diff --git a/openpilot/starpilot/galaxy/developer_settings.py b/openpilot/starpilot/galaxy/developer_settings.py
index f6e3407634..2613048d0e 100644
--- a/openpilot/starpilot/galaxy/developer_settings.py
+++ b/openpilot/starpilot/galaxy/developer_settings.py
@@ -73,12 +73,11 @@ class DeveloperSettingsOwner:
       rows.append(FeatureRow(STARPORT_EXPERIMENTS_KEY, "Try experimental fixes", "On" if experiments else "Off",
                              b"1" if experiments else b"0", ("Off", "On"), available=parked,
                              reason=STARPORT_EXPERIMENTS_DESCRIPTION if parked else held, default_value="Off"))
-      for rule in head_unit_fixes.RULES:
-        if rule.status == head_unit_fixes.EXPERIMENTAL:
-          on = rule.id in chosen
-          rows.append(FeatureRow(STARPORT_EXPERIMENT_PREFIX + rule.id, rule.label, "On" if on else "Off", b"1" if on else b"0",
-                                 ("Off", "On"), available=parked, default_value="Off",
-                                 reason=f"Experimental. {rule.evidence.failure} Applies from the next StarPort connection." if parked else held))
+      for entry in head_unit_fixes.experimental_entries():
+        on = entry["id"] in chosen
+        rows.append(FeatureRow(STARPORT_EXPERIMENT_PREFIX + entry["id"], entry["label"], "On" if on else "Off", b"1" if on else b"0",
+                               ("Off", "On"), available=parked, default_value="Off",
+                               reason=f"Experimental. {entry['evidence']} Applies from the next StarPort connection." if parked else held))
     return tuple(rows)
 
   def _driver_monitoring_reset_allowed(self):
@@ -172,7 +171,7 @@ class DeveloperSettingsOwner:
   def _apply_experiment_rule(self, request):
     rule_id = request.key.removeprefix(STARPORT_EXPERIMENT_PREFIX)
     status, client = self._starport_status(), self.starport
-    if status is None or client is None or rule_id not in head_unit_fixes.rule_ids() or not self.authorized():
+    if status is None or client is None or rule_id not in head_unit_fixes.experiment_ids() or not self.authorized():
       return False
     on = rule_id in (status.get("head_unit_experiment_rules") or ())
     if request.value not in ("Off", "On") or request.expected != (b"1" if on else b"0"):
diff --git a/openpilot/starpilot/galaxy/tests/test_developer_settings.py b/openpilot/starpilot/galaxy/tests/test_developer_settings.py
index e62039f8c5..dabeea1d9e 100644
--- a/openpilot/starpilot/galaxy/tests/test_developer_settings.py
+++ b/openpilot/starpilot/galaxy/tests/test_developer_settings.py
@@ -273,6 +273,11 @@ class DeveloperSettingsTest(unittest.TestCase):
     self.assertFalse(owner.apply(FeatureSettingsRequest(rule_key, b"0", "On")))  # stale view
     self.assertTrue(owner.apply(FeatureSettingsRequest(rule_key, b"1", "Off")))
     self.assertEqual(service.rules, [])
+    mavlou = STARPORT_EXPERIMENT_PREFIX + "phone_ping"
+    self.assertEqual(rows[keys.index(mavlou)].value, "Off")
+    self.assertTrue(owner.apply(FeatureSettingsRequest(mavlou, b"0", "On")))
+    self.assertEqual(service.rules, ["phone_ping"])
+    self.assertTrue(owner.apply(FeatureSettingsRequest(mavlou, b"1", "Off")))
     self.assertFalse(owner.apply(FeatureSettingsRequest(STARPORT_EXPERIMENT_PREFIX + "unknown", b"0", "On")))
     self.parked = False
     self.assertFalse(owner.apply(FeatureSettingsRequest(rule_key, b"0", "On")))
diff --git a/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/bootstrap.py b/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/bootstrap.py
index 44db90be82..6550224b3c 100644
--- a/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/bootstrap.py
+++ b/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/bootstrap.py
@@ -81,7 +81,8 @@ EXPERIMENTS = {
   "start_response_first": ("Answer start request first", {"start_response_first"}),
   "version_endpoint": ("Use version endpoint", {"version_endpoint"}),
   "phone_ping": ("Ping like a phone", {"phone_ping"}),
-  "all": ("All of these", {"start_response_first", "version_endpoint", "phone_ping"}),
+  "all": ("All of these", {"start_response_first", "version_endpoint"}),
+  "all_with_ping": ("All of these and phone ping", {"start_response_first", "version_endpoint", "phone_ping"}),
 }
 # Frames that carry credentials or the vehicle identifier are never dumped as hex.
 HEX_LOG_SKIP = (WIFI_INFO_RESPONSE, WIFI_SETUP_INFO, WIFI_VERSION_REQUEST)
diff --git a/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/head_unit_fixes.py b/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/head_unit_fixes.py
index e973c1e7a6..5d080113c6 100644
--- a/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/head_unit_fixes.py
+++ b/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/head_unit_fixes.py
@@ -66,10 +66,45 @@ RULES: tuple[Rule, ...] = (
 )
 
