diff --git a/dist/nodes/sacn-in/locales/de/sacn-in.json b/dist/nodes/sacn-in/locales/de/sacn-in.json
index 96ed9e8..d0aa154 100644
--- a/dist/nodes/sacn-in/locales/de/sacn-in.json
+++ b/dist/nodes/sacn-in/locales/de/sacn-in.json
@@ -10,7 +10,13 @@
       "universe": "Universum",
       "output": "Ausgabe",
       "output_full": "Vollständiges Universum",
-      "output_changes": "Änderungen"
+      "output_changes": "Änderungen",
+      "trigger": "Ausgabe-Auslösung",
+      "trigger_changes": "Nur Änderungen",
+      "trigger_always": "Jedes Paket",
+      "trigger_interval": "Änderungen + zyklisch",
+      "interval": "Intervall (ms)",
+      "clearOnUniverseChange": "Bei Universumswechsel auf 0 setzen"
     }
   }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dist/nodes/sacn-in/locales/en-US/sacn-in.json b/dist/nodes/sacn-in/locales/en-US/sacn-in.json
index 7b5f4df..678c53a 100644
--- a/dist/nodes/sacn-in/locales/en-US/sacn-in.json
+++ b/dist/nodes/sacn-in/locales/en-US/sacn-in.json
@@ -10,7 +10,13 @@
       "universe": "universe",
       "output": "output",
       "output_full": "whole universe",
-      "output_changes": "changes"
+      "output_changes": "changes",
+      "trigger": "output trigger",
+      "trigger_changes": "changes only",
+      "trigger_always": "every packet",
+      "trigger_interval": "changes + cyclic",
+      "interval": "interval (ms)",
+      "clearOnUniverseChange": "blank on universe change"
     }
   }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dist/nodes/sacn-in/sacn-in.html b/dist/nodes/sacn-in/sacn-in.html
index 22cd7ee..5f684c4 100644
--- a/dist/nodes/sacn-in/sacn-in.html
+++ b/dist/nodes/sacn-in/sacn-in.html
@@ -34,6 +34,31 @@
             <option value="changes" data-i18n="sacn-in.label.output_changes"></option>
         </select>
     </div>
+    <div class="form-row">
+        <label for="node-input-trigger">
+            <i class="fa fa-share-square-o"></i>
+            <span data-i18n="sacn-in.label.trigger"></span>
+        </label>
+        <select id="node-input-trigger" style="width:70%;">
+            <option value="changes" data-i18n="sacn-in.label.trigger_changes"></option>
+            <option value="always" data-i18n="sacn-in.label.trigger_always"></option>
+            <option value="interval" data-i18n="sacn-in.label.trigger_interval"></option>
+        </select>
+    </div>
+    <div class="form-row" id="row-interval">
+        <label for="node-input-interval">
+            <i class="fa fa-clock-o"></i>
+            <span data-i18n="sacn-in.label.interval"></span>
+        </label>
+        <input type="number" id="node-input-interval" min="1" step="1" style="width:70%;"/>
+    </div>
+    <div class="form-row">
+        <label for="node-input-clearOnUniverseChange" style="width:auto;">
+            <i class="fa fa-eraser"></i>
+            <span data-i18n="sacn-in.label.clearOnUniverseChange"></span>
+        </label>
+        <input type="checkbox" id="node-input-clearOnUniverseChange" style="display:inline-block; width:auto; vertical-align:top; margin-left:4px;"/>
+    </div>
     <div class="form-row">
         <label for="node-input-interface">
             <i class="fa fa-plug"></i>
@@ -70,11 +95,40 @@ <h4>Configuration</h4>
         <dd>Whether to emit every received packet or merged values using HTP or LTP.</dd>
         <dt>Output <span class="property-type">full | changes</span></dt>
         <dd>Emit the whole universe on every update (<i>full</i>) or only the changed channels (<i>changes</i>).</dd>
+        <dt>Output trigger <span class="property-type">changes | always | interval</span></dt>
+        <dd>
+            Controls <b>when</b> a message is emitted, independently of the mode:
+            <ul>
+                <li><i>changes only</i> — emit only when the values change.</li>
+                <li><i>every packet</i> — emit on every received sACN packet, even without a change.</li>
+                <li>
+                    <i>changes + cyclic</i> — emit on change and reset a keepalive timer; if no change arrives
+                    within the interval, the current full universe is re-emitted.
+                </li>
+            </ul>
+            In the merging modes, <i>every packet</i> and the cyclic re-emit send the full merged universe.
+        </dd>
+        <dt class="optional">Interval <span class="property-type">number</span></dt>
+        <dd>Keepalive interval in milliseconds for the <i>changes + cyclic</i> trigger. Default <code>1000</code>.</dd>
+        <dt class="optional">Blank on universe change <span class="property-type">boolean</span></dt>
+        <dd>
+            When switching the universe via <code>msg.universe</code>, immediately emit a full universe of
+            zeros for the new universe until the first real data arrives. Default <code>false</code>.
+        </dd>
         <dt class="optional">Interface <span class="property-type">string</span></dt>
         <dd>IP address of the network interface used for receiving. Leave empty to listen on all interfaces.</dd>
         <dt class="optional">Port <span class="property-type">number</span></dt>
         <dd>Network port to listen on. Defaults to <code>5568</code>.</dd>
     </dl>
+    <h3>Inputs</h3>
+    <dl class="message-properties">
+        <dt>universe <span class="property-type">number</span></dt>
