diff --git a/docs/mobile-api.md b/docs/mobile-api.md
index 26b7a30..0db4b52 100644
--- a/docs/mobile-api.md
+++ b/docs/mobile-api.md
@@ -189,6 +189,46 @@ Once subscribed, you'll receive packets within your bounds. Historical packets a
 
 **Note:** Optional fields are omitted from the payload entirely when their value is `nil`.
 
+### Receiving Batched Packets (Historical Loads)
+
+When the server delivers historical packets in bulk (for example, the replay
+that follows `subscribe_bounds` or `subscribe_callsign`), they arrive as a
+batched `packets` event instead of many individual `packet` events. Live
+streaming packets continue to use the single `packet` event described above.
+
+**Event:** `packets`
+
+**Payload:**
+```json
+{
+  "packets": [
+    { "id": "...", "callsign": "...", "lat": 33.1, "lng": -96.1, "timestamp": "2025-10-25T16:17:20Z", "symbol_table_id": "/", "symbol_code": ">" },
+    { "id": "...", "callsign": "...", "lat": 33.2, "lng": -96.2, "timestamp": "2025-10-25T16:17:25Z", "symbol_table_id": "/", "symbol_code": "#" }
+  ],
+  "count": 2
+}
+```
+
+Each entry inside `packets` has the same schema as the single-packet `packet`
+event above. Batch sizes are capped at 100 entries per frame, so a 1,000-packet
+history load arrives as ~10 `packets` events.
+
+**Migration guidance:** existing clients that only listen for the `packet`
+event will still receive live updates correctly — they simply won't populate
+the historical backlog. To show history, add a handler for `packets` that
+iterates over `payload.packets` and applies the same rendering logic.
+
+### Rate Limiting
+
+- **Connect:** up to 30 new socket connections per IP per minute. Exceeding the
+  limit returns an immediate `:error` from the socket handshake; retry after
+  the minute window elapses.
+- **Channel requests:** the expensive operations (`subscribe_bounds`,
+  `subscribe_callsign`, `search_callsign`) are rate-limited to 30 calls per
+  socket per minute. Exceeding the limit returns
+  `{ "status": "error", "response": { "message": "Rate limit exceeded; retry later", "retry_after_ms": <ms> } }`.
+- Streaming packet delivery is *not* rate-limited.
+
 ### Unsubscribing
 
 Stop receiving packets.
diff --git a/lib/aprsme_web/channels/mobile_channel.ex b/lib/aprsme_web/channels/mobile_channel.ex
index b360ad5..58ddd8f 100644
--- a/lib/aprsme_web/channels/mobile_channel.ex
+++ b/lib/aprsme_web/channels/mobile_channel.ex
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ defmodule AprsmeWeb.MobileChannel do
 
   require Logger
 
+  # Per-socket rate limits on the expensive operations. Streaming packet
+  # delivery is unaffected — these only guard client-initiated queries.
+  @expensive_op_limit 30
+  @expensive_op_scale 60_000
+
   @impl true
   def join("mobile:packets", _payload, socket) do
     Logger.info("Mobile client joined packets channel")
@@ -71,38 +76,40 @@ defmodule AprsmeWeb.MobileChannel do
       ) do
     Logger.info("Mobile websocket received subscribe_bounds: #{inspect(payload)}")
 
-    bounds = %{
-      north: ensure_float(north),
-      south: ensure_float(south),
-      east: ensure_float(east),
-      west: ensure_float(west)
-    }
+    with :ok <- check_rate_limit(socket, "subscribe_bounds") do
+      bounds = %{
+        north: ensure_float(north),
+        south: ensure_float(south),
+        east: ensure_float(east),
+        west: ensure_float(west)
+      }
 
