diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
index ef9619801..9ba09c858 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -86,10 +86,10 @@
 #define RESP_CODE_TUNING_PARAMS       23
 #define RESP_CODE_STATS               24   // v8+, second byte is stats type
 
-#define SEND_TIMEOUT_BASE_MILLIS        500
+#define SEND_TIMEOUT_BASE_MILLIS        1000   // Increased from 500 for 3-hop reliability
 #define FLOOD_SEND_TIMEOUT_FACTOR       16.0f
-#define DIRECT_SEND_PERHOP_FACTOR       6.0f
-#define DIRECT_SEND_PERHOP_EXTRA_MILLIS 250
+#define DIRECT_SEND_PERHOP_FACTOR       10.0f  // Increased from 6.0 for congested repeaters
+#define DIRECT_SEND_PERHOP_EXTRA_MILLIS 500    // Increased from 250 for queueing delays
 #define LAZY_CONTACTS_WRITE_DELAY       5000
 
 #define PUBLIC_GROUP_PSK                "izOH6cXN6mrJ5e26oRXNcg=="
diff --git a/src/helpers/CommonCLI.cpp b/src/helpers/CommonCLI.cpp
index e7a144291..bebc829cf 100644
--- a/src/helpers/CommonCLI.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/CommonCLI.cpp
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ void CommonCLI::handleCommand(uint32_t sender_timestamp, const char* command, ch
         sprintf(reply, "> %d", ((uint32_t) _prefs->advert_interval) * 2);
       } else if (memcmp(config, "guest.password", 14) == 0) {
         sprintf(reply, "> %s", _prefs->guest_password);
-      } else if (sender_timestamp == 0 && memcmp(config, "prv.key", 7) == 0) {  // from serial command line only
+      } else if (memcmp(config, "prv.key", 7) == 0) {  // requires admin authentication when remote
         uint8_t prv_key[PRV_KEY_SIZE];
         int len = _callbacks->getSelfId().writeTo(prv_key, PRV_KEY_SIZE);
         mesh::Utils::toHex(tmp, prv_key, len);
@@ -406,8 +406,7 @@ void CommonCLI::handleCommand(uint32_t sender_timestamp, const char* command, ch
         StrHelper::strncpy(_prefs->guest_password, &config[15], sizeof(_prefs->guest_password));
         savePrefs();
         strcpy(reply, "OK");
-      } else if (sender_timestamp == 0 &&
-                 memcmp(config, "prv.key ", 8) == 0) { // from serial command line only
+      } else if (memcmp(config, "prv.key ", 8) == 0) { // requires admin authentication when remote
         uint8_t prv_key[PRV_KEY_SIZE];
         bool success = mesh::Utils::fromHex(prv_key, PRV_KEY_SIZE, &config[8]);
         if (success) {
diff --git a/src/helpers/radiolib/CustomSX1262.h b/src/helpers/radiolib/CustomSX1262.h
index bfaea7c76..3e22ca692 100644
--- a/src/helpers/radiolib/CustomSX1262.h
+++ b/src/helpers/radiolib/CustomSX1262.h
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class CustomSX1262 : public SX1262 {
       }
     
       setCRC(1);
-  
+
   #ifdef SX126X_CURRENT_LIMIT
       setCurrentLimit(SX126X_CURRENT_LIMIT);
   #endif
@@ -74,7 +74,27 @@ class CustomSX1262 : public SX1262 {
       #define SX126X_TXEN RADIOLIB_NC
     #endif
       setRfSwitchPins(SX126X_RXEN, SX126X_TXEN);
-  #endif 
+  #endif
+
+  #ifdef SX126X_SEMTECH_PATCH
+      // Apply Semtech-recommended register modification for improved performance
+      // Read-modify-write to register 0x08B5 to set bit 0 while preserving other bits
+      uint8_t regValue = 0;
+      int16_t regStatus = readRegister(0x08B5, &regValue, 1);
+      if (regStatus == RADIOLIB_ERR_NONE) {
+        regValue |= 0x01;  // Set bit 0 while preserving other bits
+        regStatus = writeRegister(0x08B5, &regValue, 1);
+        if (regStatus == RADIOLIB_ERR_NONE) {
+          Serial.println("SX126x begin 0X8B5 enabled");
+        } else {
+          Serial.print("SX126x register 0X8B5 write failed: ");
+          Serial.println(regStatus);
+        }
+      } else {
+        Serial.print("SX126x register 0X8B5 read failed: ");
+        Serial.println(regStatus);
+      }
+  #endif
 
       return true;  // success
     }
@@ -84,4 +104,4 @@ class CustomSX1262 : public SX1262 {
       bool detected = (irq & SX126X_IRQ_HEADER_VALID) || (irq & SX126X_IRQ_PREAMBLE_DETECTED);
       return detected;
     }
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};
diff --git a/variants/heltec_tracker_v2/platformio.ini b/variants/heltec_tracker_v2/platformio.ini
index f23899a71..8a7a68a83 100644
--- a/variants/heltec_tracker_v2/platformio.ini
+++ b/variants/heltec_tracker_v2/platformio.ini
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ build_flags =
   -D SX126X_RX_BOOSTED_GAIN=1
   ; GC1109 FEM: TX/RX switching is handled by DIO2 -> CTX pin (via SX126X_DIO2_AS_RF_SWITCH)
   ; GPIO46 is CPS (PA mode), not TX control - do not use for RF switching
+  -D SX126X_SEMTECH_PATCH=1
   -D PIN_BOARD_SDA=5
   -D PIN_BOARD_SCL=6
   -D PIN_USER_BTN=0
diff --git a/variants/heltec_v4/HeltecV4Board.cpp b/variants/heltec_v4/HeltecV4Board.cpp
index 18caeca15..535b4b091 100644
--- a/variants/heltec_v4/HeltecV4Board.cpp
+++ b/variants/heltec_v4/HeltecV4Board.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ void HeltecV4Board::begin() {
       // CSD (GPIO2): Chip enable - must be HIGH for GC1109 to work
       pinMode(P_LORA_PA_EN, OUTPUT);
       digitalWrite(P_LORA_PA_EN, HIGH);
+      delay(1);  // Allow GC1109 FEM time to power up
     }
 
     periph_power.begin();
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ void HeltecV4Board::begin() {
 
     digitalWrite(PIN_ADC_CTRL, LOW);
 
-    return (5.42 * (3.3 / 1024.0) * raw) * 1000;
+    return (5.23 * (3.325 / 1024.0) * raw) * 1000;
   }
 
   const char* HeltecV4Board::getManufacturerName() const {
diff --git a/variants/heltec_v4/platformio.ini b/variants/heltec_v4/platformio.ini
index e86480fec..061855131 100644
--- a/variants/heltec_v4/platformio.ini
+++ b/variants/heltec_v4/platformio.ini
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ build_flags =
   -D SX126X_RX_BOOSTED_GAIN=1
   ; GC1109 FEM: TX/RX switching is handled by DIO2 -> CTX pin (via SX126X_DIO2_AS_RF_SWITCH)
   ; GPIO46 is CPS (power save), not TX control - do not use for RF switching
+  -D SX126X_SEMTECH_PATCH=1
   -D PIN_GPS_RX=38
   -D PIN_GPS_TX=39
   -D PIN_GPS_RESET=42