diff --git a/patches/meshcore/0001-Add-companion-radio-firmware-bot-command-parity.patch b/patches/meshcore/0001-Add-companion-radio-firmware-bot-command-parity.patch
index ccfd855..6d7ff21 100644
--- a/patches/meshcore/0001-Add-companion-radio-firmware-bot-command-parity.patch
+++ b/patches/meshcore/0001-Add-companion-radio-firmware-bot-command-parity.patch
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 From: cj-vana <cj@depth23.online>
 Date: Fri, 15 May 2026 11:44:21 -0600
-Subject: [PATCH 01/11] Add companion radio firmware bot command parity
+Subject: [PATCH 01/12] Add companion radio firmware bot command parity
 
 ---
  .../companion_radio/BotCommandRegistry.cpp    |  121 ++
diff --git a/patches/meshcore/0002-Harden-firmware-bot-response-coordination.patch b/patches/meshcore/0002-Harden-firmware-bot-response-coordination.patch
index 08770bc..52ecfda 100644
--- a/patches/meshcore/0002-Harden-firmware-bot-response-coordination.patch
+++ b/patches/meshcore/0002-Harden-firmware-bot-response-coordination.patch
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 From: cj-vana <cj@depth23.online>
 Date: Fri, 15 May 2026 19:58:42 -0600
-Subject: [PATCH 02/11] Harden firmware bot response coordination
+Subject: [PATCH 02/12] Harden firmware bot response coordination
 
 ---
  examples/companion_radio/BotCommands.cpp      |   2 +-
diff --git a/patches/meshcore/0003-Allow-prefixless-firmware-bot-DMs.patch b/patches/meshcore/0003-Allow-prefixless-firmware-bot-DMs.patch
index 328a4e8..a45eca3 100644
--- a/patches/meshcore/0003-Allow-prefixless-firmware-bot-DMs.patch
+++ b/patches/meshcore/0003-Allow-prefixless-firmware-bot-DMs.patch
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 From: cj-vana <cj@depth23.online>
 Date: Fri, 15 May 2026 20:09:58 -0600
-Subject: [PATCH 03/11] Allow prefixless firmware bot DMs
+Subject: [PATCH 03/12] Allow prefixless firmware bot DMs
 
 ---
  examples/companion_radio/BotPolicy.cpp | 2 +-
diff --git a/patches/meshcore/0004-Align-firmware-bot-commands-with-upstream-behavior.patch b/patches/meshcore/0004-Align-firmware-bot-commands-with-upstream-behavior.patch
index cb330e2..bdccf7c 100644
--- a/patches/meshcore/0004-Align-firmware-bot-commands-with-upstream-behavior.patch
+++ b/patches/meshcore/0004-Align-firmware-bot-commands-with-upstream-behavior.patch
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 From: cj-vana <cj@depth23.online>
 Date: Sat, 16 May 2026 04:12:02 +0000
-Subject: [PATCH 04/11] Align firmware bot commands with upstream behavior
+Subject: [PATCH 04/12] Align firmware bot commands with upstream behavior
 
 ---
  .../companion_radio/BotCommandRegistry.cpp    |  25 +-
diff --git a/patches/meshcore/0005-Add-hop-aware-bot-coordination-utility-commands-and-.patch b/patches/meshcore/0005-Add-hop-aware-bot-coordination-utility-commands-and-.patch
index ed2a6dd..4a55064 100644
--- a/patches/meshcore/0005-Add-hop-aware-bot-coordination-utility-commands-and-.patch
+++ b/patches/meshcore/0005-Add-hop-aware-bot-coordination-utility-commands-and-.patch
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 From: cj-vana <cj@depth23.online>
 Date: Sat, 16 May 2026 12:38:13 -0600
-Subject: [PATCH 05/11] Add hop-aware bot coordination, utility commands, and
+Subject: [PATCH 05/12] Add hop-aware bot coordination, utility commands, and
  bounded delays
 
 Adds new utility commands (TIME, LORA, ID, NEIGHBORS), neighbor tracking,
diff --git a/patches/meshcore/0006-Mark-bot-adverts-speed-up-initial-advert-default-con.patch b/patches/meshcore/0006-Mark-bot-adverts-speed-up-initial-advert-default-con.patch
index 917c8d3..3962ce6 100644
--- a/patches/meshcore/0006-Mark-bot-adverts-speed-up-initial-advert-default-con.patch
+++ b/patches/meshcore/0006-Mark-bot-adverts-speed-up-initial-advert-default-con.patch
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 From: cj-vana <cj@depth23.online>
 Date: Sat, 16 May 2026 18:58:28 -0600
-Subject: [PATCH 06/11] Mark bot adverts, speed up initial advert, default
+Subject: [PATCH 06/12] Mark bot adverts, speed up initial advert, default
  contacts auto-overwrite
 
