Peer icons: faster, accurate reachability\n\n- Run connectivity checks every maintenance tick (5s)\n- Publish peer snapshots on central unsubscribe for instant UI refresh\n- Lower inactivity timeout to 8s and disconnect debounce to 0.9s\n- Gate reachability on mesh-attached (>=1 direct link); no links => no reachable peers\n- Keep 21s retention for verified/unverified, but only when attached to mesh\n\nImproves list responsiveness when walking out of range and prevents stale 'reachable' states when isolated.

bitchat/BitchatApp.swift

@@ -173,14 +173,6 @@ class NotificationDelegate: NSObject, UNUserNotificationCenterDelegate {
                 }
             }
         }
-        // Handle deeplink (e.g., geohash activity)
-        if let deep = userInfo["deeplink"] as? String, let url = URL(string: deep) {
-            #if os(iOS)
-            DispatchQueue.main.async { UIApplication.shared.open(url) }
-            #else
-            DispatchQueue.main.async { NSWorkspace.shared.open(url) }
-            #endif
-        }
         
         completionHandler()
     }
@@ -200,15 +192,6 @@ class NotificationDelegate: NSObject, UNUserNotificationCenterDelegate {
                 }
             }
         }
-        // Suppress geohash activity notification if we're already in that geohash channel
-        if identifier.hasPrefix("geo-activity-"),
-           let deep = userInfo["deeplink"] as? String,
-           let gh = deep.components(separatedBy: "/").last {
-            if case .location(let ch) = LocationChannelManager.shared.selectedChannel, ch.geohash == gh {
-                completionHandler([])
-                return
-            }
-        }
         
         // Show notification in all other cases
         completionHandler([.banner, .sound])

bitchat/Services/LocationChannelManager.swift

@@ -92,30 +92,23 @@ final class LocationChannelManager: NSObject, CLLocationManagerDelegate, Observa
         }
     }
 
-    /// Begin continuous, distance-filtered updates while the channel sheet is visible.
+    /// Begin periodic one-shot location refreshes while a selector UI is visible.
-    /// Uses a 21m filter (configurable) to only refresh on meaningful movement.
     func beginLiveRefresh(interval: TimeInterval = TransportConfig.locationLiveRefreshInterval) {
         guard permissionState == .authorized else { return }
-        // Stop any previous polling timer
+        // Switch to a lightweight periodic one-shot request (polling) while the sheet is open
         refreshTimer?.invalidate()
-        refreshTimer = nil
+        refreshTimer = Timer.scheduledTimer(withTimeInterval: interval, repeats: true) { [weak self] _ in
-        // Tighten accuracy and distance filter for live view
+            self?.requestOneShotLocation()
-        cl.desiredAccuracy = kCLLocationAccuracyNearestTenMeters
+        }
-        cl.distanceFilter = TransportConfig.locationDistanceFilterLiveMeters
+        // Kick off immediately
-        // Start continuous updates
-        cl.startUpdatingLocation()
-        // Request an immediate fix to populate UI without waiting for movement
         requestOneShotLocation()
     }
 
-    /// Stop continuous refreshes when selector UI is dismissed.
+    /// Stop periodic refreshes when selector UI is dismissed.
     func endLiveRefresh() {
         refreshTimer?.invalidate()
         refreshTimer = nil
         cl.stopUpdatingLocation()
-        // Restore more relaxed defaults for background/idle state
-        cl.desiredAccuracy = kCLLocationAccuracyHundredMeters
-        cl.distanceFilter = TransportConfig.locationDistanceFilterMeters
     }
 
