diff --git a/src/lib/elements/element_websocket_v3.svelte b/src/lib/elements/element_websocket_v3.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9b0f331f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/elements/element_websocket_v3.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,401 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+    /**
+     * element_websocket_v3.svelte — Aether WebSocket V3 Client
+     *
+     * PURPOSE:
+     *   Drop-in replacement for element_websocket_v2.svelte using the V3 protocol:
+     *   - URL: /v3/ws/group/{group_id}/client/{client_id}?api_key=...&jwt=...
+     *   - Strict WS_Message_V3 schema: { msg_type, target, cmd?, msg?, payload? }
+     *   - Redis-granular routing (group / direct / broadcast / echo)
+     *   - Automatic 45s heartbeat to maintain Redis presence TTL
+     *   - Auth via query params (browsers cannot set WS headers)
+     *
+     * EXTERNAL INTERFACE:
+     *   Intentionally prop-compatible with V2 so callers need minimal changes.
+     *   New V3-only props: api_key, jwt, x_account_id.
+     *
+     * SCHEMA CHANGES FROM V2:
+     *   - `type` field renamed to `msg_type` ('cmd'|'msg'|'heartbeat'|'presence')
+     *   - `target` values: 'group' (was 'all'), 'direct' (was 'dm'), 'echo', 'broadcast'
+     *   - `from_id` (server-set) replaces self-echo check via `client_id` in payload
+     *   - Do NOT send `client_id`, `group_id`, or `from_id` in message body; server fills them.
+     */
+
+    interface Props {
+        log_lvl?: number;
+
+        // Connection control
+        ws_connect?: boolean;
+        ws_connect_status?: null | string;
+        ws_server?: string;
+        ws_retry_delay?: number;
+        ws_retry_count?: number;
+
+        // V3 Auth (passed as query params — browsers cannot set WS headers)
+        api_key?: string | null;
+        jwt?: string | null;
+        x_account_id?: string | null;
+
+        // Identity
+        group_id?: string;
+        client_id?: any;
+
+        // Outbound message content
+        cmd?: null | string;
+        msg?: null | string;
+        trigger_send?: any;
+        trigger_connect?: boolean;
+        trigger_disconnect?: boolean;
+
+        // Visibility flags (for debug panel)
+        hide__ws_element?: boolean;
+        hide__ws_form?: boolean;
+        hide__ws_messages?: boolean;
+        hide__ws_commands?: boolean;
+
+        // Output status bindings
+        ws_conn_status?: any;
+        ws_recv_status?: any;
+        ws_sent_status?: any;
+    }
+
+    let {
+        log_lvl = 0,
+
+        ws_connect = $bindable(false),
+        ws_connect_status = $bindable(null),
+        ws_server = 'dev-api.oneskyit.com',
+        ws_retry_delay = 3500,
+        ws_retry_count = 0,
+
+        api_key = null,
+        jwt = null,
+        x_account_id = null,
+
+        group_id = $bindable('ae-grp-99'),
+        client_id = $bindable(Date.now()),
+
+        cmd = $bindable(null),
+        msg = $bindable(null),
+        trigger_send = $bindable(null),
+        trigger_connect = $bindable(false),
+        trigger_disconnect = $bindable(false),
+
+        hide__ws_element = $bindable(false),
+        hide__ws_form = $bindable(true),
+        hide__ws_messages = $bindable(false),
+        hide__ws_commands = $bindable(false),
+
+        ws_conn_status = $bindable(null),
+        ws_recv_status = $bindable(null),
+        ws_sent_status = $bindable(null)
+    }: Props = $props();
+
+    // *** Internal state
+
+    let ws_received_list_cmd: any[] = $state([]);
+    let ws_received_list_other: any[] = $state([]);
+
+    let ws_group: WebSocket | null = $state(null);
+    let heartbeat_interval: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+
+    // *** Build V3 URL with auth query params
+
+    function build_ws_url(group: string, client: any): string {
+        // Use wss:// in production (HTTPS), ws:// for local dev (HTTP)
+        const protocol = window.location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss' : 'ws';
+        const params = new URLSearchParams();