 
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class BootstrapFix:
+  """A Wi-Fi setup tweak for whichever receiver is chosen, run only when its experimental toggle is on."""
+  id: str
+  label: str
+  experiment: str                 # the bootstrap experiment it switches on
+  evidence: Evidence
+  status: str = EXPERIMENTAL
+
+
+BOOTSTRAP_FIXES: tuple[BootstrapFix, ...] = (
+  BootstrapFix(id="phone_ping", label="Dongle Wi-Fi setup: ping like a phone", experiment="phone_ping",
+               evidence=Evidence("A Mavlou dongle never sends its Wi-Fi start request to the comma. A phone pings it once a second after its version reply.",
+                                 ("2026-11-03 phone capture", "2026-11-07 sessions 5, 19, 24"), None)),
+)
+
+
 def rule_ids() -> tuple[str, ...]:
   return tuple(rule.id for rule in RULES)
 
 
+def experiment_ids() -> tuple[str, ...]:
+  return rule_ids() + tuple(fix.id for fix in BOOTSTRAP_FIXES)
+
+
+def experimental_entries() -> list[dict]:
+  """Every experimental fix the settings page lists: the car rules, then the device tweaks."""
+  return ([{"id": rule.id, "label": rule.label, "evidence": rule.evidence.failure} for rule in RULES if rule.status == EXPERIMENTAL] +
+          [{"id": fix.id, "label": fix.label, "evidence": fix.evidence.failure} for fix in BOOTSTRAP_FIXES if fix.status == EXPERIMENTAL])
+
+
+def bootstrap_experiment(config: dict) -> str:
+  """The Wi-Fi setup experiment to add, or "". Needs the master switch, the experiments switch and its own toggle."""
+  if not (config.get("head_unit_fixes", True) and config.get("head_unit_experiments")):
+    return ""
+  chosen = config.get("head_unit_experiment_rules") or []
+  return next((fix.experiment for fix in BOOTSTRAP_FIXES if fix.id in chosen), "")
+
+
 def validate_rules(rules: tuple[Rule, ...] = RULES) -> list[str]:
   """Problems that would let a rule match more than the one build it was written for."""
   problems = []
diff --git a/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/supervisor.py b/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/supervisor.py
index 98017ec891..7521370233 100644
--- a/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/supervisor.py
+++ b/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/supervisor.py
@@ -518,8 +518,7 @@ class Supervisor:
     status["head_unit_fixes"] = bool(self.config["head_unit_fixes"])
     status["head_unit_experiments"] = bool(self.config["head_unit_experiments"])
     status["head_unit_experiment_rules"] = list(self.config["head_unit_experiment_rules"])
-    status["experimental_fixes"] = [{"id": rule.id, "label": rule.label, "evidence": rule.evidence.failure}
-                                    for rule in head_unit_fixes.RULES if rule.status == head_unit_fixes.EXPERIMENTAL]
+    status["experimental_fixes"] = head_unit_fixes.experimental_entries()
     status["fix_suggestion"] = self._fix_suggestion()
     status["car_candidates"] = list(getattr(self, "_candidates", []))[:8]  # paired Android Auto devices to choose between
     status["new_setup"] = new_setup.enabled()
@@ -573,7 +572,7 @@ class Supervisor:
     self.log("head_unit_experiments_selected", enabled=bool(enabled))
 
