diff --git a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/led_indicator.c b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/led_indicator.c
index ae1b80da..e50741d5 100644
--- a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/led_indicator.c
+++ b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/led_indicator.c
@@ -81,6 +81,40 @@ static void led_task(void *arg)
                 led_strip_refresh(s_led_strip);
                 vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(500));
                 break;
+                
+            case LED_STATE_MMWAVE_ERROR:
+                /* Slow Blinking Yellow */
+                toggle = !toggle;
+                if (toggle) {
+                    led_strip_set_pixel(s_led_strip, 0, 100, 100, 0);
+                } else {
+                    led_strip_clear(s_led_strip);
+                }
+                led_strip_refresh(s_led_strip);
+                vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(1000));
+                break;
+
+            case LED_STATE_SWARM_ERROR:
+                /* Slow Blinking Magenta */
+                toggle = !toggle;
+                if (toggle) {
+                    led_strip_set_pixel(s_led_strip, 0, 100, 0, 100);
+                } else {
+                    led_strip_clear(s_led_strip);
+                }
+                led_strip_refresh(s_led_strip);
+                vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(1000));
+                break;
+
+            case LED_STATE_SWARM_ACTIVE:
+                /* Quick Blip Magenta */
+                led_strip_set_pixel(s_led_strip, 0, 100, 0, 100);
+                led_strip_refresh(s_led_strip);
+                vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(100));
+                led_strip_clear(s_led_strip);
+                led_strip_refresh(s_led_strip);
+                s_current_state = LED_STATE_CONNECTED;
+                break;
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/led_indicator.h b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/led_indicator.h
index d868086f..dcedb6d1 100644
--- a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/led_indicator.h
+++ b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/led_indicator.h
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ typedef enum {
     LED_STATE_CONNECTED,
     LED_STATE_WIFI_ERROR,
     LED_STATE_MOCK_MODE,
+    LED_STATE_MMWAVE_ERROR,
+    LED_STATE_SWARM_ERROR,
+    LED_STATE_SWARM_ACTIVE,
 } led_indicator_state_t;
 
 /**
diff --git a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/main.c b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/main.c
index 63ca4cbd..779cb60f 100644
--- a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/main.c
+++ b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/main.c
@@ -291,8 +291,11 @@ void app_main(void)
             ESP_LOGI(TAG, "mmWave sensor: %s (caps=0x%04x)",
                      mmwave_type_name(mw.type), mw.capabilities);
         }
-    } else {
+    } else if (mmwave_ret == ESP_ERR_NOT_FOUND) {
         ESP_LOGI(TAG, "No mmWave sensor detected (CSI-only mode)");
+    } else {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "mmWave sensor init error: %s", esp_err_to_name(mmwave_ret));
+        led_indicator_set_state(LED_STATE_MMWAVE_ERROR);
     }
 
     /* ADR-066: Initialize swarm bridge to Cognitum Seed (if configured). */
diff --git a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/swarm_bridge.c b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/swarm_bridge.c
index b6b485b2..deeb5d68 100644
--- a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/swarm_bridge.c
+++ b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/swarm_bridge.c
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include "esp_app_desc.h"
 #include "esp_netif.h"
 #include "esp_http_client.h"
+#include "led_indicator.h"
 
 static const char *TAG = "swarm";
 
@@ -233,6 +234,7 @@ static void swarm_task(void *arg)
     /* Get firmware version string. */
     const esp_app_desc_t *app = esp_app_get_description();
     const char *fw_ver = app ? app->version : "unknown";
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Firmware version: %s", fw_ver);
 
     /* Get local IP. */
     char ip_str[16];
@@ -251,8 +253,10 @@ static void swarm_task(void *arg)
         if (swarm_post_json(client, json, len) == ESP_OK) {
             s_cnt_regs++;
             ESP_LOGI(TAG, "registered node %u with seed (id=%lu)", s_node_id, (unsigned long)reg_id);
+            led_indicator_set_state(LED_STATE_SWARM_ACTIVE);
         } else {
             ESP_LOGW(TAG, "registration failed — will retry on next heartbeat");
+            led_indicator_set_state(LED_STATE_SWARM_ERROR);
         }
     }
 
@@ -278,15 +282,12 @@ static void swarm_task(void *arg)
         xSemaphoreGive(s_mutex);
 
         uint32_t uptime_s = (uint32_t)(esp_timer_get_time() / 1000000ULL);
-        uint32_t free_heap = esp_get_free_heap_size();
         uint32_t ts = (uint32_t)(esp_timer_get_time() / 1000ULL);
 
         /* ---- Heartbeat ---- */
         if ((now - last_heartbeat) >= pdMS_TO_TICKS(s_cfg.heartbeat_sec * 1000U)) {
             last_heartbeat = now;
 
-            bool presence = vit_valid && (vit.flags & 0x01);
-
             /* Heartbeat ID: node_id * 1000000 + 100000 + ts_sec */
             uint32_t hb_id = (uint32_t)s_node_id * 1000000U + 100000U + (uptime_s % 100000U);
             char json[SWARM_JSON_BUF];
@@ -297,6 +298,9 @@ static void swarm_task(void *arg)
 
             if (swarm_post_json(client, json, len) == ESP_OK) {
                 s_cnt_heartbeats++;
+                led_indicator_set_state(LED_STATE_SWARM_ACTIVE);
+            } else {
+                led_indicator_set_state(LED_STATE_SWARM_ERROR);
             }
         }
 
@@ -316,6 +320,9 @@ static void swarm_task(void *arg)
 
                 if (swarm_post_json(client, json, len) == ESP_OK) {
                     s_cnt_ingests++;
+                    led_indicator_set_state(LED_STATE_SWARM_ACTIVE);
+                } else {
+                    led_indicator_set_state(LED_STATE_SWARM_ERROR);
                 }
             }
         }