 Three coordination/discoverability fixes:
diff --git a/patches/meshcore/0007-Prefix-bot-responses-with-request-token-for-inter-bo.patch b/patches/meshcore/0007-Prefix-bot-responses-with-request-token-for-inter-bo.patch
index b8e38a1..8a17b7d 100644
--- a/patches/meshcore/0007-Prefix-bot-responses-with-request-token-for-inter-bo.patch
+++ b/patches/meshcore/0007-Prefix-bot-responses-with-request-token-for-inter-bo.patch
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 From: cj-vana <cj@depth23.online>
 Date: Sat, 16 May 2026 19:33:04 -0600
-Subject: [PATCH 07/11] Prefix bot responses with request token for inter-bot
+Subject: [PATCH 07/12] Prefix bot responses with request token for inter-bot
  suppression
 
 Adds a 4-hex request token (low 16 bits of the request fingerprint) as a
diff --git a/patches/meshcore/0008-Drop-MCBOT-advert-suffix-and-auto-learn-known-bot-pa.patch b/patches/meshcore/0008-Drop-MCBOT-advert-suffix-and-auto-learn-known-bot-pa.patch
index c7a00aa..59644d7 100644
--- a/patches/meshcore/0008-Drop-MCBOT-advert-suffix-and-auto-learn-known-bot-pa.patch
+++ b/patches/meshcore/0008-Drop-MCBOT-advert-suffix-and-auto-learn-known-bot-pa.patch
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 From: cj-vana <cj@depth23.online>
 Date: Sat, 16 May 2026 19:55:36 -0600
-Subject: [PATCH 08/11] Drop [MCBOT] advert suffix and auto-learn known-bot
+Subject: [PATCH 08/12] Drop [MCBOT] advert suffix and auto-learn known-bot
  path
 
 Removes BOT_ADVERT_MARKER / writeBotAdvertName / isBotAdvertName from
diff --git a/patches/meshcore/0009-Widen-hop-step-drop-ack-prefix-from-test-response.patch b/patches/meshcore/0009-Widen-hop-step-drop-ack-prefix-from-test-response.patch
index c84174c..60af5a8 100644
--- a/patches/meshcore/0009-Widen-hop-step-drop-ack-prefix-from-test-response.patch
+++ b/patches/meshcore/0009-Widen-hop-step-drop-ack-prefix-from-test-response.patch
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 From: cj-vana <cj@depth23.online>
 Date: Sat, 16 May 2026 20:05:19 -0600
-Subject: [PATCH 09/11] Widen hop-step + drop "ack " prefix from test response
+Subject: [PATCH 09/12] Widen hop-step + drop "ack " prefix from test response
 
 Two changes:
 
diff --git a/patches/meshcore/0010-Widen-coordinator-delays-a-tiny-bit-more.patch b/patches/meshcore/0010-Widen-coordinator-delays-a-tiny-bit-more.patch
index a2ac1bc..dbfbef0 100644
--- a/patches/meshcore/0010-Widen-coordinator-delays-a-tiny-bit-more.patch
+++ b/patches/meshcore/0010-Widen-coordinator-delays-a-tiny-bit-more.patch
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 From: cj-vana <cj@depth23.online>
 Date: Sat, 16 May 2026 20:31:12 -0600
-Subject: [PATCH 10/11] Widen coordinator delays a tiny bit more
+Subject: [PATCH 10/12] Widen coordinator delays a tiny bit more
 
 ~25% bump across the main coordination knobs:
 - BOT_RESPONSE_DELAY_BASE_MILLIS   1200 -> 1500
diff --git a/patches/meshcore/0011-Auto-advert-on-startup-initial-flood-at-5s-instead-o.patch b/patches/meshcore/0011-Auto-advert-on-startup-initial-flood-at-5s-instead-o.patch
index a07fcdc..2bc399b 100644
--- a/patches/meshcore/0011-Auto-advert-on-startup-initial-flood-at-5s-instead-o.patch
+++ b/patches/meshcore/0011-Auto-advert-on-startup-initial-flood-at-5s-instead-o.patch
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 From: cj-vana <cj@depth23.online>
 Date: Sat, 16 May 2026 20:49:51 -0600
-Subject: [PATCH 11/11] Auto-advert on startup (initial flood at 5s instead of
+Subject: [PATCH 11/12] Auto-advert on startup (initial flood at 5s instead of
  120s)
 
