diff --git a/src/modules/SX126x/SX1262.cpp b/src/modules/SX126x/SX1262.cpp
index 33422125..fcfbb2b0 100644
--- a/src/modules/SX126x/SX1262.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/SX126x/SX1262.cpp
@@ -7,10 +7,16 @@ SX1262::SX1262(Module* mod) : SX126x(mod) {
 
 int16_t SX1262::begin(float freq, float bw, uint8_t sf, uint8_t cr, uint8_t syncWord, int8_t power, uint16_t preambleLength, float tcxoVoltage, bool useRegulatorLDO) {
   // execute common part
-  int16_t state = SX126x::begin(bw, sf, cr, syncWord, preambleLength, tcxoVoltage, useRegulatorLDO);
+  int16_t state = SX126x::begin(cr, syncWord, preambleLength, tcxoVoltage, useRegulatorLDO);
   RADIOLIB_ASSERT(state);
 
   // configure publicly accessible settings
+  state = setSpreadingFactor(sf);
+  RADIOLIB_ASSERT(state);
+
+  state = setBandwidth(bw);
+  RADIOLIB_ASSERT(state);
+
   state = setFrequency(freq);
   RADIOLIB_ASSERT(state);
 
diff --git a/src/modules/SX126x/SX1268.cpp b/src/modules/SX126x/SX1268.cpp
index dfa65430..fb6a95e0 100644
--- a/src/modules/SX126x/SX1268.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/SX126x/SX1268.cpp
@@ -7,13 +7,19 @@ SX1268::SX1268(Module* mod) : SX126x(mod) {
 
 int16_t SX1268::begin(float freq, float bw, uint8_t sf, uint8_t cr, uint8_t syncWord, int8_t power, uint16_t preambleLength, float tcxoVoltage, bool useRegulatorLDO) {
   // execute common part
-  int16_t state = SX126x::begin(bw, sf, cr, syncWord, preambleLength, tcxoVoltage, useRegulatorLDO);
+  int16_t state = SX126x::begin(cr, syncWord, preambleLength, tcxoVoltage, useRegulatorLDO);
   RADIOLIB_ASSERT(state);
 
   // configure publicly accessible settings
   state = setFrequency(freq);
   RADIOLIB_ASSERT(state);
 
+  state = setSpreadingFactor(sf);
+  RADIOLIB_ASSERT(state);
+
+  state = setBandwidth(bw);
+  RADIOLIB_ASSERT(state);
+
   state = setOutputPower(power);
   RADIOLIB_ASSERT(state);
 
diff --git a/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.cpp b/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.cpp
index a8f4b013..bfe9dba5 100644
--- a/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ Module* SX126x::getMod() {
   return(_mod);
 }
 
-int16_t SX126x::begin(float bw, uint8_t sf, uint8_t cr, uint8_t syncWord, uint16_t preambleLength, float tcxoVoltage, bool useRegulatorLDO) {
+int16_t SX126x::begin(uint8_t cr, uint8_t syncWord, uint16_t preambleLength, float tcxoVoltage, bool useRegulatorLDO) {
   // set module properties
   _mod->init();
   _mod->pinMode(_mod->getIrq(), INPUT);
@@ -17,8 +17,9 @@ int16_t SX126x::begin(float bw, uint8_t sf, uint8_t cr, uint8_t syncWord, uint16
   RADIOLIB_DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("M\tSX126x"));
 
   // BW in kHz and SF are required in order to calculate LDRO for setModulationParams
-  _bwKhz = bw;
-  _sf = sf;
+  // set the defaults, this will get overwritten later anyway
+  _bwKhz = 125.0;
+  _sf = 9;
 
   // initialize configuration variables (will be overwritten during public settings configuration)
   _bw = RADIOLIB_SX126X_LORA_BW_125_0;
@@ -49,12 +50,6 @@ int16_t SX126x::begin(float bw, uint8_t sf, uint8_t cr, uint8_t syncWord, uint16
   }
 
   // configure publicly accessible settings
-  state = setSpreadingFactor(sf);
-  RADIOLIB_ASSERT(state);
-
-  state = setBandwidth(bw);
-  RADIOLIB_ASSERT(state);
-
   state = setCodingRate(cr);
   RADIOLIB_ASSERT(state);
 
diff --git a/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.h b/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.h
index bd9525ce..8c9b34a3 100644
--- a/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.h
+++ b/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.h
@@ -361,10 +361,6 @@ class SX126x: public PhysicalLayer {
     /*!
       \brief Initialization method for LoRa modem.
 
-      \param bw LoRa bandwidth in kHz. Allowed values are 7.8, 10.4, 15.6, 20.8, 31.25, 41.7, 62.5, 125.0, 250.0 and 500.0 kHz.
-
-      \param sf LoRa spreading factor. Allowed values are in range 5 to 12.
-
       \param cr LoRa coding rate denominator. Allowed values range from 5 to 8.
 
       \param syncWord 1-byte LoRa sync word.
@@ -377,7 +373,7 @@ class SX126x: public PhysicalLayer {
 
       \returns \ref status_codes
     */
-    int16_t begin(float bw, uint8_t sf, uint8_t cr, uint8_t syncWord, uint16_t preambleLength, float tcxoVoltage, bool useRegulatorLDO = false);
+    int16_t begin(uint8_t cr, uint8_t syncWord, uint16_t preambleLength, float tcxoVoltage, bool useRegulatorLDO = false);
 
     /*!
       \brief Initialization method for FSK modem.