diff --git a/examples/data/deduped_mycelium_worker.vsh b/examples/data/deduped_mycelium_worker.vsh
index 1f49f580..9bd04f9a 100755
--- a/examples/data/deduped_mycelium_worker.vsh
+++ b/examples/data/deduped_mycelium_worker.vsh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import freeflowuniverse.herolib.data.ourdb
 mut streamer := ourdb.get_streamer(id: 'frBvtZQeqf') or {
 	ourdb.new_streamer(
 		incremental_mode: false
-		server_port:      9001 // Use different port than master
+		server_port:      9000 // Use different port than master
 		is_worker:        true
 	)!
 }
diff --git a/lib/data/ourdb/mycelium_streamer.v b/lib/data/ourdb/mycelium_streamer.v
index ebeb8b3b..3e9b9e50 100644
--- a/lib/data/ourdb/mycelium_streamer.v
+++ b/lib/data/ourdb/mycelium_streamer.v
@@ -6,14 +6,6 @@ import time
 import encoding.base64
 import json
 
-// SyncData encodes binary data as base64 string for JSON compatibility
-struct SyncData {
-pub:
-	id    u32
-	data  string // base64 encoded []u8
-	topic string = 'db_sync'
-}
-
 struct MyceliumStreamer {
 pub mut:
 	master           &OurDB            @[skip; str: skip]
@@ -112,23 +104,13 @@ pub fn (mut s MyceliumStreamer) write(record MyceliumRecordArgs) !u32 {
 	// Get updates from the beginning (id 0) to ensure complete sync
 	data := s.master.push_updates(id) or { return error('Failed to push updates due to: ${err}') }
 
-	// Create sync data
-	sync_data := SyncData{
-		id:    id
-		data:  base64.encode(data) // encode binary data directly
-		topic: 'db_sync'
-	}
-
-	// Convert to JSON
-	json_data := json.encode(sync_data)
-
 	// Broadcast to all workers
 	for worker_key, mut _ in s.workers {
 		println('Sending message to worker: ${worker_key}')
 		msg := s.mycelium_client.send_msg(
 			public_key: worker_key // destination public key
-			payload:    data.str() // message payload
-			topic:      'sync_db' // optional topic
+			payload:    base64.encode(data) // message payload
+			topic:      'db_sync' // optional topic
 		)!
 		println('Sent message ID: ${msg.id}')
 	}
@@ -146,16 +128,16 @@ pub fn (mut s MyceliumStreamer) listen() ! {
 	println('Starting to listen for messages...')
 	spawn fn [mut s] () {
 		for {
+			println('Listening for messages...')
 			// Check for updates from master
-			if msg := s.mycelium_client.receive_msg(wait: true, peek: false, topic: 'db_sync') {
-				// Decode message payload as JSON
-				sync_data := json.decode(SyncData, msg.payload) or {
-					eprintln('Failed to decode sync data JSON: ${err}')
-					continue
-				}
-
+			if msg := s.mycelium_client.receive_msg(
+				wait:  true
+				peek:  false
+				topic: 'db_sync'
+			)
+			{
 				// Decode the base64 data
-				update_data := base64.decode(sync_data.data)
+				update_data := base64.decode(msg.payload)
 				if update_data.len == 0 {
 					eprintln('Failed to decode base64 data')
 					continue
@@ -163,6 +145,7 @@ pub fn (mut s MyceliumStreamer) listen() ! {
 
 				// Find the target worker and apply updates
 				if mut worker := s.workers[msg.src_pk] {
+					println('Received update from worker: ${msg.src_pk}')
 					worker.sync_updates(update_data) or {
 						eprintln('Failed to sync worker: ${err}')
 						continue