diff --git a/core/clients/signalapi.py b/core/clients/signalapi.py
index dc72748..9348bce 100644
--- a/core/clients/signalapi.py
+++ b/core/clients/signalapi.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 from rest_framework import status
 
 import requests
@@ -11,7 +10,8 @@ import asyncio
 
 
 async def start_typing(uuid):
-    url = f"http://signal:8080/v1/typing_indicator/{settings.SIGNAL_NUMBER}"
+    base = getattr(settings, "SIGNAL_HTTP_URL", "http://signal:8080").rstrip("/")
+    url = f"{base}/v1/typing_indicator/{settings.SIGNAL_NUMBER}"
     data = {"recipient": uuid}
 
     async with aiohttp.ClientSession() as session:
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ async def start_typing(uuid):
             return await response.text()  # Optional: Return response content
 
 async def stop_typing(uuid):
-    url = f"http://signal:8080/v1/typing_indicator/{settings.SIGNAL_NUMBER}"
+    base = getattr(settings, "SIGNAL_HTTP_URL", "http://signal:8080").rstrip("/")
+    url = f"{base}/v1/typing_indicator/{settings.SIGNAL_NUMBER}"
     data = {"recipient": uuid}
 
     async with aiohttp.ClientSession() as session:
@@ -68,7 +69,8 @@ async def send_message_raw(recipient_uuid, text=None, attachments=[]):
     Returns:
         int | bool: Timestamp if successful, False otherwise.
     """
-    url = "http://signal:8080/v2/send"
+    base = getattr(settings, "SIGNAL_HTTP_URL", "http://signal:8080").rstrip("/")
+    url = f"{base}/v2/send"
 
     data = {
         "recipients": [recipient_uuid],
@@ -117,7 +119,8 @@ async def fetch_signal_attachment(attachment_id):
             }
             or None if the request fails.
     """
-    url = f"http://signal:8080/v1/attachments/{attachment_id}"
+    base = getattr(settings, "SIGNAL_HTTP_URL", "http://signal:8080").rstrip("/")
+    url = f"{base}/v1/attachments/{attachment_id}"
 
     try:
         async with aiohttp.ClientSession() as session:
diff --git a/core/clients/xmpp.py b/core/clients/xmpp.py
index ad5a953..c7fd767 100644
--- a/core/clients/xmpp.py
+++ b/core/clients/xmpp.py
@@ -307,9 +307,6 @@ class XMPPComponent(ComponentXMPP):
         self.log.warning("XMPP disconnected, attempting to reconnect...")
         self.connect()
 
-    def session_start(self, *args):
-        self.log.info(f"Session started: {args}")
-
     async def request_upload_slot(self, recipient, filename, content_type, size):
         """
         Requests an upload slot from XMPP for HTTP File Upload (XEP-0363).
@@ -647,5 +644,8 @@ class XMPPClient(ClientBase):
     def start(self):
         self.log.info("XMPP client starting...")
 
+        # ensure slixmpp uses the same asyncio loop as the router
+        self.client.loop = self.loop
+
         self.client.connect()
         #self.client.process()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/management/commands/ur.py b/core/management/commands/ur.py
index 18345e6..c6436a5 100644
--- a/core/management/commands/ur.py
+++ b/core/management/commands/ur.py
@@ -13,6 +13,6 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         instance = UnifiedRouter(loop)
 
-        instance.start()
+        #instance.start()
 
         instance.run()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/modules/router.py b/core/modules/router.py
index 07d69f4..a386270 100644
--- a/core/modules/router.py
+++ b/core/modules/router.py
@@ -17,14 +17,18 @@ class UnifiedRouter(object):
         self.xmpp = XMPPClient(self, loop, "xmpp")
         self.signal = SignalClient(self, loop, "signal")
 
-    def start(self):
+    def _start(self):
+        print("UR _start")
         self.xmpp.start()
         self.signal.start()
 
 
     def run(self):
         try:
-            self.xmpp.client.process()
+            #self.xmpp.client.client.process()
+            # self.xmpp.start()
+            print("IN RUN BEFORE START")
+            self._start()
             self.loop.run_forever()
         except (KeyboardInterrupt, SystemExit):
             self.log.info("Process terminating")