diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ConversationPane.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ConversationPane.tsx
index 9f65a09..f6afc01 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ConversationPane.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ConversationPane.tsx
@@ -191,7 +191,12 @@ export function ConversationPane({
         </h2>
         <div className="flex-1 overflow-hidden">
           <Suspense fallback={<LoadingPane label="Loading map..." />}>
-            <MapView contacts={contacts} focusedKey={activeConversation.mapFocusKey} />
+            <MapView
+              contacts={contacts}
+              focusedKey={activeConversation.mapFocusKey}
+              rawPackets={rawPackets}
+              config={config}
+            />
           </Suspense>
         </div>
       </>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/MapView.tsx b/frontend/src/components/MapView.tsx
index 8166e16..e70e1f6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/MapView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/MapView.tsx
@@ -1,16 +1,26 @@
 import { Fragment, useEffect, useState, useMemo, useRef, useCallback } from 'react';
-import { MapContainer, TileLayer, CircleMarker, Popup, useMap } from 'react-leaflet';
+import { MapContainer, TileLayer, CircleMarker, Popup, useMap, Polyline } from 'react-leaflet';
 import type { LatLngBoundsExpression, CircleMarker as LeafletCircleMarker } from 'leaflet';
+import L from 'leaflet';
 import 'leaflet/dist/leaflet.css';
-import type { Contact } from '../types';
+import type { Contact, RadioConfig, RawPacket } from '../types';
 import { formatTime } from '../utils/messageParser';
 import { isValidLocation } from '../utils/pathUtils';
 import { CONTACT_TYPE_REPEATER } from '../types';
+import {
+  parsePacket,
+  getPacketLabel,
+  PARTICLE_COLOR_MAP,
+  dedupeConsecutive,
+} from '../utils/visualizerUtils';
+import { getRawPacketObservationKey } from '../utils/rawPacketIdentity';
 
 interface MapViewProps {
   contacts: Contact[];
   /** Public key of contact to focus on and open popup */
   focusedKey?: string | null;
+  rawPackets?: RawPacket[];
+  config?: RadioConfig | null;
 }
 
 const MAP_RECENCY_COLORS = {
@@ -22,7 +32,16 @@ const MAP_RECENCY_COLORS = {
 const MAP_MARKER_STROKE = '#0f172a';
 const MAP_REPEATER_RING = '#f8fafc';
 
-// Calculate marker color based on how recently the contact was heard
+// --- Packet visualization constants ---
+const THREE_DAYS_SEC = 3 * 24 * 60 * 60;
+const PARTICLE_LIFETIME_MS = 3000;
+const PARTICLE_TAIL_LENGTH = 0.25; // fraction of progress to trail behind
+const PARTICLE_RADIUS = 8;
+const PARTICLE_TAIL_WIDTH = 5;
+const MAX_MAP_PARTICLES = 200;
+
+// --- Helpers ---
+
 function getMarkerColor(lastSeen: number | null | undefined): string {
   if (lastSeen == null) return MAP_RECENCY_COLORS.old;
   const now = Date.now() / 1000;
@@ -36,7 +55,71 @@ function getMarkerColor(lastSeen: number | null | undefined): string {
   return MAP_RECENCY_COLORS.old;
 }
 