+        if (api_key) params.set('api_key', api_key);
+        if (jwt) params.set('jwt', jwt);
+        if (x_account_id) params.set('x_account_id', x_account_id);
+        const qs = params.toString();
+        return `${protocol}://${ws_server}/v3/ws/group/${group}/client/${client}${qs ? '?' + qs : ''}`;
+    }
+
+    // *** Heartbeat — keeps Redis presence TTL alive (V3 requirement)
+
+    function start_heartbeat(conn: WebSocket) {
+        stop_heartbeat();
+        heartbeat_interval = setInterval(() => {
+            if (conn.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN) {
+                conn.send(JSON.stringify({ msg_type: 'heartbeat', target: 'echo' }));
+                if (log_lvl) console.log('WS V3: heartbeat sent');
+            }
+        }, 45_000);
+    }
+
+    function stop_heartbeat() {
+        if (heartbeat_interval !== null) {
+            clearInterval(heartbeat_interval);
+            heartbeat_interval = null;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // *** Core connection
+
+    function ws_connect_group_id({ group, client }: { group: string; client: any }): WebSocket {
+        if (!group) {
+            group = 'ae-grp-99';
+            console.warn('WS V3: No group_id — using default:', group);
+        }
+        if (!client) {
+            client = Date.now();
+            console.warn('WS V3: No client_id — using timestamp:', client);
+        }
+
+        const url = build_ws_url(group, client);
+        if (log_lvl) console.log('WS V3 connect URL:', url);
+
+        const conn = new WebSocket(url);
+
+        conn.onopen = () => {
+            if (log_lvl) console.log('WS V3: connected');
+            ws_connect_status = 'connected';
+            ws_conn_status = 'connected';
+            ws_retry_count = 0;
+
+            // Announce presence to the group
+            conn.send(JSON.stringify({
+                msg_type: 'msg',
+                target: 'group',
+                msg: `Client ${String(client).slice(-5)} connected`
+            }));
+
+            start_heartbeat(conn);
+        };
+
+        conn.onmessage = (event) => {
+            let data: any;
+            try {
+                data = JSON.parse(event.data);
+            } catch {
+                console.warn('WS V3: non-JSON message ignored', event.data);
+                return;
+            }
+
+            if (log_lvl) console.log('WS V3: received', data);
+
+            // Ignore messages we sent ourselves (server stamps from_id)
+            if (data.from_id && String(data.from_id) === String(client)) {
+                if (log_lvl) console.log('WS V3: self-echo ignored');
+                return;
+            }
+
+            // Ignore heartbeat echoes silently
+            if (data.msg_type === 'heartbeat') return;
+
+            if (data.msg_type === 'cmd') {
+                ws_received_list_cmd = [data, ...ws_received_list_cmd];
+            } else {
+                ws_received_list_other = [data, ...ws_received_list_other];
+            }
+
+            ws_recv_status = data;
+        };
+
+        conn.onclose = () => {
+            if (log_lvl) console.log('WS V3: connection closed');
+            stop_heartbeat();
+            ws_connect_status = 'disconnected';
+            ws_conn_status = 'disconnected';
+
+            ws_received_list_other = [
+                {
+                    msg_type: 'msg',
+                    target: 'local',
+                    msg: `LOCAL: client ${client} disconnected`
+                },
+                ...ws_received_list_other
+            ];
+
+            // Auto-reconnect while ws_connect is still true
+            if (ws_connect) {
+                if (ws_retry_count >= 10) {
+                    ws_retry_delay = Math.min(ws_retry_delay + 4999, 120_000);
+                    console.warn(`WS V3: retry limit reached, delay=${ws_retry_delay}ms`);
+                }
+                setTimeout(() => {
+                    ws_retry_count += 1;
+                    ws_group = ws_connect_group_id({ group, client });
+                }, ws_retry_delay);
+            }
+        };