+        <dd>
+            Switches the observed universe at runtime, <code>1</code> to <code>63999</code>. The node stops
+            listening on the previous universe and starts listening on the new one. Invalid values are
+            ignored and produce a warning.
+        </dd>
+    </dl>
     <h3>Outputs</h3>
     <p>The properties emitted depend on the selected mode.</p>
     <h4>Passthrough mode</h4>
@@ -131,8 +185,19 @@ <h3>References</h3>
                 value: "full",
                 required: true,
             },
+            trigger: {
+                value: "changes",
+                required: true,
+            },
+            interval: {
+                value: 1000,
+                required: true,
+            },
+            clearOnUniverseChange: {
+                value: false,
+            },
         },
-        inputs: 0,
+        inputs: 1,
         outputs: 1,
         paletteLabel: "sACN in",
         icon: "font-awesome/fa-lightbulb-o",
@@ -142,6 +207,17 @@ <h3>References</h3>
         labelStyle: function () {
             return this.name ? "node_label_italic" : "";
         },
+        oneditprepare: function () {
+            const select = document.getElementById("node-input-trigger");
+            const row = document.getElementById("row-interval");
+            const toggleInterval = () => {
+                if (row) {
+                    row.style.display = select?.value === "interval" ? "" : "none";
+                }
+            };
+            select?.addEventListener("change", toggleInterval);
+            toggleInterval();
+        },
     };
     RED.nodes.registerType("sacn-in", def);
 </script>
diff --git a/dist/nodes/sacn-in/sacn-in.js b/dist/nodes/sacn-in/sacn-in.js
index d4ecbbc..f35f6f9 100644
--- a/dist/nodes/sacn-in/sacn-in.js
+++ b/dist/nodes/sacn-in/sacn-in.js
@@ -6,9 +6,16 @@ class NodeHandler {
     config;
     data = new Map();
     sACN;
+    currentUniverse;
+    trigger;
+    interval;
+    keepaliveTimer;
     constructor(node, config) {
         this.node = node;
         this.config = config;
+        this.currentUniverse = config.universe;
+        this.trigger = config.trigger ?? (config.mode === "passthrough" ? "always" : "changes");
+        this.interval = config.interval !== undefined && config.interval > 0 ? config.interval : 1000;
         const options = {
             universes: [config.universe],
             reuseAddr: config.reuseAddress !== undefined ? config.reuseAddress : true,
@@ -36,34 +43,82 @@ class NodeHandler {
         }
         this.node.on("close", () => {
             this.sACN.close();
+            if (this.keepaliveTimer) {
+                clearTimeout(this.keepaliveTimer);
+            }
             this.data = new Map();
         });
         if (config.mode === "passthrough") {
             this.sACN.on("packet", (packet) => {
-                this.node.send({
-                    universe: packet.universe,
-                    payload: this.parsePayload(packet.payload, packet.universe),
-                    sequence: packet.sequence,
-                    source: packet.sourceAddress,
-                    priority: packet.priority,
-                });
+                const changed = this.hasChanges(packet.payload, packet.universe);
+                const payload = this.parsePayload(packet.payload, packet.universe);
+                if (this.trigger === "always" || changed) {
+                    this.sendData({
+                        universe: packet.universe,
+                        payload,
+                        sequence: packet.sequence,
+                        source: packet.sourceAddress,
+                        priority: packet.priority,
+                    });
+                }
             });
         }
-        else if (config.mode === "ltp") {
+        else {
             this.sACN.on("changed", (data) => {
-                this.node.send({
-                    universe: data.universe,
-                    payload: this.parsePayload(data.payload, data.universe),
-                });
+                const payload = this.parsePayload(data.payload, data.universe);
+                if (this.trigger !== "always") {
+                    this.sendData({
+                        universe: data.universe,
+                        payload,
+                    });
+                }
             });
-        }
-        else if (config.mode === "htp") {
-            this.sACN.on("changed", (data) => {
-                this.node.send({
-                    universe: data.universe,
-                    payload: this.parsePayload(data.payload, data.universe),
+            if (this.trigger === "always") {
+                this.sACN.on("packet", () => {
+                    this.emitFull(this.currentUniverse);
                 });
-            });
+            }
+        }
+        this.node.on("input", (msg) => {
+            this.handleUniverseChange(msg);
+        });
+        this.setStatus();
+        this.resetKeepalive();
+    }
+    setStatus() {
+        this.node.status({
+            fill: "green",
+            shape: "dot",
+            text: `Universe ${this.currentUniverse}`,
+        });
+    }
+    parseUniverse(value) {
+        const universe = typeof value === "string" ? parseInt(value, 10) : value;
