diff --git a/src/dmx_receiver.cpp b/src/dmx_receiver.cpp
index 6ce87ca..3c25c0a 100644
--- a/src/dmx_receiver.cpp
+++ b/src/dmx_receiver.cpp
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ void DMX_Receiver::set_enable_pin(uint8_t pin) {
   digitalWrite(this->_rx_enable_pin, LOW);
 }
 
+void DMX_Receiver::set_timeout(uint16_t time_milliseconds) {
+  _timeout_time = time_milliseconds;
+}
+
 void DMX_Receiver::receive() {
   //  set flags
   //  enable receive pin
@@ -47,7 +51,7 @@ void DMX_Receiver::receive() {
   uint32_t begin_time = millis();
   while(this->_flag_started) { 
     if(this->_flag_receive == false) {break; }                                    //  done receiving
-    if((millis() - begin_time) > 1000 && this->_flag_payload == false) {break;}   //  time-out
+    if((millis() - begin_time) > _timeout_time && this->_flag_payload == false) {break;}   //  time-out
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/dmx_receiver.h b/src/dmx_receiver.h
index c9b0349..280d9e9 100644
--- a/src/dmx_receiver.h
+++ b/src/dmx_receiver.h
@@ -25,15 +25,21 @@ class DMX_Receiver {
     //  called when a byte has been received
     void interrupt();
 
+    //  sets a hold time (or timeout time) which is the time in milliseconds to wait for a new DMX packet
+    void set_timeout(uint16_t time_milliseconds);
+    void set_hold_time(uint16_t time_milliseconds) {set_timeout(time_milliseconds);}
+
     //  returns the value of a specific dmx channel
     uint8_t get_dmx_value(uint16_t channel); 
     
+    
 private:
     
     uint8_t _rx_enable_pin = 6;
     uint8_t *_channel_values = (uint8_t*) calloc(513, sizeof(uint8_t));
 
     uint16_t _byte_counter = 0;
+    uint16_t _timeout_time = 50;    //  50 ms default wait time
 
     uint32_t _bit_counter = 0;
 
diff --git a/src/dmx_transceiver.cpp b/src/dmx_transceiver.cpp
index 59705b4..86e7b28 100644
--- a/src/dmx_transceiver.cpp
+++ b/src/dmx_transceiver.cpp
@@ -21,10 +21,13 @@ void DMX_Transceiver::set_tx_enable_pin(uint8_t pin) {
 }
 
 void DMX_Transceiver::set_rx_enable_pin(uint8_t pin) {
-  
   _dmx_receiver->set_enable_pin(pin);
 }
 
+void DMX_Transceiver::set_rx_timeout(uint16_t time_milliseconds) {
+  _dmx_receiver->set_timeout(time_milliseconds);
+};
+
 void DMX_Transceiver::transmit() {
   _dmx_transmitter->transmit();
 }
diff --git a/src/dmx_transceiver.h b/src/dmx_transceiver.h
index 4719d0e..b0baa9a 100644
--- a/src/dmx_transceiver.h
+++ b/src/dmx_transceiver.h
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ class DMX_Transceiver {
     void set_tx_enable_pin(uint8_t pin);
     void set_rx_enable_pin(uint8_t pin);
 
+    //  set RX hold time (pause time)
+    void set_rx_timeout(uint16_t time_milliseconds);
+    void set_rx_hold_time(uint16_t time_milliseconds) {set_rx_timeout(time_milliseconds);}
+
     //  set a dmx value for a specific channel
     //  will be written when transmit or transceive function is called
     void set_dmx_value(uint16_t channel, uint8_t value);