diff --git a/public/app.js b/public/app.js
index 550dee2..5d52b6e 100644
--- a/public/app.js
+++ b/public/app.js
@@ -27,12 +27,13 @@ const S = {
   iceServers: null,      // resolved on join
   sharing: false,
   connecting: false,
+  pingTimer: null,
 };
 window.__dbg = S; // POC debug handle
 
 const $ = (sel) => document.querySelector(sel);
 const els = {
-  stage: $('#stage'), screens: $('#screens'), tiles: $('#tiles'),
+  stage: $('#stage'), screens: $('#screens'),
   spatial: $('#spatial'), status: $('#voice-status'), nick: $('#nick'),
   meAvatar: $('#me-avatar'), mic: $('#btn-mic'), deafen: $('#btn-deafen'),
 };
@@ -118,6 +119,7 @@ function leaveVoice(reason) {
   if (S.sharing) stopScreenShare(true);
   for (const peer of S.peers.values()) destroyPeer(peer);
   S.peers.clear();
+  if (S.pingTimer) { clearInterval(S.pingTimer); S.pingTimer = null; }
   if (S.ws) { try { S.ws.close(); } catch {} S.ws = null; }
   if (S.micStream) { S.micStream.getTracks().forEach((t) => t.stop()); S.micStream = null; }
   els.mic.disabled = false;
@@ -151,12 +153,19 @@ function openSignaling(room) {
       try { handleSignal(msg); } catch (err) { console.error('signal handler error', msg.type, err); }
     };
     ws.onclose = () => {
+      if (S.pingTimer) { clearInterval(S.pingTimer); S.pingTimer = null; }
       if (S.ws === ws && S.room) {
         toast('Signaling connection lost', 'error');
         leaveVoice('disconnected');
       }
     };
-    ws.onopen = () => resolve();
+    ws.onopen = () => {
+      if (S.pingTimer) clearInterval(S.pingTimer);
+      S.pingTimer = setInterval(() => {
+        send({ type: 'ping' });
+      }, 10000);
+      resolve();
+    };
   });
 }
 
@@ -524,12 +533,11 @@ function renderAll() {
 }
 
 function renderStageEmpty() {
-  const anyone = S.peers.size > 0 || S.sharing || S.room;
-  els.stage.classList.toggle('empty', !anyone);
+  const hasScreens = activeShares().length > 0;
+  els.stage.classList.toggle('empty', !hasScreens);
 }
 
 function renderChannelCounts() {
-  // POC: server does not expose cross-room rosters; count is local-room only
   const counts = {};
   for (const p of S.peers.values()) counts[S.room] = (counts[S.room] || 0) + 1;
   document.querySelectorAll('[data-room-count]').forEach((el) => {
@@ -539,35 +547,91 @@ function renderChannelCounts() {
 }
 