-// Component to handle map bounds fitting
+/** Resolve a hop token to a single contact with GPS, or null. */
+function resolveHopToGps(hopToken: string, prefixIndex: Map<string, Contact[]>): Contact | null {
+  const matches = prefixIndex.get(hopToken.toLowerCase());
+  if (!matches || matches.length !== 1) return null;
+  const c = matches[0];
+  return isValidLocation(c.lat, c.lon) ? c : null;
+}
+
+/** Collect public keys of all unambiguously resolved GPS-bearing contacts from a parsed packet. */
+function resolvePacketContacts(
+  parsed: ReturnType<typeof parsePacket>,
+  prefixIndex: Map<string, Contact[]>,
+  myLatLon: [number, number] | null,
+  config?: RadioConfig | null
+): Set<string> {
+  const keys = new Set<string>();
+  if (!parsed) return keys;
+
+  // Source
+  const sourcePrefixes = parsed.advertPubkey
+    ? [parsed.advertPubkey.slice(0, 12).toLowerCase()]
+    : parsed.srcHash
+      ? [parsed.srcHash.toLowerCase()]
+      : [];
+  for (const prefix of sourcePrefixes) {
+    const matches = prefixIndex.get(prefix);
+    if (matches?.length === 1 && isValidLocation(matches[0].lat, matches[0].lon)) {
+      keys.add(matches[0].public_key);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Intermediate hops
+  for (const hop of parsed.pathBytes) {
+    if (hop.length < 4) continue;
+    const matches = prefixIndex.get(hop.toLowerCase());
+    if (matches?.length === 1 && isValidLocation(matches[0].lat, matches[0].lon)) {
+      keys.add(matches[0].public_key);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Self
+  if (myLatLon && config?.public_key) {
+    keys.add(config.public_key.toLowerCase());
+  }
+
+  // Destination
+  if (parsed.dstHash) {
+    const matches = prefixIndex.get(parsed.dstHash.toLowerCase());
+    if (matches?.length === 1 && isValidLocation(matches[0].lat, matches[0].lon)) {
+      keys.add(matches[0].public_key);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return keys;
+}
+
+interface MapParticle {
+  id: number;
+  path: [number, number][]; // lat/lon waypoints
+  color: string;
+  startedAt: number;
+}
+
+// --- Map bounds handler ---
+
 function MapBoundsHandler({
   contacts,
   focusedContact,
@@ -48,7 +131,6 @@ function MapBoundsHandler({
   const [hasInitialized, setHasInitialized] = useState(false);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    // If we have a focused contact, center on it immediately (even if already initialized)
     if (focusedContact && focusedContact.lat != null && focusedContact.lon != null) {
       map.setView([focusedContact.lat, focusedContact.lon], 12);
       setHasInitialized(true);
@@ -59,20 +141,17 @@ function MapBoundsHandler({
 
     const fitToContacts = () => {
       if (contacts.length === 0) {
-        // No contacts with location - show world view
         map.setView([20, 0], 2);
         setHasInitialized(true);
         return;
       }
 
       if (contacts.length === 1) {
-        // Single contact - center on it
         map.setView([contacts[0].lat!, contacts[0].lon!], 10);
         setHasInitialized(true);
         return;
       }
 
-      // Multiple contacts - fit bounds
       const bounds: LatLngBoundsExpression = contacts.map(
         (c) => [c.lat!, c.lon!] as [number, number]
       );
@@ -80,22 +159,18 @@ function MapBoundsHandler({
       setHasInitialized(true);
     };
 
-    // Try geolocation first
     if ('geolocation' in navigator) {
       navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(
         (position) => {
-          // Success - center on user location with reasonable zoom
           map.setView([position.coords.latitude, position.coords.longitude], 8);
           setHasInitialized(true);
         },
         () => {
-          // Geolocation denied/failed - fit to contacts
           fitToContacts();
         },
         { timeout: 5000, maximumAge: 300000 }
       );
     } else {
-      // No geolocation support - fit to contacts
       fitToContacts();
     }
   }, [map, contacts, hasInitialized, focusedContact]);
@@ -103,18 +178,369 @@ function MapBoundsHandler({
   return null;
 }
 
-export function MapView({ contacts, focusedKey }: MapViewProps) {
-  const [sevenDaysAgo] = useState(() => Date.now() / 1000 - 7 * 24 * 60 * 60);
+// --- Canvas particle overlay ---
 
