diff --git a/src/trx-reporting/src/aprsfi.rs b/src/trx-reporting/src/aprsfi.rs
index 6f32d8b..a9d7df6 100644
--- a/src/trx-reporting/src/aprsfi.rs
+++ b/src/trx-reporting/src/aprsfi.rs
@@ -86,9 +86,7 @@ fn format_aprs_lon(lon: f64) -> String {
 /// Uses APRS uncompressed position format (`!`) with path `TCPIP*`.
 /// The two-character `symbol` string sets the symbol-table and symbol-code
 /// (e.g. `/-` = house, `/&` = diamond/gateway).
-fn format_beacon(callsign: &str, lat: f64, lon: f64, symbol: &str) -> String {
-    let sym_table = symbol.chars().next().unwrap_or('/');
-    let sym_code = symbol.chars().nth(1).unwrap_or('-');
+fn format_beacon(callsign: &str, lat: f64, lon: f64, sym_table: char, sym_code: char) -> String {
     format!(
         "{}>APRS,TCPIP*:!{}{}{}{}\r\n",
         callsign,
@@ -126,7 +124,7 @@ pub async fn run_aprsfi_uplink(
     // Pre-build the beacon packet (None if beaconing disabled or no coords).
     let beacon_packet: Option<String> = if cfg.beacon {
         match coords {
-            Some((lat, lon)) => Some(format_beacon(&callsign, lat, lon, &cfg.beacon_symbol)),
+            Some((lat, lon)) => Some(format_beacon(&callsign, lat, lon, cfg.beacon_symbol_table, cfg.beacon_symbol_code)),
             None => {
                 warn!(
                     "APRS-IS IGate: beacon enabled but no coordinates available \
@@ -443,13 +441,13 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn beacon_format_house_symbol() {
-        let s = format_beacon("SP2SJG-10", 52.2297, 21.0122, "/-");
+        let s = format_beacon("SP2SJG-10", 52.2297, 21.0122, '/', '-');
         assert_eq!(s, "SP2SJG-10>APRS,TCPIP*:!5213.78N/02100.73E-\r\n");
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn beacon_format_southern_western() {
-        let s = format_beacon("VK2ABC-10", -33.8688, 151.2093, "/-");
+        let s = format_beacon("VK2ABC-10", -33.8688, 151.2093, '/', '-');
         assert!(s.contains('S'));
         assert!(s.contains('E'));
     }
diff --git a/src/trx-reporting/src/lib.rs b/src/trx-reporting/src/lib.rs
index 45f1dfb..f31b3b9 100644
--- a/src/trx-reporting/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/trx-reporting/src/lib.rs
@@ -54,9 +54,10 @@ pub struct AprsFiConfig {
     pub beacon: bool,
     /// How often to send a position beacon, in seconds. Default: 1200 (20 min).
     pub beacon_interval_secs: u64,
-    /// APRS symbol as a two-character string: symbol-table + symbol-code.
-    /// E.g. "/&" = diamond (gateway), "/-" = house. Default: "/-".
-    pub beacon_symbol: String,
+    /// APRS symbol table identifier: "/" = primary, "\\" = alternate.
+    pub beacon_symbol_table: char,
+    /// APRS symbol code. E.g. '-' = house, '&' = diamond/gateway, 'I' = IGate.
+    pub beacon_symbol_code: char,
     /// Beacon latitude override (decimal degrees). Falls back to [general].latitude.
     pub latitude: Option<f64>,
     /// Beacon longitude override (decimal degrees). Falls back to [general].longitude.
@@ -73,7 +74,8 @@ impl Default for AprsFiConfig {
             callsign: None,
             beacon: false,
             beacon_interval_secs: 1200,
-            beacon_symbol: "/-".to_string(),
+            beacon_symbol_table: '/',
+            beacon_symbol_code: '-',
             latitude: None,
             longitude: None,
         }