 function renderTiles() {
-  els.tiles.innerHTML = '';
+  // Clear any existing user rosters in voice channels
+  document.querySelectorAll('.channel-users').forEach((el) => { el.innerHTML = ''; });
+
+  if (!S.room) {
+    renderStageEmpty();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const activeChannelEl = document.querySelector(`.channel.voice[data-room="${S.room}"]`);
+  if (!activeChannelEl) {
+    renderStageEmpty();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  let roster = activeChannelEl.nextElementSibling;
+  if (!roster || !roster.classList.contains('channel-users')) {
+    roster = document.createElement('div');
+    roster.className = 'channel-users';
+    activeChannelEl.after(roster);
+  }
+
+  // Render "Me" first
+  const meItem = document.createElement('div');
+  meItem.className = 'channel-user-item' + (els.meAvatar.classList.contains('speaking') ? ' speaking' : '');
+  const meAv = document.createElement('div');
+  meAv.className = 'avatar user-line-avatar';
+  setAvatar(meAv, S.name, S.myId || 'me');
+  const meName = document.createElement('span');
+  meName.className = 'user-line-name';
+  meName.textContent = `${S.name} (you)`;
+
+  const meBadges = document.createElement('span');
+  meBadges.className = 'user-line-badges';
+  if (S.muted) meBadges.innerHTML += '<span class="badge-mute" title="Muted">&#127908;&#65039;&#8205;&#10060;</span>';
+  if (S.deafened) meBadges.innerHTML += '<span class="badge-deafen" title="Deafened">&#128066;&#10060;</span>';
+  if (S.sharing) meBadges.innerHTML += '<span class="badge-share" title="Sharing screen">&#128421;&#65039;</span>';
+
+  meItem.append(meAv, meName, meBadges);
+  roster.appendChild(meItem);
+
+  // Render Peers
   for (const peer of S.peers.values()) {
-    const tile = document.createElement('div');
-    tile.className = 'tile' + (peer.speaking ? ' speaking' : '');
+    const item = document.createElement('div');
+    item.className = 'channel-user-item' + (peer.speaking ? ' speaking' : '');
+
     const av = document.createElement('div');
-    av.className = 'avatar';
+    av.className = 'avatar user-line-avatar';
     setAvatar(av, peer.name, peer.id);
-    const name = document.createElement('div');
-    name.className = 'name';
+
+    const name = document.createElement('span');
+    name.className = 'user-line-name';
     name.textContent = peer.name;
-    const sub = document.createElement('div');
-    sub.className = 'sub';
-    const bits = [];
-    if (!peer.pc) bits.push('<span class="connecting">signaling…</span>');
-    else if (peer.pc.connectionState !== 'connected') bits.push(`<span class="connecting">${peer.pc.connectionState}…</span>`);
-    else if (!peer.micStream && !peer.state.muted) bits.push('<span class="connecting">no audio yet</span>');
-    if (peer.state.muted) bits.push('<span class="mute-tag">muted</span>');
-    if (peer.state.sharing) bits.push('<span class="share-tag">sharing</span>');
-    sub.innerHTML = bits.join(' ') || 'connected';
-    const vol = document.createElement('input');
-    vol.type = 'range'; vol.min = 0; vol.max = 2; vol.step = 0.05; vol.value = peer.vol;
-    vol.title = 'Volume';
-    vol.oninput = () => {
-      peer.vol = Number(vol.value);
+
+    const badges = document.createElement('span');
+    badges.className = 'user-line-badges';
+    if (!peer.pc || peer.pc.connectionState !== 'connected') {
+      badges.innerHTML += '<span class="badge-conn" title="Connecting...">…</span>';
+    }
+    if (peer.state.muted) badges.innerHTML += '<span class="badge-mute" title="Muted">&#127908;&#65039;&#8205;&#10060;</span>';
+    if (peer.state.sharing) badges.innerHTML += '<span class="badge-share" title="Sharing screen">&#128421;&#65039;</span>';
+
+    // Volume hover popup
+    const volPop = document.createElement('div');
+    volPop.className = 'volume-popup';
+    const volLabel = document.createElement('div');
+    volLabel.className = 'vol-title';
+    volLabel.textContent = `User Volume: ${Math.round(peer.vol * 100)}%`;
+    const volInput = document.createElement('input');
+    volInput.type = 'range';
+    volInput.min = 0;
+    volInput.max = 2;
+    volInput.step = 0.05;
+    volInput.value = peer.vol;
+    volInput.oninput = (e) => {
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      peer.vol = Number(volInput.value);
+      volLabel.textContent = `User Volume: ${Math.round(peer.vol * 100)}%`;
       if (peer.gain && !S.deafened) peer.gain.gain.value = peer.vol;
     };
-    tile.append(av, name, sub, vol);
-    els.tiles.appendChild(tile);
+    volPop.append(volLabel, volInput);
+
+    item.append(av, name, badges, volPop);
+    roster.appendChild(item);
   }
+
   renderStageEmpty();
 }
 
diff --git a/public/index.html b/public/index.html
index 2ff5fa2..622acdb 100644
--- a/public/index.html
+++ b/public/index.html
@@ -56,11 +56,10 @@
   <main id="main">
     <div id="stage">
       <div id="screens"></div>
-      <div id="tiles"></div>
       <div id="stage-empty">
-        <div class="big-icon">&#128266;</div>
-        <h2>Pick a voice channel to join</h2>
-        <p>Peer-to-peer WebRTC voice &amp; screen sharing. Drag avatars on the spatial plane to position who you hear.</p>
+        <div class="big-icon">&#128421;&#65039;</div>
+        <h2>No active screen shares</h2>
+        <p>When someone shares their screen, it will appear here. Click the screen button below or press <b>S</b> to share.</p>
       </div>
     </div>
 
@@ -97,6 +96,6 @@
 
 <div id="toasts"></div>
 
-<script src="app.js?v=8"></script>
+<script src="app.js?v=9"></script>
 </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/public/style.css b/public/style.css
index f591612..1f3ff94 100644
--- a/public/style.css
+++ b/public/style.css
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ body {
 /* sidebar */
 #sidebar {
   width: 250px; background: var(--bg-1); display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0;
+  position: relative; z-index: 10;
 }
 #server-name {
   padding: 14px 16px; font-weight: 700; font-size: 15px;
@@ -105,8 +106,8 @@ body {
 #stage.empty #stage-empty { display: grid; }
 #stage:not(.empty) #stage-empty { display: none; }
 