-  // Filter to contacts with GPS coordinates, heard within the last 7 days.
-  // Always include the focused contact so "view on map" links work for older nodes.
+function ParticleOverlay({ particles }: { particles: MapParticle[] }) {
+  const map = useMap();
+  const canvasRef = useRef<HTMLCanvasElement | null>(null);
+  const animRef = useRef<number>(0);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const container = map.getContainer();
+    const canvas = document.createElement('canvas');
+    canvas.style.position = 'absolute';
+    canvas.style.top = '0';
+    canvas.style.left = '0';
+    canvas.style.pointerEvents = 'none';
+    canvas.style.zIndex = '450'; // above tiles, below popups
+    container.appendChild(canvas);
+    canvasRef.current = canvas;
+
+    const resize = () => {
+      const size = map.getSize();
+      canvas.width = size.x * window.devicePixelRatio;
+      canvas.height = size.y * window.devicePixelRatio;
+      canvas.style.width = `${size.x}px`;
+      canvas.style.height = `${size.y}px`;
+    };
+    resize();
+    map.on('resize', resize);
+    map.on('zoom', resize);
+
+    return () => {
+      cancelAnimationFrame(animRef.current);
+      map.off('resize', resize);
+      map.off('zoom', resize);
+      container.removeChild(canvas);
+      canvasRef.current = null;
+    };
+  }, [map]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const canvas = canvasRef.current;
+    if (!canvas) return;
+    const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d');
+    if (!ctx) return;
+
+    const draw = () => {
+      const now = Date.now();
+      const dpr = window.devicePixelRatio;
+      ctx.clearRect(0, 0, canvas.width, canvas.height);
+      ctx.save();
+      ctx.scale(dpr, dpr);
+
+      for (const particle of particles) {
+        const elapsed = now - particle.startedAt;
+        if (elapsed < 0 || elapsed > PARTICLE_LIFETIME_MS) continue;
+        const progress = elapsed / PARTICLE_LIFETIME_MS;
+        const path = particle.path;
+        if (path.length < 2) continue;
+
+        // Calculate total path length in pixels for even speed
+        const pixelPath = path.map((ll) => map.latLngToContainerPoint(L.latLng(ll[0], ll[1])));
+        const segLengths: number[] = [];
+        let totalLen = 0;
+        for (let i = 1; i < pixelPath.length; i++) {
+          const dx = pixelPath[i].x - pixelPath[i - 1].x;
+          const dy = pixelPath[i].y - pixelPath[i - 1].y;
+          const len = Math.sqrt(dx * dx + dy * dy);
+          segLengths.push(len);
+          totalLen += len;
+        }
+        if (totalLen === 0) continue;
+
+        // Interpolate head position
+        const headDist = progress * totalLen;
+        const tailDist = Math.max(0, headDist - PARTICLE_TAIL_LENGTH * totalLen);
+
+        const pointAtDist = (d: number): { x: number; y: number } => {
+          let accum = 0;
+          for (let i = 0; i < segLengths.length; i++) {
+            if (accum + segLengths[i] >= d) {
+              const t = segLengths[i] > 0 ? (d - accum) / segLengths[i] : 0;
+              return {
+                x: pixelPath[i].x + (pixelPath[i + 1].x - pixelPath[i].x) * t,
+                y: pixelPath[i].y + (pixelPath[i + 1].y - pixelPath[i].y) * t,
+              };
+            }
+            accum += segLengths[i];
+          }
+          const last = pixelPath[pixelPath.length - 1];
+          return { x: last.x, y: last.y };
+        };
+
+        const head = pointAtDist(headDist);
+        const tail = pointAtDist(tailDist);
+
+        // Draw tail as a gradient line from transparent to opaque
+        const grad = ctx.createLinearGradient(tail.x, tail.y, head.x, head.y);
+        grad.addColorStop(0, particle.color + '00');
+        grad.addColorStop(1, particle.color + 'cc');
+        ctx.beginPath();
+        ctx.moveTo(tail.x, tail.y);
+
+        // Sample intermediate points along the tail for curved paths
+        const steps = 8;
+        for (let s = 1; s <= steps; s++) {
+          const d = tailDist + ((headDist - tailDist) * s) / steps;
+          const pt = pointAtDist(d);
+          ctx.lineTo(pt.x, pt.y);
+        }
+        ctx.strokeStyle = grad;
+        ctx.lineWidth = PARTICLE_TAIL_WIDTH;
+        ctx.lineCap = 'round';
+        ctx.stroke();
+
+        // Draw head blob with glow