 BOT_PREFS_INITIAL_FLOOD_ADVERT_MILLIS 120000 -> 5000. The bot now sends
diff --git a/patches/meshcore/0012-Spell-out-hops-byte-in-test-path-drop-channel-name-f.patch b/patches/meshcore/0012-Spell-out-hops-byte-in-test-path-drop-channel-name-f.patch
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40fd0a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/patches/meshcore/0012-Spell-out-hops-byte-in-test-path-drop-channel-name-f.patch
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
+From: cj-vana <cj@depth23.online>
+Date: Sat, 16 May 2026 21:32:04 -0600
+Subject: [PATCH 12/12] Spell out hops/byte in test+path; drop channel name
+ from test ack
+
+Test response (writeAckResponse):
+- before: @[user] #bot | 2h@2B SNR -1.25 | recv 21:25:45
+- after : @[user] | 2 hops, 2-byte hashes, SNR -1.25 | recv 21:25:45
+
+DMs keep the 'direct' indicator; channel responses now omit the channel
+name (redundant in-channel) for readability.
+
+Path response (executePathLike + executePathArg):
+- before: Path @[user] 6h@2B SNR -8.50 | <path>
+- after : Path @[user] 6 hops, 2-byte hashes, SNR -8.50 | <path>
+- before: Path direct zero-hop SNR 0.00
+- after : Path direct zero-hop, SNR 0.00
+
+Trace and other responses unchanged for now.
+---
+ examples/companion_radio/BotCommands.cpp | 10 +++++-----
+ examples/companion_radio/FirmwareBot.cpp | 14 ++++++++------
+ 2 files changed, 13 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-)
+
+diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/BotCommands.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/BotCommands.cpp
+index 1aa4406d..198dc32f 100644
+--- a/examples/companion_radio/BotCommands.cpp
++++ b/examples/companion_radio/BotCommands.cpp
+@@ -381,15 +381,15 @@ BotCommandResult executePathLike(const BotCommandContext& context, char* output,
+   formatQuarters(context.path_snr_quarters, snr, sizeof(snr));
+   const char* target = context.response_target[0] ? context.response_target : NULL;
+   if (context.path_hash_count == 0 || context.path_len == 0) {
+-    if (target) return writeFormatted(output, output_len, "%s @[%s] direct zero-hop SNR %s", label, target, snr);
+-    return writeFormatted(output, output_len, "%s direct zero-hop SNR %s", label, snr);
++    if (target) return writeFormatted(output, output_len, "%s @[%s] direct zero-hop, SNR %s", label, target, snr);
++    return writeFormatted(output, output_len, "%s direct zero-hop, SNR %s", label, snr);
+   }
+   if (!context.path) return writeFormatted(output, output_len, "%s unavailable", label);
+ 
+   int written = target
+-                    ? snprintf(output, output_len, "%s @[%s] %uh@%uB SNR %s | ", label, target,
++                    ? snprintf(output, output_len, "%s @[%s] %u hops, %u-byte hashes, SNR %s | ", label, target,
+                                (unsigned)context.path_hash_count, (unsigned)context.path_hash_size, snr)
+-                    : snprintf(output, output_len, "%s %uh@%uB SNR %s | ", label,
++                    : snprintf(output, output_len, "%s %u hops, %u-byte hashes, SNR %s | ", label,
+                                (unsigned)context.path_hash_count, (unsigned)context.path_hash_size, snr);
+   if (written < 0) return makeResult(BOT_COMMAND_RESULT_NO_SPACE, 0);
+   size_t pos = (size_t)written;
+@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ BotCommandResult executePathArg(const BotCommand& command, const BotCommandConte
+   ParsedPathArg path;
+   if (!parsePathArgument(command.args, command.args_len, context.path_hash_size, &path)) return writeText(output, output_len, "Usage: path [path]");
+   if (!output || output_len == 0) return makeResult(BOT_COMMAND_RESULT_NO_SPACE, 0);
+-  int written = snprintf(output, output_len, "Path %uh@%uB | ", (unsigned)path.hash_count, (unsigned)path.hash_size);
++  int written = snprintf(output, output_len, "Path %u hops, %u-byte hashes | ", (unsigned)path.hash_count, (unsigned)path.hash_size);
+   if (written < 0) return makeResult(BOT_COMMAND_RESULT_NO_SPACE, 0);
+   size_t pos = (size_t)written;
+   appendPathHops(output, output_len, &pos, path.bytes, path.hash_size, path.hash_count);
+diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/FirmwareBot.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/FirmwareBot.cpp
+index e228b7c8..afd44d41 100644
+--- a/examples/companion_radio/FirmwareBot.cpp
++++ b/examples/companion_radio/FirmwareBot.cpp
+@@ -319,10 +319,12 @@ BotWriteResult writeAckResponse(const BotMessage& message, const BotCommand& com
+   if (!output || output_len == 0) return BOT_WRITE_NO_SPACE;
+ 
+   const char* sender = message.sender_name[0] ? message.sender_name : "unknown";
+-  const char* connection = message.channel_kind == BOT_CHANNEL_DM
+-                                ? "direct"
+-                                : (message.channel_name[0] ? message.channel_name : "channel");
+-  int n = snprintf(output, output_len, "@[%s] %s", sender, connection);
++  int n;
++  if (message.channel_kind == BOT_CHANNEL_DM) {
++    n = snprintf(output, output_len, "@[%s] direct", sender);
++  } else {
++    n = snprintf(output, output_len, "@[%s]", sender);
++  }
+   if (n < 0) {
+     output[0] = 0;
+     return BOT_WRITE_NO_SPACE;
+@@ -337,9 +339,9 @@ BotWriteResult writeAckResponse(const BotMessage& message, const BotCommand& com
+   char path_block[40];
+   int path_n;
+   if (message.path_hash_count == 0 || message.path_hash_size == 0) {
+-    path_n = snprintf(path_block, sizeof(path_block), " | 0h SNR %s%d.%02d", sign, value / 4, (value % 4) * 25);
++    path_n = snprintf(path_block, sizeof(path_block), " | 0 hops, SNR %s%d.%02d", sign, value / 4, (value % 4) * 25);
+   } else {
+-    path_n = snprintf(path_block, sizeof(path_block), " | %uh@%uB SNR %s%d.%02d",
++    path_n = snprintf(path_block, sizeof(path_block), " | %u hops, %u-byte hashes, SNR %s%d.%02d",
+                       (unsigned)message.path_hash_count, (unsigned)message.path_hash_size, sign, value / 4,
+                       (value % 4) * 25);
+   }
diff --git a/tests/firmware_bot/test_firmware_bot.cpp b/tests/firmware_bot/test_firmware_bot.cpp
index 2d59b76..eea66c5 100644
--- a/tests/firmware_bot/test_firmware_bot.cpp
+++ b/tests/firmware_bot/test_firmware_bot.cpp
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ static void test_ack_response_format() {
   char out[BOT_MAX_RESPONSE_LEN + 1];
   size_t written = 0;
   assert(FirmwareBot::writeAckResponse(message, command, out, sizeof(out), &written) == BOT_WRITE_OK);
-  assert(strcmp(out, "@[alice] #bot | 0h SNR 0.00 | recv 21:25:45 | hello") == 0);
+  assert(strcmp(out, "@[alice] | 0 hops, SNR 0.00 | recv 21:25:45 | hello") == 0);
   assert(written == strlen(out));
 