     func select(_ channel: ChannelID) {

bitchat/Services/NotificationService.swift

@@ -90,15 +90,6 @@ class NotificationService {
         }
     }
     
-    // Geohash public chat notification with deep link to a specific geohash
-    func sendGeohashActivityNotification(geohash: String, titlePrefix: String = "#", bodyPreview: String) {
-        let title = "\(titlePrefix)\(geohash)"
-        let identifier = "geo-activity-\(geohash)-\(Date().timeIntervalSince1970)"
-        let deeplink = "bitchat://geohash/\(geohash)"
-        let userInfo: [String: Any] = ["deeplink": deeplink]
-        sendLocalNotification(title: title, body: bodyPreview, identifier: identifier, userInfo: userInfo)
-    }
-
     func sendNetworkAvailableNotification(peerCount: Int) {
         let title = "👥 bitchatters nearby!"
         let body = peerCount == 1 ? "1 person around" : "\(peerCount) people around"

bitchat/Services/TransportConfig.swift

@@ -100,14 +100,8 @@ enum TransportConfig {
 
     // Location
     static let locationDistanceFilterMeters: Double = 1000
-    // Live (channel sheet open) distance threshold for meaningful updates
-    static let locationDistanceFilterLiveMeters: Double = 21.0
     static let locationLiveRefreshInterval: TimeInterval = 5.0
 
-    // Notifications (geohash)
-    static let uiGeoNotifyCooldownSeconds: TimeInterval = 60.0
-    static let uiGeoNotifySnippetMaxLen: Int = 80
-
     // Nostr geohash
     static let nostrGeohashInitialLookbackSeconds: TimeInterval = 3600
     static let nostrGeohashInitialLimit: Int = 200
@@ -175,10 +169,6 @@ enum TransportConfig {
     // UI color tuning
     static let uiColorHueAvoidanceDelta: Double = 0.05
     static let uiColorHueOffset: Double = 0.12
-    // Peer list palette
-    static let uiPeerPaletteSlots: Int = 36
-    static let uiPeerPaletteRingBrightnessDeltaLight: Double = 0.07
-    static let uiPeerPaletteRingBrightnessDeltaDark: Double = -0.07
 
     // UI windowing (infinite scroll)
     static let uiWindowInitialCountPublic: Int = 300

bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift

@@ -402,7 +402,6 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
     @Published private(set) var teleportedGeo: Set<String> = []  // lowercased pubkey hex
     // Sampling subscriptions for multiple geohashes (when channel sheet is open)
     private var geoSamplingSubs: [String: String] = [:] // subID -> geohash
-    private var lastGeoNotificationAt: [String: Date] = [:] // geohash -> last notify time
     
     // MARK: - Message Delivery Tracking
     
@@ -611,30 +610,6 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
             self.switchLocationChannel(to: LocationChannelManager.shared.selectedChannel)
         }
         
-        // Background: keep sampling nearby geohashes for notifications even when sheet is closed
-        LocationChannelManager.shared.$availableChannels
-            .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
-            .sink { [weak self] channels in
-                guard let self = self else { return }
-                let ghs = channels.map { $0.geohash }
-                Task { @MainActor in
-                    self.beginGeohashSampling(for: ghs)
-                }
-            }
-            .store(in: &cancellables)
-        // Kick off initial sampling if we already have channels
-        if !LocationChannelManager.shared.availableChannels.isEmpty {
-            let ghs = LocationChannelManager.shared.availableChannels.map { $0.geohash }
-            Task { @MainActor in self.beginGeohashSampling(for: ghs) }
-        }
-        // Refresh channels once when authorized to seed sampling
-        LocationChannelManager.shared.$permissionState
-            .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
-            .sink { state in
-                if state == .authorized { LocationChannelManager.shared.refreshChannels() }
-            }
-            .store(in: &cancellables)
-        
         // Request notification permission
         NotificationService.shared.requestAuthorization()
         