+        const fade = progress > 0.8 ? 1 - (progress - 0.8) / 0.2 : 1;
+        const alpha = Math.round(fade * 230)
+          .toString(16)
+          .padStart(2, '0');
+        // Outer glow
+        ctx.beginPath();
+        ctx.arc(head.x, head.y, PARTICLE_RADIUS + 4, 0, Math.PI * 2);
+        ctx.fillStyle =
+          particle.color +
+          Math.round(fade * 40)
+            .toString(16)
+            .padStart(2, '0');
+        ctx.fill();
+        // Core blob
+        ctx.beginPath();
+        ctx.arc(head.x, head.y, PARTICLE_RADIUS, 0, Math.PI * 2);
+        ctx.fillStyle = particle.color + alpha;
+        ctx.shadowColor = particle.color;
+        ctx.shadowBlur = 12 * fade;
+        ctx.fill();
+        ctx.shadowBlur = 0;
+        // Bright center
+        ctx.beginPath();
+        ctx.arc(head.x, head.y, PARTICLE_RADIUS * 0.4, 0, Math.PI * 2);
+        ctx.fillStyle = '#ffffff' + alpha;
+        ctx.fill();
+      }
+
+      ctx.restore();
+      animRef.current = requestAnimationFrame(draw);
+    };
+
+    animRef.current = requestAnimationFrame(draw);
+    return () => cancelAnimationFrame(animRef.current);
+  }, [map, particles]);
+
+  // Redraw on map move/zoom
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const redraw = () => {}; // Animation loop already redraws every frame
+    map.on('move', redraw);
+    map.on('zoom', redraw);
+    return () => {
+      map.off('move', redraw);
+      map.off('zoom', redraw);
+    };
+  }, [map]);
+
+  return null;
+}
+
+// --- Main component ---
+
+export function MapView({ contacts, focusedKey, rawPackets, config }: MapViewProps) {
+  const [sevenDaysAgo] = useState(() => Date.now() / 1000 - 7 * 24 * 60 * 60);
+  const [showPackets, setShowPackets] = useState(false);
+  const [discoveryMode, setDiscoveryMode] = useState(false);
+  const [discoveredKeys, setDiscoveredKeys] = useState<Set<string>>(new Set());
+  const [particles, setParticles] = useState<MapParticle[]>([]);
+  const particleIdRef = useRef(0);
+  const seenObservationsRef = useRef(new Set<string>());
+
+  // Build prefix index for hop resolution
+  const prefixIndex = useMemo(() => {
+    const index = new Map<string, Contact[]>();
+    for (const c of contacts) {
+      const pubkey = c.public_key.toLowerCase();
+      // Index at every prefix length from 1 to 12 characters (matching visualizer logic)
+      for (let len = 1; len <= 12 && len <= pubkey.length; len++) {
+        const prefix = pubkey.slice(0, len);
+        const arr = index.get(prefix);
+        if (arr) arr.push(c);
+        else index.set(prefix, [c]);
+      }
+    }
+    return index;
+  }, [contacts]);
+
+  // Self GPS
+  const myLatLon = useMemo<[number, number] | null>(() => {
+    if (!config || !isValidLocation(config.lat, config.lon)) return null;
+    return [config.lat, config.lon];
+  }, [config]);
+
+  // Determine time window for packet visualization
+  const threeDaysAgoSec = useMemo(() => Date.now() / 1000 - THREE_DAYS_SEC, []);
+
+  // Filter contacts for map display
   const mappableContacts = useMemo(() => {
+    if (showPackets && discoveryMode) {
+      // Discovery mode: only show nodes that have appeared in resolved packets
+      return contacts.filter(
+        (c) => isValidLocation(c.lat, c.lon) && discoveredKeys.has(c.public_key)
+      );
+    }
+    if (showPackets) {
+      // Packet mode: show only last 3 days
+      return contacts.filter(
+        (c) =>
+          isValidLocation(c.lat, c.lon) &&
+          (c.public_key === focusedKey || (c.last_seen != null && c.last_seen > threeDaysAgoSec))
+      );
+    }
     return contacts.filter(
       (c) =>
         isValidLocation(c.lat, c.lon) &&
         (c.public_key === focusedKey || (c.last_seen != null && c.last_seen > sevenDaysAgo))
     );
-  }, [contacts, focusedKey, sevenDaysAgo]);
+  }, [
+    contacts,
+    focusedKey,
+    sevenDaysAgo,
+    threeDaysAgoSec,
+    showPackets,
+    discoveryMode,
+    discoveredKeys,
+  ]);
+
+  // Resolve a path of hop tokens to geographic waypoints (only unambiguous + has GPS)
+  const resolvePacketPath = useCallback(
+    (parsed: ReturnType<typeof parsePacket>): [number, number][] | null => {
+      if (!parsed) return null;
+
+      const waypoints: [number, number][] = [];
+
+      // Source: advertPubkey, srcHash, or groupTextSender resolved by name