   message.channel_kind = BOT_CHANNEL_DM;
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ static void test_ack_response_format() {
   message.channel_name[0] = 0;
   assert(FirmwareBot::parseCommand("!t", 2, &command));
   assert(FirmwareBot::writeAckResponse(message, command, out, sizeof(out), &written) == BOT_WRITE_OK);
-  assert(strcmp(out, "@[unknown] direct | 0h SNR 0.00 | recv 21:25:45") == 0);
+  assert(strcmp(out, "@[unknown] direct | 0 hops, SNR 0.00 | recv 21:25:45") == 0);
 
   uint8_t path[] = { 0x12, 0x34, 0xab, 0xcd };
   message.channel_kind = BOT_CHANNEL_BOT;
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ static void test_ack_response_format() {
   message.path_hash_count = 2;
   message.packet_snr_quarters = -5;
   assert(FirmwareBot::writeAckResponse(message, command, out, sizeof(out), &written) == BOT_WRITE_OK);
-  assert(strcmp(out, "@[bob] #bot | 2h@2B SNR -1.25 | recv 21:25:45") == 0);
+  assert(strcmp(out, "@[bob] | 2 hops, 2-byte hashes, SNR -1.25 | recv 21:25:45") == 0);
   assert(strstr(out, "Bot test OK") == NULL);
 