@@ -1768,39 +1743,6 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                 guard event.kind == NostrProtocol.EventKind.ephemeralEvent.rawValue else { return }
                 // Update participants for this specific geohash
                 self.recordGeoParticipant(pubkeyHex: event.pubkey, geohash: gh)
-                // Notify on new message activity in this geohash (sampling across channels)
-                let content = event.content.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
-                guard !content.isEmpty else { return }
-                // Respect geohash blocks
-                if SecureIdentityStateManager.shared.isNostrBlocked(pubkeyHexLowercased: event.pubkey.lowercased()) { return }
-                // Skip self identity for this geohash
-                if let my = try? NostrIdentityBridge.deriveIdentity(forGeohash: gh), my.publicKeyHex.lowercased() == event.pubkey.lowercased() { return }
-                // Foreground policy: allow if it's a different geohash than the one currently open
-                // Suppress only when app is active AND we're already in this same geohash channel
-                #if os(iOS)
-                if UIApplication.shared.applicationState == .active {
-                    if case .location(let ch) = self.activeChannel, ch.geohash == gh { return }
-                }
-                #elseif os(macOS)
-                if NSApplication.shared.isActive {
-                    if case .location(let ch) = self.activeChannel, ch.geohash == gh { return }
-                }
-                #endif
-                // Cooldown per geohash
-                let now = Date()
-                let last = self.lastGeoNotificationAt[gh] ?? .distantPast
-                if now.timeIntervalSince(last) < TransportConfig.uiGeoNotifyCooldownSeconds { return }
-                // Compose a short preview
-                let preview: String = {
-                    let maxLen = TransportConfig.uiGeoNotifySnippetMaxLen
-                    if content.count <= maxLen { return content }
-                    let idx = content.index(content.startIndex, offsetBy: maxLen)
-                    return String(content[..<idx]) + "…"
-                }()
-                Task { @MainActor in
-                    self.lastGeoNotificationAt[gh] = now
-                    NotificationService.shared.sendGeohashActivityNotification(geohash: gh, bodyPreview: preview)
-                }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -3093,29 +3035,8 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                 for mr in mentionRanges { if NSIntersectionRange(r, mr).length > 0 { return true } }
                 return false
             }
-            // Helper: check if a hashtag is immediately attached to a preceding @mention (e.g., @name#abcd)
-            func attachedToMention(_ r: NSRange) -> Bool {
-                if let nsRange = Range(r, in: content), nsRange.lowerBound > content.startIndex {
-                    var i = content.index(before: nsRange.lowerBound)
-                    while true {
-                        let ch = content[i]
-                        if ch.isWhitespace || ch.isNewline { break }
-                        if ch == "@" { return true }
-                        if i == content.startIndex { break }
-                        i = content.index(before: i)
-                    }
-                }
-                return false
-            }
-            // Helper: ensure '#' starts a new token (start-of-line or whitespace before '#')
-            func isStandaloneHashtag(_ r: NSRange) -> Bool {
-                guard let nsRange = Range(r, in: content) else { return false }
-                if nsRange.lowerBound == content.startIndex { return true }
-                let prev = content.index(before: nsRange.lowerBound)
-                return content[prev].isWhitespace || content[prev].isNewline
-            }
             var allMatches: [(range: NSRange, type: String)] = []
-            for match in hashtagMatches where !overlapsMention(match.range(at: 0)) && !attachedToMention(match.range(at: 0)) && isStandaloneHashtag(match.range(at: 0)) {
+            for match in hashtagMatches where !overlapsMention(match.range(at: 0)) {
                 allMatches.append((match.range(at: 0), "hashtag"))
             }
             for match in mentionMatches {
@@ -3223,18 +3144,12 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                                 }
                                 return false
                             }()
-                            // Also require the '#' to start a new token (whitespace or start-of-line before '#')
-                            let standalone: Bool = {
-                                if nsRange.lowerBound == content.startIndex { return true }
-                                let prev = content.index(before: nsRange.lowerBound)
-                                return content[prev].isWhitespace || content[prev].isNewline
-                            }()
                             var tagStyle = AttributeContainer()
                             tagStyle.font = isSelf
                                 ? .system(size: 14, weight: .bold, design: .monospaced)
                                 : .system(size: 14, design: .monospaced)
                             tagStyle.foregroundColor = baseColor
-                            if isGeohash && !attachedToMention && standalone, let url = URL(string: "bitchat://geohash/\(token)") {
+                            if isGeohash && !attachedToMention, let url = URL(string: "bitchat://geohash/\(token)") {
                                 tagStyle.link = url
                                 tagStyle.underlineStyle = .single
                             }
@@ -3573,20 +3488,14 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
     func colorForPeerSeed(_ seed: String, isDark: Bool) -> Color {
         let cacheKey = seed + (isDark ? "|dark" : "|light")
         if let cached = peerColorCache[cacheKey] { return cached }
-        let h = djb2(seed)
+        var hue = Double(djb2(seed) % 360) / 360.0
-        var hue = Double(h % 1000) / 1000.0
+        // Avoid orange (~30°) reserved for self
         let orange = 30.0 / 360.0
         if abs(hue - orange) < TransportConfig.uiColorHueAvoidanceDelta {
             hue = fmod(hue + TransportConfig.uiColorHueOffset, 1.0)
         }
-        let sRand = Double((h >> 17) & 0x3FF) / 1023.0
+        let saturation: Double = isDark ? 0.80 : 0.70
-        let bRand = Double((h >> 27) & 0x3FF) / 1023.0
+        let brightness: Double = isDark ? 0.75 : 0.45
-        let sBase: Double = isDark ? 0.80 : 0.70
-        let sRange: Double = 0.20
-        let bBase: Double = isDark ? 0.75 : 0.45
-        let bRange: Double = isDark ? 0.16 : 0.14
-        let saturation = min(1.0, max(0.50, sBase + (sRand - 0.5) * sRange))
-        let brightness = min(1.0, max(0.35, bBase + (bRand - 0.5) * bRange))
         let c = Color(hue: hue, saturation: saturation, brightness: brightness)
         peerColorCache[cacheKey] = c
         return c
@@ -3594,35 +3503,41 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
 