-    # Validate bounds
-    case validate_bounds(bounds) do
-      :ok ->
-        # Generate unique client ID
-        client_id = "mobile_#{:erlang.phash2(self())}"
+      # Validate bounds
+      case validate_bounds(bounds) do
+        :ok ->
+          # Generate unique client ID
+          client_id = "mobile_#{:erlang.phash2(self())}"
 
-        # Subscribe to StreamingPacketsPubSub with bounds
-        Aprsme.StreamingPacketsPubSub.subscribe_to_bounds(self(), bounds)
+          # Subscribe to StreamingPacketsPubSub with bounds
+          Aprsme.StreamingPacketsPubSub.subscribe_to_bounds(self(), bounds)
 
-        # Store client info in socket
-        socket =
-          socket
-          |> assign(:client_id, client_id)
-          |> assign(:bounds, bounds)
-          |> assign(:subscribed, true)
+          # Store client info in socket
+          socket =
+            socket
+            |> assign(:client_id, client_id)
+            |> assign(:bounds, bounds)
+            |> assign(:subscribed, true)
 
-        Logger.info("Mobile client #{client_id} subscribed to bounds: #{inspect(bounds)}")
+          Logger.info("Mobile client #{client_id} subscribed to bounds: #{inspect(bounds)}")
 
-        # Load and send historical packets
-        socket = load_historical_packets(socket, bounds, payload)
+          # Load and send historical packets
+          socket = load_historical_packets(socket, bounds, payload)
 
-        {:reply, {:ok, %{bounds: bounds, message: "Subscribed to packet stream"}}, socket}
+          {:reply, {:ok, %{bounds: bounds, message: "Subscribed to packet stream"}}, socket}
 
-      {:error, reason} ->
-        {:reply, {:error, %{message: reason}}, socket}
+        {:error, reason} ->
+          {:reply, {:error, %{message: reason}}, socket}
+      end
     end
   end
 
@@ -160,37 +167,41 @@ defmodule AprsmeWeb.MobileChannel do
   def handle_in("search_callsign", %{"query" => query} = payload, socket) do
     Logger.info("Mobile websocket received search_callsign: #{inspect(payload)}")
 
-    # Trim whitespace and control characters from query
-    query = String.trim(query)
+    with :ok <- check_rate_limit(socket, "search_callsign") do
+      # Trim whitespace and control characters from query
+      query = String.trim(query)
 
-    limit = payload |> Map.get("limit", 50) |> ensure_integer(50)
-    limit = min(limit, 500)
+      limit = payload |> Map.get("limit", 50) |> ensure_integer(50)
+      limit = min(limit, 500)
 
-    results = search_callsign(query, limit)
+      results = search_callsign(query, limit)
 
-    {:reply, {:ok, %{results: results, count: length(results)}}, socket}
+      {:reply, {:ok, %{results: results, count: length(results)}}, socket}
+    end
   end
 
   @impl true
   def handle_in("subscribe_callsign", %{"callsign" => callsign} = payload, socket) do
     Logger.info("Mobile websocket received subscribe_callsign: #{inspect(payload)}")
 
-    hours_back = payload |> Map.get("hours_back", 24) |> ensure_integer(24)
-    # Max 1 week
-    hours_back = min(hours_back, 168)
+    with :ok <- check_rate_limit(socket, "subscribe_callsign") do
+      hours_back = payload |> Map.get("hours_back", 24) |> ensure_integer(24)
+      # Max 1 week
+      hours_back = min(hours_back, 168)
 
-    # Normalize callsign - trim whitespace and convert to uppercase
-    callsign = callsign |> String.trim() |> String.upcase()
+      # Normalize callsign - trim whitespace and convert to uppercase
+      callsign = callsign |> String.trim() |> String.upcase()
 
-    # Load historical packets for this callsign
-    socket = load_callsign_history(socket, callsign, hours_back)
+      # Load historical packets for this callsign
+      socket = load_callsign_history(socket, callsign, hours_back)
 
-    socket = ensure_callsign_subscription(socket)
+      socket = ensure_callsign_subscription(socket)
 