   char small[16];
@@ -799,23 +799,23 @@ static void test_path_command() {
   context.path_snr_quarters = 23;
   BotCommandResult result = BotCommands::executeCommand(command, context, out, sizeof(out));
   assert(result.code == BOT_COMMAND_RESULT_OK);
-  assert(strcmp(out, "Path 3h@2B SNR 5.75 | 1234 -> abcd -> 0001") == 0);
+  assert(strcmp(out, "Path 3 hops, 2-byte hashes, SNR 5.75 | 1234 -> abcd -> 0001") == 0);
 
   strncpy(context.response_target, "alice", sizeof(context.response_target) - 1);
   result = BotCommands::executeCommand(command, context, out, sizeof(out));
   assert(result.code == BOT_COMMAND_RESULT_OK);
-  assert(strcmp(out, "Path @[alice] 3h@2B SNR 5.75 | 1234 -> abcd -> 0001") == 0);
+  assert(strcmp(out, "Path @[alice] 3 hops, 2-byte hashes, SNR 5.75 | 1234 -> abcd -> 0001") == 0);
   context.response_target[0] = 0;
 
   assert(FirmwareBot::parseCommand("!path 1234,abcd,0001", 20, &command));
   result = BotCommands::executeCommand(command, context, out, sizeof(out));
   assert(result.code == BOT_COMMAND_RESULT_OK);
-  assert(strcmp(out, "Path 3h@2B | 1234 -> abcd -> 0001") == 0);
+  assert(strcmp(out, "Path 3 hops, 2-byte hashes | 1234 -> abcd -> 0001") == 0);
 
   assert(FirmwareBot::parseCommand("!path 1234abcd0001", 18, &command));
   result = BotCommands::executeCommand(command, context, out, sizeof(out));
   assert(result.code == BOT_COMMAND_RESULT_OK);
-  assert(strcmp(out, "Path 3h@2B | 1234 -> abcd -> 0001") == 0);
+  assert(strcmp(out, "Path 3 hops, 2-byte hashes | 1234 -> abcd -> 0001") == 0);
 
   assert(FirmwareBot::parseCommand("!path 12,34", 11, &command));
   result = BotCommands::executeCommand(command, context, out, sizeof(out));
@@ -830,7 +830,7 @@ static void test_path_command() {
   context.path_hash_size = 0;
   result = BotCommands::executeCommand(command, context, out, sizeof(out));
   assert(result.code == BOT_COMMAND_RESULT_OK);
-  assert(strcmp(out, "Path 2h@4B | 12345678 -> abcdef01") == 0);
+  assert(strcmp(out, "Path 2 hops, 4-byte hashes | 12345678 -> abcdef01") == 0);
   context.path_hash_size = 2;
 
   assert(FirmwareBot::parseCommand("!path", 5, &command));
@@ -841,17 +841,17 @@ static void test_path_command() {
   context.path_snr_quarters = 0;
   result = BotCommands::executeCommand(command, context, out, sizeof(out));
   assert(result.code == BOT_COMMAND_RESULT_OK);
-  assert(strcmp(out, "Path direct zero-hop SNR 0.00") == 0);
+  assert(strcmp(out, "Path direct zero-hop, SNR 0.00") == 0);
 
   context.path = NULL;
   result = BotCommands::executeCommand(command, context, out, sizeof(out));
   assert(result.code == BOT_COMMAND_RESULT_OK);
-  assert(strcmp(out, "Path direct zero-hop SNR 0.00") == 0);
+  assert(strcmp(out, "Path direct zero-hop, SNR 0.00") == 0);
 
   strncpy(context.response_target, "alice", sizeof(context.response_target) - 1);
   result = BotCommands::executeCommand(command, context, out, sizeof(out));
   assert(result.code == BOT_COMMAND_RESULT_OK);
-  assert(strcmp(out, "Path @[alice] direct zero-hop SNR 0.00") == 0);
+  assert(strcmp(out, "Path @[alice] direct zero-hop, SNR 0.00") == 0);
   context.response_target[0] = 0;
 
   assert(FirmwareBot::parseCommand("!tracer", 7, &command));