   def set_head_unit_experiment_rule(self, rule_id: str, enabled: bool) -> bool:
-    if rule_id not in head_unit_fixes.rule_ids():
+    if rule_id not in head_unit_fixes.experiment_ids():
       return False
     with self._lock:
       rules = set(self.config["head_unit_experiment_rules"])
@@ -1647,7 +1646,7 @@ class Supervisor:
       rfcomm = self._connect_rfcomm(address, channel)
       boot = WirelessBootstrap(rfcomm, self._bootstrap_log, device_serial=config["device_name"],
                                version_status=int(config.get("version_status", 0)),
-                               experiment="all" if car_profiles.tuning(config)["bootstrap_experiments"] or strategy.experiments else "",
+                               experiment=self._bootstrap_experiment(strategy),
                                modern_reply=strategy.modern_reply, channel_override=strategy.channel_type,
                                phone_identity=strategy.phone_identity,
                                phone_address=self._adapter_address() if strategy.phone_identity else "",
@@ -2092,6 +2091,14 @@ class Supervisor:
         except Exception:
           pass
 
+  def _bootstrap_experiment(self, strategy) -> str:
+    """The Wi-Fi setup experiment for this attempt: today's choice, plus a phone-style ping when its toggle is on."""
+    base = "all" if car_profiles.tuning(self.config)["bootstrap_experiments"] or strategy.experiments else ""
+    extra = head_unit_fixes.bootstrap_experiment(self.config)
+    if not extra:
+      return base
+    return "all_with_ping" if base == "all" and extra == "phone_ping" else extra
+
   def _choose_fixes(self, head_unit: dict) -> tuple[str, ...]:
     """Called once the car has described itself: the extra channels this car gets this session, or none."""
     config = self.config
diff --git a/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/tests/test_observation.py b/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/tests/test_observation.py
index e843cf4ce5..34962ce07d 100644
--- a/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/tests/test_observation.py
+++ b/openpilot/starpilot/system/starport/tests/test_observation.py
@@ -30,3 +30,17 @@ def test_default_bootstrap_sends_no_pings_of_its_own():
   from openpilot.starpilot.system.starport.tests.test_starport import run_bootstrap
   _, _, seen, _ = run_bootstrap(version_first=True)
   assert bs.WIFI_PING_REQUEST not in seen["messages"]
+
+
+def test_unofficial_dongle_profile_and_last_rung_do_not_ping():
+  assert "phone_ping" not in bs.EXPERIMENTS["all"][1]
+
+
+def test_phone_ping_needs_every_switch():
+  from openpilot.starpilot.system.starport import head_unit_fixes as hf
+  on = {"head_unit_fixes": True, "head_unit_experiments": True, "head_unit_experiment_rules": ["phone_ping"]}
+  assert hf.bootstrap_experiment(on) == "phone_ping"
+  assert hf.bootstrap_experiment({**on, "head_unit_fixes": False}) == ""
+  assert hf.bootstrap_experiment({**on, "head_unit_experiments": False}) == ""
+  assert hf.bootstrap_experiment({**on, "head_unit_experiment_rules": []}) == ""
+  assert hf.bootstrap_experiment({"head_unit_fixes": True}) == ""