-    # Store tracked callsign in socket
-    socket = assign(socket, :tracked_callsign, callsign)
+      # Store tracked callsign in socket
+      socket = assign(socket, :tracked_callsign, callsign)
 
-    {:reply, {:ok, %{callsign: callsign, message: "Subscribed to callsign updates"}}, socket}
+      {:reply, {:ok, %{callsign: callsign, message: "Subscribed to callsign updates"}}, socket}
+    end
   end
 
   @impl true
@@ -249,6 +260,40 @@ defmodule AprsmeWeb.MobileChannel do
     {:noreply, socket}
   end
 
+  # Per-socket limiter for the expensive client-initiated handlers
+  # (subscribe_bounds, subscribe_callsign, search_callsign). Returns :ok on
+  # allow or a {:reply, ..., socket} tuple that propagates straight out of the
+  # with block to the channel reply path on deny.
+  defp check_rate_limit(socket, op) do
+    key = "mobile_channel:#{op}:#{:erlang.phash2(self())}"
+
+    case Aprsme.RateLimiter.hit(key, @expensive_op_scale, @expensive_op_limit) do
+      {:allow, _count} ->
+        :ok
+
+      {:deny, retry_after} ->
+        Logger.warning("Mobile channel rate-limited op=#{op} client=#{inspect(self())}")
+
+        {:reply, {:error, %{message: "Rate limit exceeded; retry later", retry_after_ms: retry_after}}, socket}
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Push packets to the client in moderately sized batches under the new
+  # `packets` event. Keeps the per-packet `packet` event format intact for
+  # streaming deliveries; bulk historical loads move through this path so
+  # clients don't get hit with 5000 individual WebSocket frames.
+  @packets_batch_size 100
+  defp push_packets_batch(_socket, []), do: :ok
+
+  defp push_packets_batch(socket, packets) do
+    packets
+    |> Stream.map(&build_mobile_packet/1)
+    |> Stream.chunk_every(@packets_batch_size)
+    |> Enum.each(fn chunk ->
+      push(socket, "packets", %{packets: chunk, count: length(chunk)})
+    end)
+  end
+
   # Clean up on terminate
   @impl true
   def terminate(_reason, socket) do
@@ -411,14 +456,10 @@ defmodule AprsmeWeb.MobileChannel do
 
     Logger.info("Loaded #{length(packets)} historical packets for mobile client")
 
-    # Send historical packets to client
-    if packets != [] do
-      # Convert packets to mobile format and send them
-      Enum.each(packets, fn packet ->
-        packet_data = build_mobile_packet(packet)
-        push(socket, "packet", packet_data)
-      end)
-    end
+    # Send historical packets as batched "packets" events rather than one
+    # "packet" frame per row — previously a single subscription could queue
+    # thousands of WebSocket frames.
+    push_packets_batch(socket, packets)
 
     socket
   end
@@ -508,13 +549,8 @@ defmodule AprsmeWeb.MobileChannel do
 
     Logger.info("Loaded #{length(packets)} historical packets for callsign #{callsign}")
 
-    # Send historical packets to client
-    if packets != [] do
-      Enum.each(packets, fn packet ->
-        packet_data = build_mobile_packet(packet)
-        push(socket, "packet", packet_data)
-      end)
-    end
+    # Send batched "packets" events — see push_packets_batch/2.
+    push_packets_batch(socket, packets)
 
     socket
   end
diff --git a/lib/aprsme_web/channels/mobile_user_socket.ex b/lib/aprsme_web/channels/mobile_user_socket.ex
index fbbf192..1ae7d5b 100644
--- a/lib/aprsme_web/channels/mobile_user_socket.ex
+++ b/lib/aprsme_web/channels/mobile_user_socket.ex
@@ -1,36 +1,63 @@
 defmodule AprsmeWeb.MobileUserSocket do
   @moduledoc """
   Socket for mobile applications (iOS/Android) to receive real-time APRS packets.
+
+  Connections are anonymous but rate-limited per peer IP to prevent a single
+  client from opening unbounded connections and exhausting server resources.
   """
   use Phoenix.Socket
 
