 }
 
@@ -9,8 +11,7 @@ void MqttPlugin::applyConfig(MqttConfig cfg) {
     brokerHost = String(cfg.brokerHost);
     brokerPort = cfg.brokerPort;
     clientName = String(cfg.clientName);
-    inTopicRoot = String(cfg.inTopicRoot);
-    outTopicRoot = String(cfg.outTopicRoot);
+    topicRoot = String(cfg.topicRoot);
 }
 
 void MqttPlugin::applyConfigFromFile(const char* fileName) {
@@ -57,16 +58,22 @@ void MqttPlugin::connect()
             {
                 for (auto const &localSub : mediator->subscriptions)
                 {
-                    // bind all local topics to the MQTT upstream once
-                    subscribe(localSub.first.c_str(), bind(&MqttPlugin::upstreamHandler, this, localSub.first.c_str(), _1));
-                    // subscribe topic on remote queue to dispatch messages to local subscriptions
-                    client->subscribe(
-                        (inTopicRoot + String(localSub.first.c_str()))
-                            .c_str());
+                    if(bindUpstream){
+                        // bind all local topics to the MQTT upstream once
+                        subscribe(localSub.first.c_str(), bind(&MqttPlugin::upstreamHandler, this, localSub.first.c_str(), _1));
+                    }
+                    if(bindDownstream){
+                        // subscribe topic on remote queue to dispatch messages to local subscriptions
+                        client->subscribe(
+                            (topicRoot + String("/in/") + String(localSub.first.c_str())).c_str());
+                    }
                 }
                 subscribed = true;
             }
+            publish("mqtt/connect", clientName);
             PRINT_MSG(Serial, "MQTT", "connected");
+        } else {
+            PRINT_MSG(Serial, "MQTT", "connect failed");
         }
     }
 }
@@ -74,10 +81,9 @@ void MqttPlugin::connect()
 void MqttPlugin::upstreamHandler(String topic, String msg)
 {
     // publish message on remote queue
-    String remoteTopic = outTopicRoot + topic;
-    Serial.println(remoteTopic);
+    String remoteTopic = topicRoot + String("/out/") + topic;
     client->publish(remoteTopic.c_str(), msg.c_str());
-    PRINT_MSG(Serial, "MQTT", remoteTopic.c_str());
+    PRINT_MSG(Serial, "MQTT", String("pub: "+ remoteTopic).c_str());
 }
 
 void MqttPlugin::downstreamHandler(char *topic, uint8_t *payload, unsigned int length)
@@ -88,10 +94,22 @@ void MqttPlugin::downstreamHandler(char *topic, uint8_t *payload, unsigned int l
     String msg = String(cleanPayload);
     free(cleanPayload);
 
-    // substract the topic root and publish msg on local topic
-    int topicRootLength = inTopicRoot.length();
-    String localTopic = String(topic).substring(topicRootLength);
-    publish(localTopic, msg);
+    // substract the topic root + "/in/" and publish msg on local topic
+    String topicStr = String(topic);
+    int topicRootLength = topicRoot.length();
+    if(topicStr.length() > topicRootLength){
+        String localTopic = topicStr.substring(topicRootLength);
+        if(localTopic.length() > 4){
+            String direction = localTopic.substring(0,4);
+            if(direction == "/in/" ){
+                String localSubTopic = localTopic.substring(direction.length());
+                publish(localSubTopic, msg);
+                PRINT_MSG(Serial, "MQTT", (String("publish /in/: ") + localSubTopic).c_str());
+            } else {
+                publish(localTopic, msg);
+                PRINT_MSG(Serial, "MQTT", (String("publish mediator: ") + localTopic).c_str());
+            }
+        }
+    }
 
-    PRINT_MSG(Serial, "MQTT", (String("publish local: ") + localTopic).c_str());
 }
diff --git a/src/MqttPlugin.h b/src/MqttPlugin.h
index b5d2ff5..37373d2 100644
--- a/src/MqttPlugin.h
+++ b/src/MqttPlugin.h
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class MqttPlugin : public Plugin
   public:
     PubSubClient *client;
 
-    MqttPlugin(MqttConfig cfg);
+    MqttPlugin(MqttConfig cfg, bool bindUp = true, bool bindDown = true);
 
     /**
      * Connects to queue and triggers connect and process task.
@@ -31,11 +31,12 @@ class MqttPlugin : public Plugin
     Task connectTask;
     Task processTask;
     bool subscribed = false;
+    bool bindUpstream = false;
+    bool bindDownstream = false;
     String brokerHost;
     int brokerPort;
     String clientName;
-    String inTopicRoot;
-    String outTopicRoot;
+    String topicRoot;
 
     void applyConfig(MqttConfig cfg);
     void applyConfigFromFile(const char* fileName);
@@ -46,20 +47,20 @@ class MqttPlugin : public Plugin
      * to the corresponding topic on the remote queue by prefixing the topic with inRootTopic.
      * Creates shadow subscriptions of every local topic to propagate messages to the remote queue via upstreamHandler.
      */
-    void connect();
+    virtual void connect();
 
