diff --git a/apps/arstack_studio/qml/Main.qml b/apps/arstack_studio/qml/Main.qml
index ec67055e2..b419ddd7c 100644
--- a/apps/arstack_studio/qml/Main.qml
+++ b/apps/arstack_studio/qml/Main.qml
@@ -1039,8 +1039,8 @@ ApplicationWindow {
                         StudioTimingTray {
                             objectName: "studioTimingTray"
                             Layout.fillWidth: true
-                            Layout.preferredHeight: 84
-                            Layout.minimumHeight: 84
+                            Layout.preferredHeight: 57
+                            Layout.minimumHeight: 57
                             theme: studioTheme
                             controller: root
                             device: device
@@ -1105,9 +1105,10 @@ ApplicationWindow {
                     DockFrame {
                         visible: root.phasorDockVisible && !root.phasorDetached
                         SplitView.fillWidth: true
-                        SplitView.fillHeight: true
                         SplitView.minimumHeight: 170
-                        SplitView.preferredHeight: 238
+                        SplitView.preferredHeight: 225
+                        SplitView.maximumHeight: 265
+                        SplitView.fillHeight: false
                         theme: studioTheme
                         titleText: "Phasor"
                         statusText: ""
@@ -1144,9 +1145,9 @@ ApplicationWindow {
                     DockFrame {
                         visible: root.waveformDockVisible && !root.waveformDetached
                         SplitView.fillWidth: true
-                        SplitView.fillHeight: true
                         SplitView.minimumHeight: 170
                         SplitView.preferredHeight: 328
+                        SplitView.fillHeight: true
                         theme: studioTheme
                         titleText: "Waveform"
                         statusText: root.signalFrequency.toFixed(3) + " Hz"
diff --git a/apps/arstack_studio/qml/ModernRibbon.qml b/apps/arstack_studio/qml/ModernRibbon.qml
index 0c8034d14..d6dc4baea 100644
--- a/apps/arstack_studio/qml/ModernRibbon.qml
+++ b/apps/arstack_studio/qml/ModernRibbon.qml
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ Rectangle {
             toolTipText: "Start"
             onClicked: {
                 if (!bar.device.deviceVerified) {
+                    // The footer already identifies preview-only operation.
                     bar.controller.offlinePreviewRunning = true
-                    bar.controller.showMessage("Offline waveform preview · no network SV output.", false)
                 } else bar.workflow.requestStart()
             }
         }
diff --git a/apps/arstack_studio/qml/StudioTimingTray.qml b/apps/arstack_studio/qml/StudioTimingTray.qml
index 08708d47d..09ff2c46f 100644
--- a/apps/arstack_studio/qml/StudioTimingTray.qml
+++ b/apps/arstack_studio/qml/StudioTimingTray.qml
@@ -61,30 +61,11 @@ Rectangle {
 
     ColumnLayout {
         anchors.fill: parent
-        anchors.margins: tray.compact ? 9 : 11
-        spacing: tray.compact ? 5 : 7
-
-        RowLayout {
-            Layout.fillWidth: true
-            spacing: 8
-            Rectangle { width: 3; height: 14; radius: 2; color: tray.theme.accent }
-            Label {
-                text: "TIME SYNC  /  SV SIMULATION"
-                color: tray.theme.textSoft
-                font.family: tray.uiFont
-                font.pixelSize: 10
-                font.weight: Font.DemiBold
-                font.letterSpacing: 0.45
-            }
-            Item { Layout.fillWidth: true }
-            StateBadge {
-                theme: tray.theme
-                monoFont: tray.monoFont
-                state: tray.stateText
-                stateColor: tray.stateColor
-            }
-        }
+        anchors.margins: tray.compact ? 7 : 9
+        spacing: 0
 
+        // The only global PTP/device status lives in the footer.
+        // This is an action strip, not a second diagnostic/status card.
         RowLayout {
             Layout.fillWidth: true
             spacing: tray.compact ? 7 : 10
diff --git a/apps/arstack_studio/tests/check_operator_workspace.py b/apps/arstack_studio/tests/check_operator_workspace.py
index e04a09245..8e5073185 100644
--- a/apps/arstack_studio/tests/check_operator_workspace.py
+++ b/apps/arstack_studio/tests/check_operator_workspace.py
@@ -104,6 +104,15 @@ def main() -> None:
     assert "width: 212" in menu and "commandRows * 29" in menu
     assert "text: \"Generated setpoint · not independent on-wire proof\"" not in preview
     assert "No ESP32 board detected · Preview mode only" in main_qml
+    require("Layout.preferredHeight: 57" in main_qml
+            and "SplitView.maximumHeight: 265" in main_qml
+            and "SplitView.fillHeight: false" in main_qml,
+            "compact timing strip and bounded phasor panel must avoid dead space")
+    require("TIME SYNC  /  SV SIMULATION" not in tray
+            and "StateBadge {" not in tray,
+            "device/PTP status must not be duplicated in the control tray")
+    require("Offline waveform preview · no network SV output." not in ribbon,
+            "offline Start should not duplicate preview status with a toast")
     assert "Layout.preferredHeight: 78" in main_qml
     device_src = (STUDIO / "src/DeviceController.cpp").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
     session_src = (STUDIO / "src/SmartSessionController.cpp").read_text(encoding="utf-8")