+        if (typeof universe !== "number" || !Number.isInteger(universe) || universe < 1 || universe > 63999) {
+            return undefined;
+        }
+        return universe;
+    }
+    handleUniverseChange(msg) {
+        const universe = this.parseUniverse(msg.universe);
+        if (universe === undefined) {
+            this.node.warn(`The given "universe"-property "${msg.universe}" (${typeof msg.universe}) is invalid or not between 1 and 63999.`);
+            return;
+        }
+        if (universe === this.currentUniverse) {
+            return;
+        }
+        this.sACN.removeUniverse(this.currentUniverse);
+        this.sACN.addUniverse(universe);
+        this.data?.delete(this.currentUniverse);
+        this.currentUniverse = universe;
+        this.setStatus();
+        if (this.config.clearOnUniverseChange) {
+            this.data?.set(universe, this.getNulledUniverse());
+            this.emitFull(universe);
+        }
+        else {
+            this.resetKeepalive();
         }
     }
     getNulledUniverse() {
@@ -73,22 +128,59 @@ class NodeHandler {
         }
         return universe;
     }
-    getReference(universe) {
-        if (this.config.output === "changes") {
-            return {};
+    hasChanges(payload, universe) {
+        const full = this.data?.get(universe);
+        if (full === undefined) {
+            return true;
         }
-        return this.data?.get(universe) ?? this.getNulledUniverse();
+        return Object.keys(payload).some((key) => {
+            const ch = parseInt(key, 10);
+            return full[ch] !== payload[ch];
+        });
     }
     parsePayload(payload, universe) {
-        const processedPayload = this.getReference(universe);
+        const full = this.data?.get(universe) ?? this.getNulledUniverse();
         Object.keys(payload).forEach((key) => {
             const ch = parseInt(key, 10);
-            processedPayload[ch] = payload[ch];
+            full[ch] = payload[ch];
         });
-        if (this.config.output !== "changes") {
-            this.data?.set(universe, processedPayload);
+        this.data?.set(universe, full);
+        if (this.config.output === "changes") {
+            const changes = {};
+            Object.keys(payload).forEach((key) => {
+                const ch = parseInt(key, 10);
+                changes[ch] = payload[ch];
+            });
+            return changes;
+        }
+        return full;
+    }
+    sendData(msg) {
+        this.node.send(msg);
+        this.resetKeepalive();
+    }
+    emitFull(universe) {
+        const full = this.data?.get(universe) ?? this.getNulledUniverse();
+        this.sendData({ universe, payload: { ...full } });
+    }
+    resetKeepalive() {
+        if (this.trigger !== "interval") {
+            return;
+        }
+        if (this.keepaliveTimer) {
+            clearTimeout(this.keepaliveTimer);
+        }
+        this.keepaliveTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+            this.keepaliveTick();
+        }, this.interval);
+    }
+    keepaliveTick() {
+        if (this.data?.has(this.currentUniverse)) {
+            this.emitFull(this.currentUniverse);
+        }
+        else {
+            this.resetKeepalive();
         }
-        return processedPayload;
     }
 }
 exports.default = (RED) => {
diff --git a/src/nodes/sacn-in/docs.html b/src/nodes/sacn-in/docs.html
index f74b04c..94213af 100644
--- a/src/nodes/sacn-in/docs.html
+++ b/src/nodes/sacn-in/docs.html
@@ -21,12 +21,42 @@ <h4>Configuration</h4>
     <dd>Whether to emit every received packet or merged values using HTP or LTP.</dd>
     <dt>Output <span class="property-type">full | changes</span></dt>
     <dd>Emit the whole universe on every update (<i>full</i>) or only the changed channels (<i>changes</i>).</dd>
+    <dt>Output trigger <span class="property-type">changes | always | interval</span></dt>
+    <dd>
+        Controls <b>when</b> a message is emitted, independently of the mode:
+        <ul>
+            <li><i>changes only</i> — emit only when the values change.</li>
+            <li><i>every packet</i> — emit on every received sACN packet, even without a change.</li>
+            <li>
+                <i>changes + cyclic</i> — emit on change and reset a keepalive timer; if no change arrives
+                within the interval, the current full universe is re-emitted.
+            </li>
+        </ul>
+        In the merging modes, <i>every packet</i> and the cyclic re-emit send the full merged universe.
+    </dd>
+    <dt class="optional">Interval <span class="property-type">number</span></dt>
+    <dd>Keepalive interval in milliseconds for the <i>changes + cyclic</i> trigger. Default <code>1000</code>.</dd>
+    <dt class="optional">Blank on universe change <span class="property-type">boolean</span></dt>
+    <dd>
+        When switching the universe via <code>msg.universe</code>, immediately emit a full universe of
+        zeros for the new universe until the first real data arrives. Default <code>false</code>.
+    </dd>
     <dt class="optional">Interface <span class="property-type">string</span></dt>
     <dd>IP address of the network interface used for receiving. Leave empty to listen on all interfaces.</dd>
     <dt class="optional">Port <span class="property-type">number</span></dt>
     <dd>Network port to listen on. Defaults to <code>5568</code>.</dd>
 </dl>
 