     /**
      * The upstream handler is bound to every local subscription.
      * It passes the message to the remote queue by prefixing the outRootTopic.
      */ 
-    void upstreamHandler(String topic, String msg);
+    virtual void upstreamHandler(String topic, String msg);
 
     /**
      * The downstream handler is bound to the remote counterpart of local subscriptions,
      * prefixed with inRootTopic.
      * Everything after the prefix is used as local topic and dispatched to local subscriptions.
      */ 
-    void downstreamHandler(char *topic, uint8_t *payload, unsigned int length);
+    virtual void downstreamHandler(char *topic, uint8_t *payload, unsigned int length);
 };
 
 #endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/examples/chat/config.h b/src/examples/chat/config.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b78a35b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/examples/chat/config.h
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+#ifndef __DEVICE_CONFIG__
+#define __DEVICE_CONFIG__
+
+// Scheduler config
+#define _TASK_SLEEP_ON_IDLE_RUN
+#define _TASK_STD_FUNCTION
+#define _TASK_PRIORITY
+
+// Chip config
+#define SPROCKET_TYPE       "SPROCKET"
+#define SERIAL_BAUD_RATE    115200
+#define STARTUP_DELAY       1000
+
+// network config
+#define SPROCKET_MODE       1
+#define WIFI_CHANNEL        11
+#define MESH_PORT           5555
+#define AP_SSID             "sprocket"
+#define AP_PASSWORD         "th3r31sn0sp00n"
+#define MESH_PREFIX         "sprocket-mesh"
+#define MESH_PASSWORD       "th3r31sn0sp00n"
+#define STATION_SSID        "MyAP"
+#define STATION_PASSWORD    "th3r31sn0sp00n"
+#define HOSTNAME            "sprocket"
+#define CONNECT_TIMEOUT     10000
+#define MESH_DEBUG_TYPES    ERROR | STARTUP | CONNECTION
+//#define MESH_DEBUG_TYPES ERROR | MESH_STATUS | CONNECTION | SYNC | COMMUNICATION | GENERAL | MSG_TYPES | REMOTE
+
+// WebServer
+#define WEB_CONTEXT_PATH "/"
+#define WEB_DOC_ROOT "/www"
+#define WEB_DEFAULT_FILE "index.html"
+#define WEB_PORT 80
+
+#define MQTT_CONFIG_FILE "/mqttConfig.json"
+
+
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/examples/chat/main.cpp b/src/examples/chat/main.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3bd4d1d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/examples/chat/main.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#include "config.h"
+#include "WiFiNet.h"
+#include "Sprocket.h"
+#include "MqttPlugin.h"
+
+WiFiNet *network;
+Sprocket *sprocket;
+MqttPlugin *mqttPlugin;
+
+Task publishHeap;
+
+void setup()
+{
+
+    sprocket = new Sprocket({STARTUP_DELAY, SERIAL_BAUD_RATE});
+    mqttPlugin = new MqttPlugin({"chatSprocket",
+                                 "192.168.1.2",
+                                 1883,
+                                 "wirelos/sprocket"},
+                                true, true);                            
+    sprocket->addPlugin(mqttPlugin);
+
+    // this subscription gets shadowed by the MqttPlugin
+    // to rout messages to the queue on topic wirelos/sprocket/chat/log
+    sprocket->subscribe("chat/log", [](String msg) {
+        // gets routed to MQTT broker
+        PRINT_MSG(Serial, "CHAT", msg.c_str());
+    });
+    publishHeap.set(TASK_SECOND * 5, TASK_FOREVER, []() {
+        // locally publish a message
+        sprocket->publish("chat/log", "hi there");
+    });
+    sprocket->addTask(publishHeap);
+
+    network = new WiFiNet(
+        SPROCKET_MODE,
+        STATION_SSID,
+        STATION_PASSWORD,
+        AP_SSID,
+        AP_PASSWORD,
+        HOSTNAME,
+        CONNECT_TIMEOUT);
+    network->connect();
+
+    sprocket->activate();
+
+    sprocket->subscribe("mqtt/connect", [](String msg) {
+        if (msg.length() > 0)
+        {
+            mqttPlugin->client->subscribe("wirelos/sprocket/out/chat/log");
+            sprocket->subscribe("/out/chat/log", [](String msg){
+                PRINT_MSG(Serial, "CHAT", String("incoming:  " +msg).c_str());
+            });
+        }
+    });
+}
+
+void loop()
+{
+    sprocket->loop();
+    yield();
+}
\ No newline at end of file