+      let sourceContact: Contact | null = null;
+      if (parsed.advertPubkey) {
+        const prefix = parsed.advertPubkey.slice(0, 12).toLowerCase();
+        const matches = prefixIndex.get(prefix);
+        if (matches?.length === 1 && isValidLocation(matches[0].lat, matches[0].lon)) {
+          sourceContact = matches[0];
+        }
+      } else if (parsed.srcHash) {
+        sourceContact = resolveHopToGps(parsed.srcHash, prefixIndex);
+      }
+
+      if (sourceContact) {
+        waypoints.push([sourceContact.lat!, sourceContact.lon!]);
+      }
+
+      // Intermediate hops (path bytes)
+      for (const hop of parsed.pathBytes) {
+        // Only resolve 2+ byte hops (4+ hex chars) to avoid ambiguous 1-byte hops
+        if (hop.length < 4) continue;
+        const contact = resolveHopToGps(hop, prefixIndex);
+        if (contact) {
+          waypoints.push([contact.lat!, contact.lon!]);
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Destination: self (our radio), or dstHash
+      if (myLatLon) {
+        waypoints.push(myLatLon);
+      } else if (parsed.dstHash) {
+        const dest = resolveHopToGps(parsed.dstHash, prefixIndex);
+        if (dest) {
+          waypoints.push([dest.lat!, dest.lon!]);
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Dedupe consecutive identical waypoints
+      const deduped = dedupeConsecutive(waypoints.map((w) => `${w[0]},${w[1]}`));
+      if (deduped.length < 2) return null;
+
+      return deduped.map((s) => {
+        const [lat, lon] = s.split(',').map(Number);
+        return [lat, lon] as [number, number];
+      });
+    },
+    [prefixIndex, myLatLon]
+  );
+
+  // Process new packets into particles and track discovered contacts
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!showPackets || !rawPackets?.length) return;
+
+    const now = Date.now();
+    const newParticles: MapParticle[] = [];
+    const newDiscovered = new Set<string>();
+
+    for (const pkt of rawPackets) {
+      // Skip old packets
+      if (pkt.timestamp < threeDaysAgoSec) continue;
+
+      // Deduplicate by observation
+      const obsKey = getRawPacketObservationKey(pkt);
+      if (seenObservationsRef.current.has(obsKey)) continue;
+      seenObservationsRef.current.add(obsKey);
+
+      const parsed = parsePacket(pkt.data);
+      if (!parsed) continue;
+
+      const path = resolvePacketPath(parsed);
+      if (!path) continue;
+
+      // Collect all unambiguously resolved contacts from this packet for discovery mode
+      const resolvedContacts = resolvePacketContacts(parsed, prefixIndex, myLatLon, config);
+      for (const key of resolvedContacts) newDiscovered.add(key);
+
+      newParticles.push({
+        id: particleIdRef.current++,
+        path,
+        color: PARTICLE_COLOR_MAP[getPacketLabel(parsed.payloadType)],
+        startedAt: now,
+      });
+    }
+
+    if (newDiscovered.size > 0) {
+      setDiscoveredKeys((prev) => {
+        const next = new Set(prev);
+        for (const k of newDiscovered) next.add(k);
+        return next.size !== prev.size ? next : prev;
+      });
+    }
+
+    if (newParticles.length === 0) return;
+
+    setParticles((prev) => {
+      const combined = [...prev, ...newParticles];
+      // Prune expired and cap total
+      const alive = combined.filter((p) => now - p.startedAt < PARTICLE_LIFETIME_MS);
+      return alive.slice(-MAX_MAP_PARTICLES);
+    });
+  }, [rawPackets, showPackets, resolvePacketPath, threeDaysAgoSec, prefixIndex, myLatLon, config]);
+
+  // Prune expired particles periodically
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!showPackets) return;
+    const interval = setInterval(() => {
+      const now = Date.now();
+      setParticles((prev) => prev.filter((p) => now - p.startedAt < PARTICLE_LIFETIME_MS));
+    }, 1000);
+    return () => clearInterval(interval);
+  }, [showPackets]);
+
+  // Reset discovered set when exiting discovery mode
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!discoveryMode) setDiscoveredKeys(new Set());
+  }, [discoveryMode]);
+
+  // Clear state when toggling off
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!showPackets) {
+      setParticles([]);
+      setDiscoveredKeys(new Set());
+      setDiscoveryMode(false);
+      seenObservationsRef.current.clear();
+    }
+  }, [showPackets]);
 