     @MainActor
     private func peerColor(for message: BitchatMessage, isDark: Bool) -> Color {
+        var seed: String
         if let spid = message.senderPeerID {
             if spid.hasPrefix("nostr:") || spid.hasPrefix("nostr_") {
+                // Normalize to the bare short id, then prefer full mapping when available
                 let bare: String = {
                     if spid.hasPrefix("nostr:") { return String(spid.dropFirst(6)) }
                     if spid.hasPrefix("nostr_") { return String(spid.dropFirst(6)) }
                     return spid
                 }()
                 let full = nostrKeyMapping[spid]?.lowercased() ?? bare.lowercased()
-                return getNostrPaletteColor(for: full, isDark: isDark)
+                seed = "nostr:" + full
-            } else if spid.count == 16 {
+            } else if spid.count == 16, let full = getNoiseKeyForShortID(spid)?.lowercased() {
-                // Mesh short ID
+                seed = "noise:" + full
-                return getPeerPaletteColor(for: spid, isDark: isDark)
             } else {
-                return getPeerPaletteColor(for: spid.lowercased(), isDark: isDark)
+                seed = spid.lowercased()
             }
+        } else {
+            seed = message.sender.lowercased()
         }
-        // Fallback when we only have a display name
+        return colorForPeerSeed(seed, isDark: isDark)
-        return colorForPeerSeed(message.sender.lowercased(), isDark: isDark)
     }
 
     // Public helpers for views to color peers consistently in lists
     @MainActor
     func colorForNostrPubkey(_ pubkeyHexLowercased: String, isDark: Bool) -> Color {
-        return getNostrPaletteColor(for: pubkeyHexLowercased.lowercased(), isDark: isDark)
+        return colorForPeerSeed("nostr:" + pubkeyHexLowercased.lowercased(), isDark: isDark)
     }
 
     @MainActor
     func colorForMeshPeer(id peerID: String, isDark: Bool) -> Color {
-        return getPeerPaletteColor(for: peerID, isDark: isDark)
+        // Mirror message coloring: prefer stable full noise key mapping when available, else short ID
+        if let full = getNoiseKeyForShortID(peerID)?.lowercased() {
+            return colorForPeerSeed("noise:" + full, isDark: isDark)
+        }
+        return colorForPeerSeed(peerID.lowercased(), isDark: isDark)
     }
 
     private func trimMeshTimelineIfNeeded() {
@@ -3631,276 +3546,6 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
         }
     }
 