+<h3>Inputs</h3>
+<dl class="message-properties">
+    <dt>universe <span class="property-type">number</span></dt>
+    <dd>
+        Switches the observed universe at runtime, <code>1</code> to <code>63999</code>. The node stops
+        listening on the previous universe and starts listening on the new one. Invalid values are
+        ignored and produce a warning.
+    </dd>
+</dl>
+
 <h3>Outputs</h3>
 <p>The properties emitted depend on the selected mode.</p>
 
diff --git a/src/nodes/sacn-in/form.html b/src/nodes/sacn-in/form.html
index e29e9d5..703afe8 100644
--- a/src/nodes/sacn-in/form.html
+++ b/src/nodes/sacn-in/form.html
@@ -34,6 +34,31 @@
         <option value="changes" data-i18n="sacn-in.label.output_changes"></option>
     </select>
 </div>
+<div class="form-row">
+    <label for="node-input-trigger">
+        <i class="fa fa-share-square-o"></i>
+        <span data-i18n="sacn-in.label.trigger"></span>
+    </label>
+    <select id="node-input-trigger" style="width:70%;">
+        <option value="changes" data-i18n="sacn-in.label.trigger_changes"></option>
+        <option value="always" data-i18n="sacn-in.label.trigger_always"></option>
+        <option value="interval" data-i18n="sacn-in.label.trigger_interval"></option>
+    </select>
+</div>
+<div class="form-row" id="row-interval">
+    <label for="node-input-interval">
+        <i class="fa fa-clock-o"></i>
+        <span data-i18n="sacn-in.label.interval"></span>
+    </label>
+    <input type="number" id="node-input-interval" min="1" step="1" style="width:70%;"/>
+</div>
+<div class="form-row">
+    <label for="node-input-clearOnUniverseChange" style="width:auto;">
+        <i class="fa fa-eraser"></i>
+        <span data-i18n="sacn-in.label.clearOnUniverseChange"></span>
+    </label>
+    <input type="checkbox" id="node-input-clearOnUniverseChange" style="display:inline-block; width:auto; vertical-align:top; margin-left:4px;"/>
+</div>
 <div class="form-row">
     <label for="node-input-interface">
         <i class="fa fa-plug"></i>
diff --git a/src/nodes/sacn-in/init.ts b/src/nodes/sacn-in/init.ts
index e5f5ce5..421a140 100644
--- a/src/nodes/sacn-in/init.ts
+++ b/src/nodes/sacn-in/init.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ interface Defaults extends EditorNodeProperties {
   interface?: string | undefined;
   mode: "htp" | "ltp" | "passthrough";
   output: "full" | "changes";
+  trigger: "changes" | "always" | "interval";
+  interval: number;
+  clearOnUniverseChange: boolean;
 }
 