   // Find the focused contact by key
   const focusedContact = useMemo(() => {
@@ -124,18 +550,17 @@ export function MapView({ contacts, focusedKey }: MapViewProps) {
 
   const includesFocusedOutsideWindow =
     focusedContact != null &&
-    (focusedContact.last_seen == null || focusedContact.last_seen <= sevenDaysAgo);
+    (focusedContact.last_seen == null ||
+      focusedContact.last_seen <= (showPackets ? threeDaysAgoSec : sevenDaysAgo));
 
   // Track marker refs to open popup programmatically
   const markerRefs = useRef<Record<string, LeafletCircleMarker | null>>({});
 
-  // Store ref for a marker
   const setMarkerRef = useCallback((key: string, ref: LeafletCircleMarker | null) => {
     if (ref === null) {
       delete markerRefs.current[key];
       return;
     }
-
     markerRefs.current[key] = ref;
   }, []);
 
@@ -148,10 +573,8 @@ export function MapView({ contacts, focusedKey }: MapViewProps) {
     }
   }, [mappableContacts]);
 
-  // Open popup for focused contact after map is ready
   useEffect(() => {
     if (focusedContact && markerRefs.current[focusedContact.public_key]) {
-      // Small delay to ensure map has finished rendering
       const timer = setTimeout(() => {
         markerRefs.current[focusedContact.public_key]?.openPopup();
       }, 100);
@@ -159,48 +582,104 @@ export function MapView({ contacts, focusedKey }: MapViewProps) {
     }
   }, [focusedContact]);
 