+
+        conn.onerror = () => {
+            console.warn('WS V3: connection error');
+        };
+
+        return conn;
+    }
+
+    // *** Send helper
+
+    function handle_send() {
+        if (!ws_group || ws_group.readyState !== WebSocket.OPEN) {
+            console.warn('WS V3: send attempted with no open connection');
+            return;
+        }
+        const payload: Record<string, any> = {
+            msg_type: 'cmd',
+            target: 'group'
+        };
+        if (cmd) payload.cmd = cmd;
+        if (msg) payload.msg = msg;
+
+        if (log_lvl) console.log('WS V3: sending', payload);
+        ws_group.send(JSON.stringify(payload));
+
+        ws_sent_status = { ...payload, src: client_id, group_id: group_id };
+        cmd = '';
+        msg = '';
+    }
+
+    // *** Reactive effects
+
+    // Connect / disconnect based on ws_connect flag
+    $effect(() => {
+        if (ws_connect && group_id) {
+            ws_group = ws_connect_group_id({ group: group_id, client: client_id });
+        } else {
+            stop_heartbeat();
+            ws_group?.close();
+            ws_group = null;
+            ws_connect_status = 'disconnected';
+        }
+    });
+
+    // Trigger: send command
+    $effect(() => {
+        if (trigger_send && cmd) {
+            trigger_send = null;
+            handle_send();
+        }
+    });
+
+    // Trigger: connect
+    $effect(() => {
+        if (trigger_connect) {
+            trigger_connect = false;
+            if (!ws_connect) ws_connect = true;
+        }
+    });
+
+    // Trigger: disconnect
+    $effect(() => {
+        if (trigger_disconnect) {
+            trigger_disconnect = false;
+            stop_heartbeat();
+            if (ws_connect) ws_connect = false;
+            ws_group?.close();
+            ws_group = null;
+            ws_connect_status = 'disconnected';
+        }
+    });
+
+    function prevent_default<T extends Event>(fn: (event: T) => void) {
+        return function (event: T) {
+            event.preventDefault();
+            fn(event);
+        };
+    }
+</script>
+
+<!-- Debug panel — only visible when ws_connect=true and hide__ws_element=false -->
+<section
+    class:hidden={!ws_connect || hide__ws_element}
+    class="ae_element__websocket_v3 container p-1 bg-pink-100 text-xs mx-auto pb-16 mt-32 mb-32 relative"
+>
+    <span class="absolute top-0 right-0 flex flex-col gap-1">
+        <button
+            type="button"
+            onclick={() => { hide__ws_form = !hide__ws_form; }}
+            class="btn btn-sm text-xs hover:preset-filled-tertiary-500"
+            class:preset-tonal-tertiary={hide__ws_form}
+            class:preset-filled-tertiary-500={!hide__ws_form}
+        >
+            {hide__ws_form ? 'Show Form' : 'Hide Form?'}
+        </button>
+        <button
+            type="button"
+            onclick={() => { hide__ws_messages = !hide__ws_messages; }}
+            class="btn btn-sm text-xs hover:preset-filled-tertiary-500"
+            class:preset-tonal-tertiary={hide__ws_messages}
+            class:preset-filled-tertiary-500={!hide__ws_messages}
+        >
+            {hide__ws_messages ? 'Show Messages' : 'Hide Messages?'}
+        </button>
+        <button
+            type="button"
+            onclick={() => { hide__ws_commands = !hide__ws_commands; }}
+            class="btn btn-sm text-xs hover:preset-filled-tertiary-500"
+            class:preset-tonal-tertiary={hide__ws_commands}
+            class:preset-filled-tertiary-500={!hide__ws_commands}
+        >
+            {hide__ws_commands ? 'Show Commands' : 'Hide Commands?'}
+        </button>
+    </span>
+
+    <header>
+        <h1 class="h6 text-center">WebSocket V3 — {ws_connect_status ?? 'not connected'}</h1>
+        <p class="text-center opacity-60">Group: {group_id} · Client: {String(client_id).slice(-8)}</p>
+    </header>
+
+    {#if !hide__ws_form}
+        <form onsubmit={prevent_default(handle_send)} class="flex flex-row gap-1 flex-wrap mt-2">
+            <input
+                type="text"
+                bind:value={group_id}