 const def: EditorNodeDef<Defaults> = {
@@ -37,8 +40,19 @@ const def: EditorNodeDef<Defaults> = {
       value: "full",
       required: true,
     },
+    trigger: {
+      value: "changes",
+      required: true,
+    },
+    interval: {
+      value: 1000,
+      required: true,
+    },
+    clearOnUniverseChange: {
+      value: false,
+    },
   },
-  inputs: 0,
+  inputs: 1,
   outputs: 1,
   paletteLabel: "sACN in",
   icon: "font-awesome/fa-lightbulb-o",
@@ -48,6 +62,19 @@ const def: EditorNodeDef<Defaults> = {
   labelStyle: function () {
     return this.name ? "node_label_italic" : "";
   },
+  oneditprepare: function () {
+    const select = document.getElementById("node-input-trigger") as HTMLSelectElement | null;
+    const row = document.getElementById("row-interval");
+
+    const toggleInterval = (): void => {
+      if (row) {
+        row.style.display = select?.value === "interval" ? "" : "none";
+      }
+    };
+
+    select?.addEventListener("change", toggleInterval);
+    toggleInterval();
+  },
 };
 
 RED.nodes.registerType("sacn-in", def);
diff --git a/src/nodes/sacn-in/locales/de.json b/src/nodes/sacn-in/locales/de.json
index bb901e0..d9d0b8c 100644
--- a/src/nodes/sacn-in/locales/de.json
+++ b/src/nodes/sacn-in/locales/de.json
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@
     "universe": "Universum",
     "output": "Ausgabe",
     "output_full": "Vollständiges Universum",
-    "output_changes": "Änderungen"
+    "output_changes": "Änderungen",
+    "trigger": "Ausgabe-Auslösung",
+    "trigger_changes": "Nur Änderungen",
+    "trigger_always": "Jedes Paket",
+    "trigger_interval": "Änderungen + zyklisch",
+    "interval": "Intervall (ms)",
+    "clearOnUniverseChange": "Bei Universumswechsel auf 0 setzen"
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/nodes/sacn-in/locales/en-US.json b/src/nodes/sacn-in/locales/en-US.json
index b984b1a..0142a43 100644
--- a/src/nodes/sacn-in/locales/en-US.json
+++ b/src/nodes/sacn-in/locales/en-US.json
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@
     "universe": "universe",
     "output": "output",
     "output_full": "whole universe",
-    "output_changes": "changes"
+    "output_changes": "changes",
+    "trigger": "output trigger",
+    "trigger_changes": "changes only",
+    "trigger_always": "every packet",
+    "trigger_interval": "changes + cyclic",
+    "interval": "interval (ms)",
+    "clearOnUniverseChange": "blank on universe change"
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/nodes/sacn-in/sacn-in.ts b/src/nodes/sacn-in/sacn-in.ts
index 8c35416..e4ddbe9 100644
--- a/src/nodes/sacn-in/sacn-in.ts
+++ b/src/nodes/sacn-in/sacn-in.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ interface Config extends NodeDef {
   port?: number;
   mode: "htp" | "ltp" | "passthrough";
   output: "full" | "changes";
+  trigger?: "changes" | "always" | "interval";
+  interval?: number;
+  clearOnUniverseChange?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface MessageIn extends NodeMessage {
@@ -35,9 +38,22 @@ class NodeHandler {
 
