diff --git a/client/public/version.js b/client/public/version.js
index 9612169..13b8d21 100644
--- a/client/public/version.js
+++ b/client/public/version.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // Maintainer-controlled web client version.
 // Format: YYYY.MM.DD Rn (example: 2026.02.20 R2)
-window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.22 R161";
+window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.22 R162";
 // Optional display timezone for timestamps. Falls back to America/Detroit if unset/invalid.
 window.CHGRID_TIME_ZONE = "America/Detroit";
diff --git a/client/src/main.ts b/client/src/main.ts
index f092a3c..7fc8c87 100644
--- a/client/src/main.ts
+++ b/client/src/main.ts
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ let audioLayers: AudioLayerState = {
 
 const signalingProtocol = window.location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss' : 'ws';
 const signalingUrl = `${signalingProtocol}://${window.location.host}/ws`;
-const signaling = new SignalingClient(signalingUrl, updateStatus);
+const signaling = new SignalingClient(signalingUrl, handleSignalingStatus);
 
 const peerManager = new PeerManager(
   audio,
@@ -490,6 +490,11 @@ function toggleAudioLayer(layer: keyof AudioLayerState): void {
   audio.sfxUiBlip();
 }
 
+/** Routes signaling transport status messages through chat buffer + status output. */
+function handleSignalingStatus(message: string): void {
+  pushChatMessage(message);
+}
+
 /** Appends a chat/system line to the bounded status history buffer. */
 function pushChatMessage(message: string): void {
   messageBuffer.push(message);
@@ -1081,7 +1086,7 @@ async function reconnectAfterHeartbeatTimeout(): Promise<void> {
   if (reconnectInFlight || !state.running) return;
   reconnectInFlight = true;
   stopHeartbeat();
-  updateStatus('Connection stale. Reconnecting...');
+  pushChatMessage('Connection stale. Reconnecting...');
   disconnect();
   try {
     await connect();
@@ -1205,7 +1210,7 @@ async function onSignalingMessage(message: IncomingMessage): Promise<void> {
   }
   await onAppMessage(message);
   if (restartAnnouncement) {
-    updateStatus(restartAnnouncement);
+    pushChatMessage(restartAnnouncement);
     audio.sfxUiConfirm();
   }
 }