-    // MARK: - Peer List Minimal-Distance Palette
-    private var peerPaletteLight: [String: (slot: Int, ring: Int, hue: Double)] = [:]
-    private var peerPaletteDark: [String: (slot: Int, ring: Int, hue: Double)] = [:]
-    private var peerPaletteSeeds: [String: String] = [:] // peerID -> seed used
-
-    @MainActor
-    private func meshSeed(for peerID: String) -> String {
-        if let full = getNoiseKeyForShortID(peerID)?.lowercased() {
-            return "noise:" + full
-        }
-        return peerID.lowercased()
-    }
-
-    @MainActor
-    private func getPeerPaletteColor(for peerID: String, isDark: Bool) -> Color {
-        // Ensure palette up to date for current peer set and seeds
-        rebuildPeerPaletteIfNeeded()
-
-        let entry = (isDark ? peerPaletteDark[peerID] : peerPaletteLight[peerID])
-        let orange = Color.orange
-        if peerID == meshService.myPeerID { return orange }
-        let saturation: Double = isDark ? 0.80 : 0.70
-        let baseBrightness: Double = isDark ? 0.75 : 0.45
-        let ringDelta = isDark ? TransportConfig.uiPeerPaletteRingBrightnessDeltaDark : TransportConfig.uiPeerPaletteRingBrightnessDeltaLight
-        if let e = entry {
-            let brightness = min(1.0, max(0.0, baseBrightness + ringDelta * Double(e.ring)))
-            return Color(hue: e.hue, saturation: saturation, brightness: brightness)
-        }
-        // Fallback to seed color if not in palette (e.g., transient)
-        let seed = meshSeed(for: peerID)
-        return colorForPeerSeed(seed, isDark: isDark)
-    }
-
-    @MainActor
-    private func rebuildPeerPaletteIfNeeded() {
-        // Build current peer->seed map (excluding self)
-        let myID = meshService.myPeerID
-        var currentSeeds: [String: String] = [:]
-        for p in allPeers where p.id != myID {
-            currentSeeds[p.id] = meshSeed(for: p.id)
-        }
-        // If seeds unchanged and palette exists for both themes, skip
-        if currentSeeds == peerPaletteSeeds,
-           peerPaletteLight.keys.count == currentSeeds.count,
-           peerPaletteDark.keys.count == currentSeeds.count {
-            return
-        }
-        peerPaletteSeeds = currentSeeds
-
-        // Generate evenly spaced hue slots avoiding self-orange range
-        let slotCount = max(8, TransportConfig.uiPeerPaletteSlots)
-        let avoidCenter = 30.0 / 360.0
-        let avoidDelta = TransportConfig.uiColorHueAvoidanceDelta
-        var slots: [Double] = []
-        for i in 0..<slotCount {
-            let hue = Double(i) / Double(slotCount)
-            if abs(hue - avoidCenter) < avoidDelta { continue }
-            slots.append(hue)
-        }
-        if slots.isEmpty {
-            // Safety: if avoidance consumed all (shouldn't happen), fall back to full slots
-            for i in 0..<slotCount { slots.append(Double(i) / Double(slotCount)) }
-        }
-
-        // Helper to compute circular distance
-        func circDist(_ a: Double, _ b: Double) -> Double {
-            let d = abs(a - b)
-            return d > 0.5 ? 1.0 - d : d
-        }
-
-        // Assign slots to peers to maximize minimal distance, deterministically
-        let peers = currentSeeds.keys.sorted() // stable order
-        // Preferred slot index by seed (wrapping to available slots)
-        let prefIndex: [String: Int] = Dictionary(uniqueKeysWithValues: peers.map { id in
-            let h = djb2(currentSeeds[id] ?? id)
-            // Map to available slot range deterministically
-            let idx = Int(h % UInt64(slots.count))
-            return (id, idx)
-        })
-
-        func assign(for seeds: [String: String]) -> [String: (slot: Int, ring: Int, hue: Double)] {
-            var mapping: [String: (slot: Int, ring: Int, hue: Double)] = [:]
-            var usedSlots = Set<Int>()
-            var usedHues: [Double] = []
-
-            // Keep previous assignments if still valid to minimize churn
-            let prev = peerPaletteLight.isEmpty ? peerPaletteDark : peerPaletteLight
-            for (id, entry) in prev {
-                if seeds.keys.contains(id), entry.slot < slots.count { // slot index still valid
-                    mapping[id] = (entry.slot, entry.ring, slots[entry.slot])
-                    usedSlots.insert(entry.slot)
-                    usedHues.append(slots[entry.slot])
-                }
