diff --git a/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp
index 4265e1cd..c193f329 100644
--- a/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@
   #define TXT_ACK_DELAY 200
 #endif
 
+#define FIRMWARE_VER_LEVEL       1
+
 #define REQ_TYPE_GET_STATUS         0x01 // same as _GET_STATS
 #define REQ_TYPE_KEEP_ALIVE         0x02
 #define REQ_TYPE_GET_TELEMETRY_DATA 0x03
@@ -119,7 +121,7 @@ uint8_t MyMesh::handleLoginReq(const mesh::Identity& sender, const uint8_t* secr
   uint32_t now = getRTCClock()->getCurrentTimeUnique();
   memcpy(reply_data, &now, 4);   // response packets always prefixed with timestamp
   reply_data[4] = RESP_SERVER_LOGIN_OK;
-  reply_data[5] = 0;  // NEW: recommended keep-alive interval (secs / 16)
+  reply_data[5] = FIRMWARE_VER_LEVEL;  // Legacy: was recommended keep-alive interval (secs / 16)
   reply_data[6] = client->isAdmin() ? 1 : 0;
   reply_data[7] = client->permissions;
   getRNG()->random(&reply_data[8], 4);   // random blob to help packet-hash uniqueness
diff --git a/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp
index 24a3a32f..dc3a66a9 100644
--- a/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 #define POST_SYNC_DELAY_SECS        6
 
-#define CLIENT_KEEP_ALIVE_SECS      0 // Now Disabled (was 128)
+#define FIRMWARE_VER_LEVEL       1
 
 #define REQ_TYPE_GET_STATUS         0x01 // same as _GET_STATS
 #define REQ_TYPE_KEEP_ALIVE         0x02
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ void MyMesh::onAnonDataRecv(mesh::Packet *packet, const uint8_t *secret, const m
     memcpy(reply_data, &now, 4); // response packets always prefixed with timestamp
     // TODO: maybe reply with count of messages waiting to be synced for THIS client?
     reply_data[4] = RESP_SERVER_LOGIN_OK;
-    reply_data[5] = (CLIENT_KEEP_ALIVE_SECS >> 4); // NEW: recommended keep-alive interval (secs / 16)
+    reply_data[5] = FIRMWARE_VER_LEVEL; // Legacy: was recommended keep-alive interval (secs / 16)
     reply_data[6] = (client->isAdmin() ? 1 : (client->permissions == 0 ? 2 : 0));
     // LEGACY: reply_data[7] = getUnsyncedCount(client);
     reply_data[7] = client->permissions; // NEW
diff --git a/examples/simple_sensor/SensorMesh.cpp b/examples/simple_sensor/SensorMesh.cpp
index 0508713c..157b2fb3 100644
--- a/examples/simple_sensor/SensorMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_sensor/SensorMesh.cpp
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@
 
 /* ------------------------------ Code -------------------------------- */
 
+#define FIRMWARE_VER_LEVEL       1
+
 #define REQ_TYPE_LOGIN               0x00
 #define REQ_TYPE_GET_STATUS          0x01
 #define REQ_TYPE_KEEP_ALIVE          0x02
@@ -364,7 +366,7 @@ uint8_t SensorMesh::handleLoginReq(const mesh::Identity& sender, const uint8_t*
   uint32_t now = getRTCClock()->getCurrentTimeUnique();
   memcpy(reply_data, &now, 4);   // response packets always prefixed with timestamp
   reply_data[4] = RESP_SERVER_LOGIN_OK;
-  reply_data[5] = 0;  // NEW: recommended keep-alive interval (secs / 16)
+  reply_data[5] = FIRMWARE_VER_LEVEL;
   reply_data[6] = client->isAdmin() ? 1 : 0;
   reply_data[7] = client->permissions;
   getRNG()->random(&reply_data[8], 4);   // random blob to help packet-hash uniqueness