diff --git a/src/modules/SX1261.cpp b/src/modules/SX1261.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..15d6e1fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/modules/SX1261.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#include "SX1261.h"
+
+// note that this is untested (lacking the hardware) and based purely on the datasheet.
+int16_t SX1261::setOutputPower(int8_t power) {  
+  // check allowed power range
+  if (!((power >= -17) && (power <= 14))) {
+    return(ERR_INVALID_OUTPUT_POWER);
+  }
+
+  // get current OCP configuration
+  uint8_t ocp = 0;
+  int16_t state = readRegister(SX126X_REG_OCP_CONFIGURATION, &ocp, 1);
+  if (state != ERR_NONE) {
+    return(state);
+  }
+
+  // set PA config for optimal consumption as described in section 13-21 of the datasheet:
+  // the final column of Table 13-21 suggests that the value passed in SetTxParams is actually scaled depending on the parameters of setPaConfig. However, testing suggests this isn't the case.
+  if (power > 10) {
+    state = SX126x::setPaConfig(0x04, 0x00, SX126X_PA_CONFIG_HP_MAX/*0x07*/);
+  }
+  else {
+    state = SX126x::setPaConfig(0x01, 0x00, 0x05);
+  }
+  if (state != ERR_NONE) {
+    return(state);
+  }
+  // TODO investigate if better power efficiency can be achieved using undocumented even lower settings
+
+  // set output power
+  // TODO power ramp time configuration
+  state = SX126x::setTxParams(power);
+  if (state != ERR_NONE) {
+    return state;
+  }
+
+
+  // restore OCP configuration
+  return(writeRegister(SX126X_REG_OCP_CONFIGURATION, &ocp, 1));
+}
diff --git a/src/modules/SX1261.h b/src/modules/SX1261.h
index cb8a5758..b9c8c741 100644
--- a/src/modules/SX1261.h
+++ b/src/modules/SX1261.h
@@ -11,6 +11,19 @@
 #define SX126X_PA_CONFIG_SX1262                       0x00
 
 // TODO: implement SX1261 class
-using SX1261 = SX1262;
+class SX1261 : public SX1262 {
+public:
+  /*!
+    \brief Default constructor.
+
+    \param mod Instance of Module that will be used to communicate with the radio.
+  */
+  SX1261(Module* mod)
+    : SX1262(mod) {
+  }
+
+  int16_t setOutputPower(int8_t power);
+};
+
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/modules/SX1262.cpp b/src/modules/SX1262.cpp
index 0bcce47d..d2482593 100644
--- a/src/modules/SX1262.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/SX1262.cpp
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ int16_t SX1262::setFrequency(float freq, bool calibrate) {
 
 int16_t SX1262::setOutputPower(int8_t power) {
   // check allowed power range
-  if(!((power >= -17) && (power <= 22))) {
+  if(!((power >= -9) && (power <= 22))) {
     return(ERR_INVALID_OUTPUT_POWER);
   }
 
@@ -96,16 +96,31 @@ int16_t SX1262::setOutputPower(int8_t power) {
     return(state);
   }
 
-  // enable high power PA for output power higher than 14 dBm
-  if(power > 13) {
-    SX126x::setPaConfig(0x04, SX126X_PA_CONFIG_SX1262);
+  // set PA config for optimal consumption as described in section 13-21 of the datasheet:
+  // the final column of Table 13-21 suggests that the value passed in SetTxParams is actually scaled depending on the parameters of setPaConfig. However, testing suggests this isn't the case.
+  if (power >= 21) {
+    state = SX126x::setPaConfig(0x04, SX126X_PA_CONFIG_SX1262, SX126X_PA_CONFIG_HP_MAX/*0x07*/);
+  } else if (power >= 18) {
+    state = SX126x::setPaConfig(0x03, SX126X_PA_CONFIG_SX1262, 0x05);
+  } else if (power >= 15) {
+    state = SX126x::setPaConfig(0x02, SX126X_PA_CONFIG_SX1262, 0x03);
   } else {
-    SX126x::setPaConfig(0x04, SX126X_PA_CONFIG_SX1261);
+    state = SX126x::setPaConfig(0x02, SX126X_PA_CONFIG_SX1262, 0x02);
   }
+  if (state != ERR_NONE) {
+    return(state);
+  }
+  // TODO investigate if better power efficiency can be achieved using undocumented even lower settings
+
+  // note that we set SX126X_PA_CONFIG_SX1262 for all power levels - setting SX126X_PA_CONFIG_SX1261 causes no output (on the nameless module I have).
 
   // set output power
   // TODO power ramp time configuration
-  SX126x::setTxParams(power);
+  state = SX126x::setTxParams(power);
+  if (state != ERR_NONE) {
+    return state;
+  }
+
 
   // restore OCP configuration
   return(writeRegister(SX126X_REG_OCP_CONFIGURATION, &ocp, 1));