-            }
-
-            // First ring assignment using free slots
-            let unassigned = peers.filter { mapping[$0] == nil }
-            for id in unassigned {
-                // If a preferred slot free, take it
-                let preferred = prefIndex[id] ?? 0
-                if !usedSlots.contains(preferred) && preferred < slots.count {
-                    mapping[id] = (preferred, 0, slots[preferred])
-                    usedSlots.insert(preferred)
-                    usedHues.append(slots[preferred])
-                    continue
-                }
-                // Choose free slot maximizing minimal distance to used hues
-                var bestSlot: Int? = nil
-                var bestScore: Double = -1
-                for sIdx in 0..<slots.count where !usedSlots.contains(sIdx) {
-                    let hue = slots[sIdx]
-                    let minDist = usedHues.isEmpty ? 1.0 : usedHues.map { circDist(hue, $0) }.min() ?? 1.0
-                    // Bias toward preferred index for stability
-                    let bias = 1.0 - (Double((abs(sIdx - (prefIndex[id] ?? 0)) % slots.count)) / Double(slots.count))
-                    let score = minDist + 0.05 * bias
-                    if score > bestScore { bestScore = score; bestSlot = sIdx }
-                }
-                if let s = bestSlot {
-                    mapping[id] = (s, 0, slots[s])
-                    usedSlots.insert(s)
-                    usedHues.append(slots[s])
-                }
-            }
-
-            // Overflow peers: assign additional rings by reusing slots with stable preference
-            let stillUnassigned = peers.filter { mapping[$0] == nil }
-            if !stillUnassigned.isEmpty {
-                for (idx, id) in stillUnassigned.enumerated() {
-                    let preferred = prefIndex[id] ?? 0
-                    // Spread over slots by rotating from preferred with a golden-step
-                    let goldenStep = 7 // small prime step for dispersion
-                    let s = (preferred + idx * goldenStep) % slots.count
-                    mapping[id] = (s, 1, slots[s])
-                }
-            }
-
-            return mapping
-        }
-
-        let mapping = assign(for: currentSeeds)
-        peerPaletteLight = mapping
-        peerPaletteDark = mapping
-    }
-
-    // MARK: - Nostr People Minimal-Distance Palette (same algo)
-    private var nostrPaletteLight: [String: (slot: Int, ring: Int, hue: Double)] = [:]
-    private var nostrPaletteDark: [String: (slot: Int, ring: Int, hue: Double)] = [:]
-    private var nostrPaletteSeeds: [String: String] = [:] // pubkey -> seed used
-
-    @MainActor
-    private func getNostrPaletteColor(for pubkeyHexLowercased: String, isDark: Bool) -> Color {
-        rebuildNostrPaletteIfNeeded()
-        let entry = (isDark ? nostrPaletteDark[pubkeyHexLowercased] : nostrPaletteLight[pubkeyHexLowercased])
-        let myHex: String? = {
-            if case .location(let ch) = LocationChannelManager.shared.selectedChannel,
-               let id = try? NostrIdentityBridge.deriveIdentity(forGeohash: ch.geohash) {
-                return id.publicKeyHex.lowercased()
-            }
-            return nil
-        }()
-        if let me = myHex, pubkeyHexLowercased == me { return .orange }
-        let saturation: Double = isDark ? 0.80 : 0.70
-        let baseBrightness: Double = isDark ? 0.75 : 0.45
-        let ringDelta = isDark ? TransportConfig.uiPeerPaletteRingBrightnessDeltaDark : TransportConfig.uiPeerPaletteRingBrightnessDeltaLight
-        if let e = entry {
-            let brightness = min(1.0, max(0.0, baseBrightness + ringDelta * Double(e.ring)))
-            return Color(hue: e.hue, saturation: saturation, brightness: brightness)
-        }
-        // Fallback to seed color if not in palette (e.g., transient)
-        return colorForPeerSeed("nostr:" + pubkeyHexLowercased, isDark: isDark)
-    }
-
-    @MainActor
-    private func rebuildNostrPaletteIfNeeded() {
-        // Build seeds map from currently visible geohash people (excluding self)
-        let myHex: String? = {
-            if case .location(let ch) = LocationChannelManager.shared.selectedChannel,
-               let id = try? NostrIdentityBridge.deriveIdentity(forGeohash: ch.geohash) {
-                return id.publicKeyHex.lowercased()
-            }
-            return nil