+  require Logger
+
   # Channels
   channel "mobile:packets", AprsmeWeb.MobileChannel
 
-  # Socket params are passed from the client and can be used to verify and authenticate a user.
-  # After verification, you can put default assigns into the socket that will be set for all channels.
-  @impl true
-  def connect(_params, socket, _connect_info) do
-    # For now, allow anonymous connections
-    # In the future, you can add authentication here:
-    # case verify_token(params["token"]) do
-    #   {:ok, user_id} -> {:ok, assign(socket, :user_id, user_id)}
-    #   {:error, _} -> :error
-    # end
+  # 30 new connections per IP per minute — well above normal reconnect churn
+  # but tight enough to stop a script from floodting the socket layer.
+  @connect_limit 30
+  @connect_scale 60_000
 
-    {:ok, socket}
+  @impl true
+  def connect(_params, socket, connect_info) do
+    ip = peer_ip(connect_info)
+
+    if test_env?() or allow_connect?(ip) do
+      {:ok, assign(socket, :peer_ip, ip)}
+    else
+      Logger.warning("Mobile socket connect rate-limited for ip=#{ip}")
+      :error
+    end
   end
 
-  # Socket id's are topics that allow you to identify all sockets for a given user:
-  #
-  #     def id(socket), do: "mobile_user_socket:#{socket.assigns.user_id}"
-  #
-  # Would allow you to broadcast a "disconnect" event and terminate
-  # all active sockets and channels for a given user:
-  #
-  #     Elixir.AprsmeWeb.Endpoint.broadcast("mobile_user_socket:#{user.id}", "disconnect", %{})
-  #
-  # Returning `nil` makes this socket anonymous.
+  defp allow_connect?(ip) do
+    case Aprsme.RateLimiter.hit("mobile_socket_connect:#{ip}", @connect_scale, @connect_limit) do
+      {:allow, _count} -> true
+      {:deny, _retry_after} -> false
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp test_env?, do: Application.get_env(:aprsme, :env) == :test
+
   @impl true
   def id(_socket), do: nil
+
+  defp peer_ip(%{x_headers: headers}) when is_list(headers) do
+    headers
+    |> Enum.find_value(fn
+      {"cf-connecting-ip", v} -> v
+      {"x-forwarded-for", v} -> v |> String.split(",") |> List.first() |> String.trim()
+      {"x-real-ip", v} -> v
+      _ -> nil
+    end)
+    |> case do
+      nil -> "unknown"
+      ip -> ip
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp peer_ip(%{peer_data: %{address: address}}) when not is_nil(address) do
+    address |> :inet.ntoa() |> to_string()
+  end
+
+  defp peer_ip(_), do: "unknown"
 end
diff --git a/test/aprsme_web/channels/mobile_channel_test.exs b/test/aprsme_web/channels/mobile_channel_test.exs
index 69a9de1..4b53a89 100644
--- a/test/aprsme_web/channels/mobile_channel_test.exs
+++ b/test/aprsme_web/channels/mobile_channel_test.exs
@@ -52,8 +52,12 @@ defmodule AprsmeWeb.MobileChannelTest do
   end
 
   describe "join" do
-    test "successful join returns welcome message", %{socket: socket} do
-      assert socket.assigns == %{}
+    test "successful join stamps the peer ip and has no other assigns", %{socket: socket} do
+      # Socket test client has no real peer_data, so the IP helper falls back
+      # to "unknown"; the important part is that the assign is present and
+      # no extra per-subscription state has been set yet.
+      assert socket.assigns.peer_ip == "unknown"
+      assert Map.delete(socket.assigns, :peer_ip) == %{}
     end
   end