+                placeholder="Group ID"
+                class="input text-sm w-36"
+            />
+            <input
+                type="text"
+                bind:value={cmd}
+                placeholder="Command"
+                class="input text-sm w-36"
+            />
+            <input
+                type="text"
+                bind:value={msg}
+                placeholder="Message"
+                class="input text-sm w-36"
+            />
+            <button
+                type="submit"
+                class="btn btn-sm preset-tonal-primary"
+                disabled={!ws_connect || ws_connect_status !== 'connected'}
+            >
+                Send
+            </button>
+        </form>
+    {/if}
+
+    {#if !hide__ws_commands}
+        <div class="mt-2">
+            <h2 class="font-bold">Commands received:</h2>
+            <ul class="max-h-32 overflow-y-auto">
+                {#each ws_received_list_cmd as item}
+                    <li class="border-b border-pink-200 py-0.5 font-mono">
+                        <span class="text-red-700 font-bold">{item.cmd}</span>
+                        {#if item.from_id}<span class="opacity-50 ml-1">from {item.from_id}</span>{/if}
+                    </li>
+                {/each}
+            </ul>
+        </div>
+    {/if}
+
+    {#if !hide__ws_messages}
+        <div class="mt-2">
+            <h2 class="font-bold">Messages received:</h2>
+            <ul class="max-h-32 overflow-y-auto">
+                {#each ws_received_list_other as item}
+                    <li class="border-b border-pink-200 py-0.5 font-mono">
+                        <span class="opacity-50">[{item.msg_type}]</span>
+                        {item.msg ?? ''}
+                        {#if item.from_id}<span class="opacity-50 ml-1">from {item.from_id}</span>{/if}
+                    </li>
+                {/each}
+            </ul>
+        </div>
+    {/if}
+</section>
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher/+layout.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher/+layout.svelte
index 9b28dcd7..83ed17be 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher/+layout.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher/+layout.svelte
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
     import Launcher_cfg from '../launcher_cfg.svelte';
     import Launcher_menu from '../launcher_menu.svelte';
     import Launcher_session_view from '../launcher_session_view.svelte';
-    import Element_websocket_v2 from '$lib/elements/element_websocket_v2.svelte';
+    import Element_websocket_v3 from '$lib/elements/element_websocket_v3.svelte';
 
     // *** Set initial variables
     // NOTE: Derived from data.account_id (prop) instead of $slct.account_id (store)
@@ -288,7 +288,8 @@
 
     function handle_ws_recv(ws_recv_status: any) {
         if (log_lvl) console.log('*** handle_ws_recv() ***', ws_recv_status);
-        if (ws_recv_status.type == 'cmd' && ws_recv_status.cmd) {
+        // V3 schema uses msg_type instead of type
+        if (ws_recv_status.msg_type == 'cmd' && ws_recv_status.cmd) {
             let cmd = ws_recv_status.cmd;
             if ($events_loc.launcher.controller != 'remote') return;
 
@@ -1001,15 +1002,16 @@
 </Modal>
 
 {#if $events_loc.launcher.controller_group_code && $events_loc.launcher.ws_connect}
-    <Element_websocket_v2
+    <Element_websocket_v3
         {log_lvl}
         bind:ws_connect={$events_loc.launcher.ws_connect}
         bind:ws_connect_status={$events_sess.launcher.ws_connect_status}
         ws_server={$ae_api.fqdn}
+        api_key={$ae_api.api_secret_key}
+        jwt={$ae_loc.jwt}
         bind:group_id={$events_loc.launcher.controller_group_code}
         bind:client_id={$events_loc.launcher.controller_client_id}
         bind:cmd={$events_sess.launcher.controller_cmd}
-        type={'cmd'}
         bind:trigger_send={$events_sess.launcher.controller_trigger_send}
         bind:trigger_connect={$events_sess.launcher.trigger__ws_connect}
         bind:trigger_disconnect={$events_sess.launcher.trigger__ws_disconnect}