-#screens { display: flex; gap: 12px; flex-wrap: wrap; }
-#screens.multi { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(340px, 1fr)); align-content: start; }
+#screens { display: flex; gap: 12px; flex-wrap: wrap; flex: 1; min-height: 0; align-items: stretch; }
+#screens.multi { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(400px, 1fr)); align-content: stretch; }
 #screens.multi .screen-card { flex: none; }
 .screen-card.popped {
   min-height: 120px; display: grid; place-items: center;
@@ -122,27 +123,97 @@ body {
   position: relative; background: #000; border-radius: var(--radius); overflow: hidden;
   flex: 1 1 480px; max-width: 100%; box-shadow: 0 8px 24px rgba(0,0,0,.4);
 }
-.screen-card video { width: 100%; display: block; max-height: 62vh; object-fit: contain; }
+.screen-card video { width: 100%; height: 100%; display: block; max-height: 100%; object-fit: contain; }
 .screen-card .label {
   position: absolute; left: 8px; bottom: 8px; background: rgba(0,0,0,.65);
   padding: 3px 8px; border-radius: 5px; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 600;
 }
 .screen-card .label .live { color: var(--red); font-weight: 800; margin-right: 5px; }
 
-#tiles { display: flex; gap: 10px; flex-wrap: wrap; }
-.tile {
-  background: var(--bg-1); border-radius: var(--radius); padding: 12px; width: 150px;
-  display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; gap: 6px; position: relative;
-  border: 2px solid transparent;
+/* channel user lines */
+.channel-users {
+  margin: 2px 8px 8px 16px;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 2px;
+}
+.channel-user-item {
+  position: relative;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 8px;
+  padding: 4px 8px;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  color: var(--text-1);
+  font-size: 13px;
+  cursor: default;
+}
+.channel-user-item:hover {
+  background: var(--bg-3);
+  color: var(--text-0);
+}
+.channel-user-item.speaking .user-line-avatar {
+  box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px var(--green);
+}
+.user-line-avatar {
+  width: 22px;
+  height: 22px;
+  font-size: 11px;
+}
+.user-line-name {
+  flex: 1;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  text-overflow: ellipsis;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+}
+.user-line-badges {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 4px;
+  font-size: 12px;
+}
+.badge-conn {
+  color: var(--yellow);
+  font-weight: bold;
+}
+.badge-mute {
+  font-size: 11px;
+}
+.badge-share {
+  font-size: 11px;
+}
+
+/* hover volume popup */
+.volume-popup {
+  position: absolute;
+  left: calc(100% + 6px);
+  top: 50%;
+  transform: translateY(-50%);
+  background: var(--bg-0);
+  border: 1px solid var(--bg-4);
+  border-radius: var(--radius);
+  padding: 8px 12px;
+  width: 150px;
+  box-shadow: 0 4px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.45);
+  display: none;
+  z-index: 100;
+  pointer-events: auto;
+}
+.channel-user-item:hover .volume-popup {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 6px;
+}
+.volume-popup .vol-title {
+  font-size: 11px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  color: var(--text-1);
+  white-space: nowrap;
+}
+.volume-popup input[type=range] {
+  width: 100%;
+  accent-color: var(--brand);
 }
-.tile.speaking { border-color: var(--green); }
-.tile .avatar { width: 56px; height: 56px; font-size: 24px; }
-.tile .name { font-weight: 600; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; }
-.tile .sub { font-size: 11px; color: var(--text-2); display: flex; gap: 6px; align-items: center; }
-.tile .mute-tag { color: var(--red); }
-.tile .share-tag { color: var(--yellow); }
-.tile input[type=range] { width: 100%; accent-color: var(--brand); }
-.tile .connecting { font-size: 11px; color: var(--yellow); }
 
 .avatar {
   width: 36px; height: 36px; border-radius: 50%; display: grid; place-items: center;
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index aa37919..876b2df 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -156,6 +156,10 @@ wss.on('connection', (socket, req) => {
     if (!msg || typeof msg.type !== 'string') return;
 
     switch (msg.type) {
+      case 'ping': {
+        send({ type: 'pong' });
+        break;
+      }
       case 'pos': {
         const x = Number(msg.x), y = Number(msg.y);
         if (Number.isFinite(x) && Number.isFinite(y)) {