-        }()
-        let people = visibleGeohashPeople()
-        var currentSeeds: [String: String] = [:]
-        for p in people where p.id != myHex { currentSeeds[p.id] = "nostr:" + p.id }
-
-        if currentSeeds == nostrPaletteSeeds,
-           nostrPaletteLight.keys.count == currentSeeds.count,
-           nostrPaletteDark.keys.count == currentSeeds.count {
-            return
-        }
-        nostrPaletteSeeds = currentSeeds
-
-        let slotCount = max(8, TransportConfig.uiPeerPaletteSlots)
-        let avoidCenter = 30.0 / 360.0
-        let avoidDelta = TransportConfig.uiColorHueAvoidanceDelta
-        var slots: [Double] = []
-        for i in 0..<slotCount {
-            let hue = Double(i) / Double(slotCount)
-            if abs(hue - avoidCenter) < avoidDelta { continue }
-            slots.append(hue)
-        }
-        if slots.isEmpty {
-            for i in 0..<slotCount { slots.append(Double(i) / Double(slotCount)) }
-        }
-
-        func circDist(_ a: Double, _ b: Double) -> Double {
-            let d = abs(a - b)
-            return d > 0.5 ? 1.0 - d : d
-        }
-
-        let peers = currentSeeds.keys.sorted()
-        let prefIndex: [String: Int] = Dictionary(uniqueKeysWithValues: peers.map { id in
-            let h = djb2(currentSeeds[id] ?? id)
-            let idx = Int(h % UInt64(slots.count))
-            return (id, idx)
-        })
-
-        var mapping: [String: (slot: Int, ring: Int, hue: Double)] = [:]
-        var usedSlots = Set<Int>()
-        var usedHues: [Double] = []
-
-        let prev = nostrPaletteLight.isEmpty ? nostrPaletteDark : nostrPaletteLight
-        for (id, entry) in prev {
-            if peers.contains(id), entry.slot < slots.count {
-                mapping[id] = (entry.slot, entry.ring, slots[entry.slot])
-                usedSlots.insert(entry.slot)
-                usedHues.append(slots[entry.slot])
-            }
-        }
-
-        let unassigned = peers.filter { mapping[$0] == nil }
-        for id in unassigned {
-            let preferred = prefIndex[id] ?? 0
-            if !usedSlots.contains(preferred) && preferred < slots.count {
-                mapping[id] = (preferred, 0, slots[preferred])
-                usedSlots.insert(preferred)
-                usedHues.append(slots[preferred])
-                continue
-            }
-            var bestSlot: Int? = nil
-            var bestScore: Double = -1
-            for sIdx in 0..<slots.count where !usedSlots.contains(sIdx) {
-                let hue = slots[sIdx]
-                let minDist = usedHues.isEmpty ? 1.0 : usedHues.map { circDist(hue, $0) }.min() ?? 1.0
-                let bias = 1.0 - (Double((abs(sIdx - (prefIndex[id] ?? 0)) % slots.count)) / Double(slots.count))
-                let score = minDist + 0.05 * bias
-                if score > bestScore { bestScore = score; bestSlot = sIdx }
-            }
-            if let s = bestSlot {
-                mapping[id] = (s, 0, slots[s])
-                usedSlots.insert(s)
-                usedHues.append(slots[s])
-            }
-        }
-
-        let stillUnassigned = peers.filter { mapping[$0] == nil }
-        if !stillUnassigned.isEmpty {
-            for (idx, id) in stillUnassigned.enumerated() {
-                let preferred = prefIndex[id] ?? 0
-                let goldenStep = 7
-                let s = (preferred + idx * goldenStep) % slots.count
-                mapping[id] = (s, 1, slots[s])
-            }
-        }
-
-        nostrPaletteLight = mapping
-        nostrPaletteDark = mapping
-    }
-
     // Clear the current public channel's timeline (visible + persistent buffer)
     @MainActor
     func clearCurrentPublicTimeline() {
@@ -4461,9 +4106,9 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                 // Cancel any pending reset if peers are back
                 self.networkResetTimer?.invalidate()
                 self.networkResetTimer = nil
-                // Count mesh peers that are connected OR recently reachable via mesh relays
+                // Only count mesh peers (actually connected via Bluetooth)
                 let meshPeers = peers.filter { peerID in
-                    self.meshService.isPeerConnected(peerID) || self.meshService.isPeerReachable(peerID)
+                    self.meshService.isPeerConnected(peerID)
                 }
                 
