diff --git a/coordinator/config.lua b/coordinator/config.lua
index c293fa2..a29bb46 100644
--- a/coordinator/config.lua
+++ b/coordinator/config.lua
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ config.SCADA_SV_LISTEN = 16101
 config.SCADA_API_LISTEN = 16200
 -- max trusted modem message distance (0 to disable check)
 config.TRUSTED_RANGE = 0
--- time in seconds (>= 1) before assuming a remote device is no longer active
+-- time in seconds (>= 2) before assuming a remote device is no longer active
 config.COMMS_TIMEOUT = 5
 
 -- expected number of reactor units, used only to require that number of unit monitors
diff --git a/coordinator/startup.lua b/coordinator/startup.lua
index 46f907a..8aa0d79 100644
--- a/coordinator/startup.lua
+++ b/coordinator/startup.lua
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ cfv.assert_port(config.SCADA_SV_LISTEN)
 cfv.assert_port(config.SCADA_API_LISTEN)
 cfv.assert_type_int(config.TRUSTED_RANGE)
 cfv.assert_type_num(config.COMMS_TIMEOUT)
-cfv.assert_min(config.COMMS_TIMEOUT, 1)
+cfv.assert_min(config.COMMS_TIMEOUT, 2)
 cfv.assert_type_int(config.NUM_UNITS)
 cfv.assert_type_bool(config.RECOLOR)
 cfv.assert_type_num(config.SOUNDER_VOLUME)
diff --git a/reactor-plc/config.lua b/reactor-plc/config.lua
index adc9b35..f3cf0f6 100644
--- a/reactor-plc/config.lua
+++ b/reactor-plc/config.lua
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ config.SERVER_PORT = 16000
 config.LISTEN_PORT = 14001
 -- max trusted modem message distance (0 to disable check)
 config.TRUSTED_RANGE = 0
--- time in seconds (>= 1) before assuming a remote device is no longer active
+-- time in seconds (>= 2) before assuming a remote device is no longer active
 config.COMMS_TIMEOUT = 5
 
 -- log path
diff --git a/reactor-plc/startup.lua b/reactor-plc/startup.lua
index e78b1b5..584afbe 100644
--- a/reactor-plc/startup.lua
+++ b/reactor-plc/startup.lua
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ cfv.assert_port(config.SERVER_PORT)
 cfv.assert_port(config.LISTEN_PORT)
 cfv.assert_type_int(config.TRUSTED_RANGE)
 cfv.assert_type_num(config.COMMS_TIMEOUT)
-cfv.assert_min(config.COMMS_TIMEOUT, 1)
+cfv.assert_min(config.COMMS_TIMEOUT, 2)
 cfv.assert_type_str(config.LOG_PATH)
 cfv.assert_type_int(config.LOG_MODE)
 
diff --git a/rtu/config.lua b/rtu/config.lua
index afd94cf..96b26ee 100644
--- a/rtu/config.lua
+++ b/rtu/config.lua
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ config.SERVER_PORT = 16000
 config.LISTEN_PORT = 15001
 -- max trusted modem message distance (< 1 to disable check)
 config.TRUSTED_RANGE = 0
--- time in seconds (>= 1) before assuming a remote device is no longer active
+-- time in seconds (>= 2) before assuming a remote device is no longer active
 config.COMMS_TIMEOUT = 5
 
 -- log path
diff --git a/rtu/startup.lua b/rtu/startup.lua
index d036203..76203a3 100644
--- a/rtu/startup.lua
+++ b/rtu/startup.lua
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ cfv.assert_port(config.SERVER_PORT)
 cfv.assert_port(config.LISTEN_PORT)
 cfv.assert_type_int(config.TRUSTED_RANGE)
 cfv.assert_type_num(config.COMMS_TIMEOUT)
-cfv.assert_min(config.COMMS_TIMEOUT, 1)
+cfv.assert_min(config.COMMS_TIMEOUT, 2)
 cfv.assert_type_str(config.LOG_PATH)
 cfv.assert_type_int(config.LOG_MODE)
 cfv.assert_type_table(config.RTU_DEVICES)
diff --git a/supervisor/config.lua b/supervisor/config.lua
index bbf4175..47d530d 100644
--- a/supervisor/config.lua
+++ b/supervisor/config.lua
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ config.SCADA_DEV_LISTEN = 16000
 config.SCADA_SV_LISTEN = 16100
 -- max trusted modem message distance (0 to disable check)
 config.TRUSTED_RANGE = 0
--- time in seconds (>= 1) before assuming a remote device is no longer active
+-- time in seconds (>= 2) before assuming a remote device is no longer active
 config.PLC_TIMEOUT = 5
 config.RTU_TIMEOUT = 5
 config.CRD_TIMEOUT = 5
diff --git a/supervisor/startup.lua b/supervisor/startup.lua
index 037b62b..e04f6b6 100644
--- a/supervisor/startup.lua
+++ b/supervisor/startup.lua
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ cfv.assert_port(config.SCADA_DEV_LISTEN)
 cfv.assert_port(config.SCADA_SV_LISTEN)
 cfv.assert_type_int(config.TRUSTED_RANGE)
 cfv.assert_type_num(config.PLC_TIMEOUT)
-cfv.assert_min(config.PLC_TIMEOUT, 1)
+cfv.assert_min(config.PLC_TIMEOUT, 2)
 cfv.assert_type_num(config.RTU_TIMEOUT)
-cfv.assert_min(config.RTU_TIMEOUT, 1)
+cfv.assert_min(config.RTU_TIMEOUT, 2)
 cfv.assert_type_num(config.CRD_TIMEOUT)
-cfv.assert_min(config.CRD_TIMEOUT, 1)
+cfv.assert_min(config.CRD_TIMEOUT, 2)
 cfv.assert_type_int(config.NUM_REACTORS)
 cfv.assert_type_table(config.REACTOR_COOLING)
 cfv.assert_type_str(config.LOG_PATH)