diff --git a/components/status_led/status_led.c b/components/status_led/status_led.c
index af593ad..5a34d7e 100644
--- a/components/status_led/status_led.c
+++ b/components/status_led/status_led.c
@@ -45,56 +45,80 @@ static bool s_is_rgb = false;
 static int s_gpio_pin = -1;
 static volatile led_state_t s_current_state = LED_STATE_NO_CONFIG;
 
+// Helper to set color safely
 static void set_color(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) {
     if (s_is_rgb && s_led_strip) {
         led_strip_set_pixel(s_led_strip, 0, r, g, b);
         led_strip_refresh(s_led_strip);
     } else if (!s_is_rgb && s_gpio_pin >= 0) {
-        // Simple LED: On if any color component is > 0
-        gpio_set_level(s_gpio_pin, (r+g+b) > 0);
+        // Simple LED logic: If any color is requested, turn ON.
+        // NOTE: If your LED is active-low (VCC->LED->Pin), invert this to !((r+g+b)>0)
+        gpio_set_level(s_gpio_pin, (r + g + b) > 0 ? 1 : 0);
     }
 }
 
 static void led_task(void *arg) {
     int toggle = 0;
+
+    // --- Startup Diagnostic Sequence ---
+    // Cycle R -> G -> B to prove hardware is working
+    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Running LED Diagnostic Sequence on GPIO %d...", s_gpio_pin);
+    set_color(50, 0, 0); // Red
+    vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(300));
+    set_color(0, 50, 0); // Green
+    vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(300));
+    set_color(0, 0, 50); // Blue
+    vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(300));
+    set_color(0, 0, 0);  // Off
+    vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(100));
+
     while (1) {
+        // Brightness set to 30-50 (out of 255) for visibility
         switch (s_current_state) {
-            case LED_STATE_NO_CONFIG: // Yellow (Solid for RGB, Blink for Single)
-                if (s_is_rgb) { set_color(20, 20, 0); vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(1000)); }
-                else { set_color(1,1,1); vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(100)); set_color(0,0,0); vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(100)); }
+            case LED_STATE_NO_CONFIG: // Yellow (Solid RGB / Blink Simple)
+                if (s_is_rgb) {
+                    set_color(40, 30, 0);
+                    vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(1000));
+                } else {
+                    set_color(1,1,1); vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(100));
+                    set_color(0,0,0); vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(100));
+                }
                 break;
-            case LED_STATE_WAITING: // Blue Blink (Searching)
+            case LED_STATE_WAITING: // Blue Blink
                 set_color(0, 0, toggle ? 50 : 0);
                 toggle = !toggle;
                 vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(500));
                 break;
-            case LED_STATE_CONNECTED: // Green Solid (Idle)
-                set_color(0, 20, 0);
+            case LED_STATE_CONNECTED: // Green Solid
+                set_color(0, 30, 0);
                 vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(1000));
                 break;
-            case LED_STATE_MONITORING: // Blue Solid (Sniffer Mode)
-                set_color(0, 0, 50);
+            case LED_STATE_MONITORING: // Cyan Solid
+                set_color(0, 30, 30);
                 vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(1000));
                 break;
-            case LED_STATE_TRANSMITTING: // Fast Purple Flash (Busy)
-                set_color(toggle ? 50 : 0, 0, toggle ? 50 : 0);
+            case LED_STATE_TRANSMITTING: // Purple Fast Flash
+                set_color(toggle ? 40 : 0, 0, toggle ? 40 : 0);
                 toggle = !toggle;
-                vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(200));
+                vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(100));
                 break;
-            case LED_STATE_TRANSMITTING_SLOW: // Slow Purple Pulse (Pacing)
-                set_color(toggle ? 50 : 0, 0, toggle ? 50 : 0);
+            case LED_STATE_TRANSMITTING_SLOW: // Purple Slow Pulse
+                set_color(toggle ? 40 : 0, 0, toggle ? 40 : 0);
                 toggle = !toggle;
-                vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(250));
+                vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(500));
                 break;
-            case LED_STATE_STALLED: // Purple Solid (Stalled)
-                set_color(50, 0, 50);
+            case LED_STATE_STALLED: // Red/Purple Solid
+                set_color(50, 0, 20);
                 vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(1000));
                 break;
-            case LED_STATE_FAILED: // Red Blink (Error)
+            case LED_STATE_FAILED: // Red Blink
                 set_color(toggle ? 50 : 0, 0, 0);
                 toggle = !toggle;
                 vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(200));
                 break;
+            default:
+                vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(100));
+                break;
         }
     }
 }
@@ -103,18 +127,19 @@ void status_led_init(int gpio_pin, bool is_rgb_strip) {
     s_gpio_pin = gpio_pin;
     s_is_rgb = is_rgb_strip;
 
-    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Initializing LED on GPIO %d (RGB=%d)", gpio_pin, is_rgb_strip);
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Initializing Status LED: GPIO=%d, Type=%s",
+             gpio_pin, is_rgb_strip ? "RGB Strip (WS2812)" : "Simple GPIO");
 
     if (s_is_rgb) {
         led_strip_config_t s_cfg = {
             .strip_gpio_num = gpio_pin,
             .max_leds = 1,
-            .led_pixel_format = LED_PIXEL_FORMAT_GRB, // Standard for WS2812
-            .led_model = LED_MODEL_WS2812,           // Specific model
+            .led_pixel_format = LED_PIXEL_FORMAT_GRB,
+            .led_model = LED_MODEL_WS2812,
             .flags.invert_out = false,
         };
         led_strip_rmt_config_t r_cfg = {
-            .resolution_hz = 10 * 1000 * 1000, // 10MHz
+            .resolution_hz = 10 * 1000 * 1000,
             .flags.with_dma = false,
         };
 
diff --git a/main/main.c b/main/main.c
index 46175fe..292ad23 100644
--- a/main/main.c
+++ b/main/main.c
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ void app_main(void) {
 
     // 4. Hardware Init
     status_led_init(RGB_LED_GPIO, HAS_RGB_LED);
+    status_led_set_state(LED_STATE_FAILED); // Force Red Blink
 #ifdef CONFIG_ESP_WIFI_CSI_ENABLED
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(csi_log_init());
     csi_mgr_init();