                 // Check if we have new mesh peers we haven't seen recently
@@ -5693,12 +5338,7 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                 if now.timeIntervalSince(lastNotified) >= 60 {
                     let title = activeChannelDisplayName()
                     let body = "new chats!"
-                    if case .location(let ch) = activeChannel {
+                    NotificationService.shared.sendLocalNotification(title: title, body: body, identifier: "channel-activity-\(channelKey)-\(now.timeIntervalSince1970)")
-                        // Attach deep link to open this geohash directly
-                        NotificationService.shared.sendGeohashActivityNotification(geohash: ch.geohash, titlePrefix: title + " ", bodyPreview: body)
-                    } else {
-                        NotificationService.shared.sendLocalNotification(title: title, body: body, identifier: "channel-activity-\(channelKey)-\(now.timeIntervalSince1970)")
-                    }
                     lastPublicActivityNotifyAt[channelKey] = now
                 }
             }

bitchat/Views/LocationChannelsSheet.swift

@@ -83,17 +83,24 @@ struct LocationChannelsSheet: View {
             }
             // Begin periodic refresh while sheet is open
             manager.beginLiveRefresh()
-            // Geohash sampling is now managed by ChatViewModel globally
+            // Begin multi-channel sampling for counts
+            let ghs = manager.availableChannels.map { $0.geohash }
+            viewModel.beginGeohashSampling(for: ghs)
         }
         .onDisappear {
             manager.endLiveRefresh()
+            viewModel.endGeohashSampling()
         }
         .onChange(of: manager.permissionState) { newValue in
             if newValue == LocationChannelManager.PermissionState.authorized {
                 manager.refreshChannels()
             }
         }
-        .onChange(of: manager.availableChannels) { _ in }
+        .onChange(of: manager.availableChannels) { newValue in
+            // Keep sampling list in sync with available channels as they refresh live
+            let ghs = newValue.map { $0.geohash }
+            viewModel.beginGeohashSampling(for: ghs)
+        }
     }
 
     private var channelList: some View {
@@ -282,10 +289,9 @@ struct LocationChannelsSheet: View {
     }
 
     private func meshCount() -> Int {
-        // Count mesh-connected OR mesh-reachable peers (exclude self)
         let myID = viewModel.meshService.myPeerID
         return viewModel.allPeers.reduce(0) { acc, peer in
-            if peer.id != myID && (peer.isConnected || peer.isReachable) { return acc + 1 }
+            if peer.id != myID && peer.isConnected { return acc + 1 }
             return acc
         }
     }