   protected sACN: Receiver;
 
+  protected currentUniverse: number;
+
+  protected trigger: "changes" | "always" | "interval";
+
+  protected interval: number;
+
+  protected keepaliveTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined;
+
   constructor(node: Node<Config>, config: Config) {
     this.node = node;
     this.config = config;
+    this.currentUniverse = config.universe;
+
+    // resolve the output trigger; keep legacy behaviour for nodes without the field
+    this.trigger = config.trigger ?? (config.mode === "passthrough" ? "always" : "changes");
+    this.interval = config.interval !== undefined && config.interval > 0 ? config.interval : 1000;
 
     // parse options for receiver instance
     const options: Receiver.Props | MergingReceiver.Props = {
@@ -72,34 +88,110 @@ class NodeHandler {
       // close all connections; terminate the receiver
       this.sACN.close();
 
+      if (this.keepaliveTimer) {
+        clearTimeout(this.keepaliveTimer);
+      }
+
       this.data = new Map();
     });
 
-    // handle sacn packets
+    // handle sacn packets according to the configured output trigger
     if (config.mode === "passthrough") {
       this.sACN.on("packet", (packet: Packet) => {
-        this.node.send({
-          universe: packet.universe,
-          payload: this.parsePayload(packet.payload, packet.universe),
-          sequence: packet.sequence,
-          source: packet.sourceAddress,
-          priority: packet.priority,
-        });
+        const changed = this.hasChanges(packet.payload, packet.universe);
+        const payload = this.parsePayload(packet.payload, packet.universe);
+
+        if (this.trigger === "always" || changed) {
+          this.sendData({
+            universe: packet.universe,
+            payload,
+            sequence: packet.sequence,
+            source: packet.sourceAddress,
+            priority: packet.priority,
+          });
+        }
       });
-    } else if (config.mode === "ltp") {
+    } else {
+      // htp / ltp — merged output
       (this.sACN as MergingReceiver).on("changed", (data) => {
-        this.node.send({
-          universe: data.universe,
-          payload: this.parsePayload(data.payload, data.universe),
-        });
+        const payload = this.parsePayload(data.payload, data.universe);
+
+        // in "always" mode the packet listener below emits on every packet instead
+        if (this.trigger !== "always") {
+          this.sendData({
+            universe: data.universe,
+            payload,
+          });
+        }
       });
-    } else if (config.mode === "htp") {
-      (this.sACN as MergingReceiver).on("changed", (data) => {
-        this.node.send({
-          universe: data.universe,
-          payload: this.parsePayload(data.payload, data.universe),
+
+      if (this.trigger === "always") {
+        // MergingReceiver merges on its own "packet" listener (registered first),
+        // so by the time this runs the full state is already up to date
+        this.sACN.on("packet", () => {
+          this.emitFull(this.currentUniverse);
         });
-      });
+      }
+    }
+
+    // allow switching the observed universe at runtime via msg.universe
+    this.node.on("input", (msg) => {
+      this.handleUniverseChange(msg as MessageIn);
+    });
+
+    this.setStatus();
+    this.resetKeepalive();
+  }
+
+  protected setStatus(): void {
+    this.node.status({
+      fill: "green",
+      shape: "dot",
+      text: `Universe ${this.currentUniverse}`,
+    });
+  }
+
+  protected parseUniverse(value: unknown): number | undefined {
+    const universe = typeof value === "string" ? parseInt(value, 10) : value;
+
+    if (typeof universe !== "number" || !Number.isInteger(universe) || universe < 1 || universe > 63999) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+
+    return universe;
+  }
+
+  protected handleUniverseChange(msg: MessageIn): void {
+    const universe = this.parseUniverse(msg.universe);
+
+    if (universe === undefined) {
+      this.node.warn(
+        `The given "universe"-property "${msg.universe}" (${typeof msg.universe}) is invalid or not between 1 and 63999.`,
+      );
+
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (universe === this.currentUniverse) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.sACN.removeUniverse(this.currentUniverse);
+    this.sACN.addUniverse(universe);
+
+    // drop the cached state of the previously observed universe
+    this.data?.delete(this.currentUniverse);
+
+    this.currentUniverse = universe;
+    this.setStatus();
+
+    if (this.config.clearOnUniverseChange) {
+      // emit a blanked universe until real data for the new universe arrives
+      this.data?.set(universe, this.getNulledUniverse());
+      this.emitFull(universe);
+    } else {
+      // keep the keepalive heartbeat aligned with the new universe
+      this.resetKeepalive();
     }
   }
 