+  // Gather unique link paths for static route lines when packet viz is on
+  const routeLines = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!showPackets) return [];
+    const seen = new Set<string>();
+    const lines: { path: [number, number][]; color: string }[] = [];
+    for (const p of particles) {
+      const key = p.path.map((w) => `${w[0]},${w[1]}`).join('|');
+      if (seen.has(key)) continue;
+      seen.add(key);
+      lines.push({ path: p.path, color: p.color });
+    }
+    return lines;
+  }, [showPackets, particles]);
+
+  const timeWindowLabel = showPackets ? '3 days' : '7 days';
+  const infoLabel =
+    showPackets && discoveryMode
+      ? `${mappableContacts.length} node${mappableContacts.length !== 1 ? 's' : ''} discovered from live traffic`
+      : `Showing ${mappableContacts.length} contact${mappableContacts.length !== 1 ? 's' : ''} heard in the last ${timeWindowLabel}${includesFocusedOutsideWindow ? ' plus the focused contact' : ''}`;
+
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col h-full">
       {/* Info bar */}
       <div className="px-4 py-2 bg-muted/50 text-xs text-muted-foreground flex items-center justify-between">
-        <span>
-          Showing {mappableContacts.length} contact{mappableContacts.length !== 1 ? 's' : ''} heard
-          in the last 7 days
-          {includesFocusedOutsideWindow ? ' plus the focused contact' : ''}
-        </span>
+        <span>{infoLabel}</span>
         <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
-          <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
-            <span
-              className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full"
-              style={{ backgroundColor: MAP_RECENCY_COLORS.recent }}
-              aria-hidden="true"
-            />{' '}
-            &lt;1h
-          </span>
-          <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
-            <span
-              className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full"
-              style={{ backgroundColor: MAP_RECENCY_COLORS.today }}
-              aria-hidden="true"
-            />{' '}
-            &lt;1d
-          </span>
-          <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
-            <span
-              className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full"
-              style={{ backgroundColor: MAP_RECENCY_COLORS.stale }}
-              aria-hidden="true"
-            />{' '}
-            &lt;3d
-          </span>
-          <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
-            <span
-              className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full"
-              style={{ backgroundColor: MAP_RECENCY_COLORS.old }}
-              aria-hidden="true"
-            />{' '}
-            older
-          </span>
+          {!showPackets && (
+            <>
+              <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
+                <span
+                  className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full"
+                  style={{ backgroundColor: MAP_RECENCY_COLORS.recent }}
+                  aria-hidden="true"
+                />{' '}
+                &lt;1h
+              </span>
+              <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
+                <span
+                  className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full"
+                  style={{ backgroundColor: MAP_RECENCY_COLORS.today }}
+                  aria-hidden="true"
+                />{' '}
+                &lt;1d
+              </span>
+              <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
+                <span
+                  className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full"
+                  style={{ backgroundColor: MAP_RECENCY_COLORS.stale }}
+                  aria-hidden="true"
+                />{' '}
+                &lt;3d
+              </span>
+              <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
+                <span
+                  className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full"
+                  style={{ backgroundColor: MAP_RECENCY_COLORS.old }}
+                  aria-hidden="true"
+                />{' '}
+                older
+              </span>
+            </>
+          )}
+          {showPackets && (
+            <>
+              <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
+                <span
+                  className="w-2 h-2 rounded-full"
+                  style={{ backgroundColor: PARTICLE_COLOR_MAP['AD'] }}
+                  aria-hidden="true"
+                />
+                Ad
+              </span>
+              <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
+                <span
+                  className="w-2 h-2 rounded-full"
+                  style={{ backgroundColor: PARTICLE_COLOR_MAP['GT'] }}
+                  aria-hidden="true"
+                />
+                Ch
+              </span>
+              <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
+                <span
+                  className="w-2 h-2 rounded-full"
+                  style={{ backgroundColor: PARTICLE_COLOR_MAP['DM'] }}
+                  aria-hidden="true"
+                />
+                DM
+              </span>
+              <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
+                <span
+                  className="w-2 h-2 rounded-full"
+                  style={{ backgroundColor: PARTICLE_COLOR_MAP['ACK'] }}
+                  aria-hidden="true"
+                />
+                ACK
+              </span>
+            </>
+          )}
           <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
             <span
               className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full border-2"
@@ -209,10 +688,30 @@ export function MapView({ contacts, focusedKey }: MapViewProps) {
             />{' '}
             repeater
           </span>
+          <label className="flex items-center gap-1.5 cursor-pointer ml-2">
+            <input
+              type="checkbox"
+              checked={showPackets}
+              onChange={(e) => setShowPackets(e.target.checked)}
+              className="rounded border-border"
+            />
+            <span className="text-[0.6875rem]">Visualize packets</span>
+          </label>
+          {showPackets && (
+            <label className="flex items-center gap-1.5 cursor-pointer">
+              <input
+                type="checkbox"
+                checked={discoveryMode}
+                onChange={(e) => setDiscoveryMode(e.target.checked)}
+                className="rounded border-border"
+              />
+              <span className="text-[0.6875rem]">Discover nodes</span>
+            </label>
+          )}
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      {/* Map - z-index constrained to stay below modals/sheets */}
+      {/* Map */}
       <div
         className="flex-1 relative"
         style={{ zIndex: 0 }}
@@ -231,6 +730,16 @@ export function MapView({ contacts, focusedKey }: MapViewProps) {
           />
           <MapBoundsHandler contacts={mappableContacts} focusedContact={focusedContact} />
 
+          {/* Faint route lines for active packet paths */}
+          {showPackets &&
+            routeLines.map((line, i) => (
+              <Polyline
+                key={i}
+                positions={line.path}
+                pathOptions={{ color: line.color, weight: 1, opacity: 0.15, dashArray: '4 6' }}
+              />
+            ))}
+
           {mappableContacts.map((contact) => {
             const isRepeater = contact.type === CONTACT_TYPE_REPEATER;
             const color = getMarkerColor(contact.last_seen);
@@ -275,6 +784,8 @@ export function MapView({ contacts, focusedKey }: MapViewProps) {
               </Fragment>
             );
           })}
+
+          {showPackets && <ParticleOverlay particles={particles} />}
         </MapContainer>
       </div>
     </div>