diff --git a/app/fanout/community_mqtt.py b/app/fanout/community_mqtt.py
index 2d616a8..1c8228d 100644
--- a/app/fanout/community_mqtt.py
+++ b/app/fanout/community_mqtt.py
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ def _get_client_version() -> str:
 class CommunityMqttPublisher(BaseMqttPublisher):
     """Manages the community MQTT connection and publishes raw packets."""
 
-    _backoff_max = 60
+    _backoff_max = 3600
     _log_prefix = "Community MQTT"
     _not_configured_timeout: float | None = 30
 
diff --git a/app/fanout/mqtt.py b/app/fanout/mqtt.py
index c2965a4..605740c 100644
--- a/app/fanout/mqtt.py
+++ b/app/fanout/mqtt.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class PrivateMqttSettings(Protocol):
 class MqttPublisher(BaseMqttPublisher):
     """Manages an MQTT connection and publishes mesh network events."""
 
-    _backoff_max = 30
+    _backoff_max = 3600
     _log_prefix = "MQTT"
 
     def _is_configured(self) -> bool:
diff --git a/app/fanout/mqtt_base.py b/app/fanout/mqtt_base.py
index 4c7fc99..61ec2dd 100644
--- a/app/fanout/mqtt_base.py
+++ b/app/fanout/mqtt_base.py
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ class BaseMqttPublisher(ABC):
         self.connected: bool = False
         self.integration_name: str = ""
         self._last_error: str | None = None
+        self._error_notified: bool = False
 
     def set_integration_name(self, name: str) -> None:
         """Attach the configured fanout-module name for operator-facing logs."""
@@ -104,6 +105,7 @@ class BaseMqttPublisher(ABC):
         self._client = None
         self.connected = False
         self._last_error = None
+        self._error_notified = False
 
     async def restart(self, settings: object) -> None:
         """Called when settings change — stop + start."""
@@ -217,6 +219,7 @@ class BaseMqttPublisher(ABC):
                     self._client = client
                     self.connected = True
                     self._last_error = None
+                    self._error_notified = False
                     backoff = _BACKOFF_MIN
 
                     title, detail = self._on_connected(settings)
@@ -281,9 +284,11 @@ class BaseMqttPublisher(ABC):
                     )
                     return
 
-                title, detail = self._on_error()
-                broadcast_error(title, detail)
-                _broadcast_health()
+                if not self._error_notified:
+                    title, detail = self._on_error()
+                    broadcast_error(title, detail)
+                    _broadcast_health()
+                    self._error_notified = True
                 logger.warning(
                     "%s connection error. This is usually transient network noise; "
                     "if it self-resolves, it is generally not a concern: %s "
diff --git a/app/fanout/mqtt_ha.py b/app/fanout/mqtt_ha.py
index 7df8af8..093401d 100644
--- a/app/fanout/mqtt_ha.py
+++ b/app/fanout/mqtt_ha.py
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ def _device_payload(
 class _HaMqttPublisher(BaseMqttPublisher):
     """Thin MQTT lifecycle wrapper for the HA discovery module."""
 
-    _backoff_max = 30
+    _backoff_max = 3600
     _log_prefix = "HA-MQTT"
 
     def __init__(self) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/test_mqtt.py b/tests/test_mqtt.py
index 15b6b6d..1da4365 100644
--- a/tests/test_mqtt.py
+++ b/tests/test_mqtt.py
@@ -342,8 +342,8 @@ class TestConnectionLoop:
         assert sleep_args[0] == _BACKOFF_MIN
         assert sleep_args[1] == _BACKOFF_MIN * 2
         assert sleep_args[2] == _BACKOFF_MIN * 4
-        # Fourth should be capped at _backoff_max (5*8=40 > 30)
-        assert sleep_args[3] == MqttPublisher._backoff_max
+        # Fourth is still doubling (5*8=40), not yet at _backoff_max
+        assert sleep_args[3] == _BACKOFF_MIN * 8
 
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_waits_for_settings_when_unconfigured(self):