@@ -113,27 +205,73 @@ class NodeHandler {
     return universe;
   }
 
-  protected getReference(universe: number): DMXValues {
-    if (this.config.output === "changes") {
-      return {};
+  protected hasChanges(payload: DMXValues, universe: number): boolean {
+    const full = this.data?.get(universe);
+    if (full === undefined) {
+      return true;
     }
 
-    return this.data?.get(universe) ?? this.getNulledUniverse();
+    return Object.keys(payload).some((key) => {
+      const ch = parseInt(key, 10);
+      return full[ch] !== payload[ch];
+    });
   }
 
   protected parsePayload(payload: DMXValues, universe: number): DMXValues {
-    const processedPayload: DMXValues = this.getReference(universe);
+    // always maintain the full state of the universe (needed for keepalive / clear)
+    const full: DMXValues = this.data?.get(universe) ?? this.getNulledUniverse();
 
     Object.keys(payload).forEach((key) => {
       const ch = parseInt(key, 10);
-      processedPayload[ch] = payload[ch];
+      full[ch] = payload[ch];
     });
 
-    if (this.config.output !== "changes") {
-      this.data?.set(universe, processedPayload);
+    this.data?.set(universe, full);
+
+    if (this.config.output === "changes") {
+      const changes: DMXValues = {};
+      Object.keys(payload).forEach((key) => {
+        const ch = parseInt(key, 10);
+        changes[ch] = payload[ch];
+      });
+
+      return changes;
     }
 
-    return processedPayload;
+    return full;
+  }
+
+  protected sendData(msg: NodeMessage): void {
+    this.node.send(msg);
+    this.resetKeepalive();
+  }
+
+  protected emitFull(universe: number): void {
+    const full = this.data?.get(universe) ?? this.getNulledUniverse();
+    this.sendData({ universe, payload: { ...full } });
+  }
+
+  protected resetKeepalive(): void {
+    if (this.trigger !== "interval") {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (this.keepaliveTimer) {
+      clearTimeout(this.keepaliveTimer);
+    }
+
+    this.keepaliveTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+      this.keepaliveTick();
+    }, this.interval);
+  }
+
+  protected keepaliveTick(): void {
+    if (this.data?.has(this.currentUniverse)) {
+      this.emitFull(this.currentUniverse);
+    } else {
+      // no data for the current universe yet; keep the heartbeat armed without emitting
+      this.resetKeepalive();
+    }
   }
 }