diff --git a/src/controller.py b/src/controller.py
index 13d898a..33d7700 100644
--- a/src/controller.py
+++ b/src/controller.py
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ class Controller:
 	connected = False
 	displayL = None
 	displayR = None
+    
+    basetopic = None
+    mqtthost = None
+    mqttport = None
 	
 
 	def __init__(self, base_topic, mqtt_host, mqtt_port = 1883):
@@ -72,19 +76,29 @@ class Controller:
 		# set brightness, range 0-1.0, 1.0 max brightness
 		self.displayL.brightness = 1.0
 		self.displayR.brightness = 1.0
-		
+        
+        self.basetopic = basetopic
+        self.mqtthost = mqtt_host
+        self.mqttport = mqtt_port
+	
+        connectToMQTT()
+	
+    def connectToMQTT(self):
+        print("trying to connect to mqtt")
 		self.mqtt = mqtt.Client()
 		self.mqtt.on_connect = self.on_connect
 		self.mqtt.on_message = self.on_message
 		self.mqtt.on_disconnect = self.on_disconnect
-		self.mqtt.connect(mqtt_host, mqtt_port)
-		self.topic = base_topic
+		self.mqtt.connect(self.mqtthost, self.mqttport)
+		self.topic = self.basetopic
 		
 		
 
 
 	def on_disconnect(self, client, userdata, rc):
 		print("MQTT disconnected")
+        self.mode = Mode.STATIC
+		self.text = "- - - -"
 		self.connected = False
 
 	def on_message(self, client, userdata, message):
@@ -161,6 +175,10 @@ class Controller:
 		
 		self.mqtt.publish(self.topic + "/" + "$hostname", socket.gethostname() , 1 )
 		self.mqtt.publish(self.topic + "/" + "$localip", self.get_ip() , 1 )
+        
+        #clear display
+        self.mode = Mode.STATIC
+		self.text = ""
 		
 	
 	def get_ip(self):
@@ -242,7 +260,13 @@ class Controller:
 		run = True
 
 		while run:
+            
+            if !self.connected:
+                if (time.time()>self.last_reconnectTry+30):
+                    connectToMQTT()
+                    self.last_reconnectTry=time.time()
 			self.mqtt.loop(0.1) #with block timeout
+            
 			
 
 			if self.displayL is not None and self.displayR is not None: #displays initialized