diff --git a/.dialyzer_ignore.exs b/.dialyzer_ignore.exs
index 4540f1f..2b7ca26 100644
--- a/.dialyzer_ignore.exs
+++ b/.dialyzer_ignore.exs
@@ -56,6 +56,5 @@
   # type warnings from the Elixir compiler. All are pre-existing and benign.
   {"test/aprsme/packets_mic_e_test.exs"},
   {"test/aprsme/packets_test.exs"},
-  {"test/aprsme/is_test.exs"},
-  {"test/aprsme/packet_replay_test.exs"}
+  {"test/aprsme/is_test.exs"}
 ]
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 88035ec..b796df2 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ The application provides a real-time WebSocket API for mobile clients (iOS/Andro
 - Real-time streaming of APRS packets
 - Geographic bounds filtering (only receive packets in viewport)
 - Dynamic bounds updates (follow user as they pan/zoom)
-- Efficient - leverages existing StreamingPacketsPubSub infrastructure
+- Efficient - leverages existing SpatialPubSub infrastructure
 
 ## Elixir guidelines
 
diff --git a/config/test.exs b/config/test.exs
index f90c484..82b36fe 100644
--- a/config/test.exs
+++ b/config/test.exs
@@ -50,9 +50,6 @@ config :aprsme, :cleanup_scheduler, enabled: false
 # Speed up ConnectionManager init in test environment
 config :aprsme, :connection_manager_init_delay, 0
 
-# Disable initialize replay delay in test environment
-config :aprsme, :initialize_replay_delay, 0
-
 # Configure the packets module to use the mock in tests
 config :aprsme, :packets_module, Aprsme.PacketsMock
 
diff --git a/docs/refactor-implementation-handoff.md b/docs/refactor-implementation-handoff.md
index 71c7539..2dfbcf3 100644
--- a/docs/refactor-implementation-handoff.md
+++ b/docs/refactor-implementation-handoff.md
@@ -134,16 +134,16 @@ MIX_ENV=prod mix assets.deploy
    rendering modules. Preserve LiveView behavior with integration tests first.
 2. Review the now-smaller supervision tree for naming and ownership consistency;
    document which process owns ingestion, retention, broadcast, and cleanup.
-3. Continue deleting obsolete configuration keys, telemetry names, docs, mocks,
-   and aliases uncovered by the removed modules.
+3. ~~Continue deleting obsolete configuration keys, telemetry names, docs, mocks,
+   and aliases uncovered by the removed modules.~~ **DONE** — removed stale `.dialyzer_ignore.exs` entry, orphaned `:initialize_replay_delay` config key, updated `CLAUDE.md` StreamingPacketsPubSub → SpatialPubSub reference. No stale telemetry/metric or mock references remain.
 4. Review callsign naming. Ingestion currently accepts safe APRS transport
    identifiers (up to 20 characters, uppercase alphanumeric segments separated by
    hyphens), which is intentionally broader than a strict AX.25 callsign. Rename
    APIs or document this distinction to avoid future accidental tightening.
-5. Add focused migration tests for:
+5. ~~Add focused migration tests for:
    - Existing partition indexes being attached correctly.
    - Counter reconciliation on an existing populated database.
-   - Exact cutoff behavior around partition boundaries.
+   - Exact cutoff behavior around partition boundaries.~~ **DONE** — 12 tests in `test/aprsme/migration_validation_test.exs`: GiST index on parent + child partitions, counter reconciliation with INSERT/deletes, strict `<` upper bound cutoff with partition boundary straddling.
 6. Review the deleted test count. The suite decreased because tests for removed
    infrastructure were deleted; ensure important end-to-end ingestion coverage was
    not lost when `packet_pipeline_integration_test.exs` was removed.
diff --git a/test/aprsme/migration_validation_test.exs b/test/aprsme/migration_validation_test.exs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..289bdc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/aprsme/migration_validation_test.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,332 @@
+defmodule Aprsme.MigrationValidationTest do
+  use Aprsme.DataCase, async: false
+
+  alias Aprsme.PartitionManager
+
+  @moduletag :migration
+
+  setup do
+    # Ensure counters row exists
+    Repo.query!("""
+    INSERT INTO packet_counters (counter_type, count, inserted_at, updated_at)
+    VALUES ('total_packets', 0, NOW(), NOW())
+    ON CONFLICT (counter_type) DO NOTHING
+    """)
+
+    :ok
+  end
+
+  # ── 1. Geometry index (idx_packets_location) on partitions ──────────────
+
+  describe "geometry index (idx_packets_location)" do
+    test "parent table has the GiST index" do
+      {:ok, %{rows: rows}} =
+        Repo.query("""
+        SELECT indexname
+        FROM pg_indexes
+        WHERE tablename = 'packets'
+          AND schemaname = 'public'
+          AND indexname = 'idx_packets_location'
+        """)
+
+      assert length(rows) == 1
+      assert [["idx_packets_location"]] = rows
+    end
+
+    test "index is valid (indisvalid = true) on parent" do
+      {:ok, %{rows: rows}} =
+        Repo.query("""
+        SELECT indisvalid
+        FROM pg_index
+        WHERE indexrelid = 'idx_packets_location'::regclass
+        """)
+
+      assert [[true]] = rows
+    end
+
+    test "parent index has child partition indexes attached via pg_inherits" do
+      # The parent GiST index should have child entries in pg_inherits
+      # linking it to per-partition index relations.
+      {:ok, %{rows: inherited}} =
+        Repo.query("""
+        SELECT inhrelid::regclass::text
+        FROM pg_inherits
+        WHERE inhparent = 'idx_packets_location'::regclass
+        """)
+
+      # At least one child partition index must be attached
+      assert inherited != []
+
+      # Each inherited index name ends with _location_idx (Postgres auto-named)
+      # or _location_gist_idx (from migration build_and_attach).
+      child_names = List.flatten(inherited)
+
+      assert Enum.any?(child_names, fn name ->
+               String.ends_with?(name, "_location_idx") or String.ends_with?(name, "_location_gist_idx")
+             end)
+    end
+
+    test "idx_packets_location is a GiST index on location column" do
+      # Verify the index uses GiST access method on the location column
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[am_name]]}} =
+        Repo.query("""
+        SELECT am.amname
+        FROM pg_index i
+        JOIN pg_class c ON c.oid = i.indexrelid
+        JOIN pg_am am ON am.oid = c.relam
+        WHERE i.indexrelid = 'idx_packets_location'::regclass
+        """)
+
+      assert am_name == "gist"
+    end
+  end
+
+  # ── 2. Counter reconciliation ───────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  describe "packet counter reconciliation" do
+    test "reconciliation sets counter to exact row count after INSERT" do
+      now = DateTime.truncate(DateTime.utc_now(), :second)
+
+      # Insert packets via raw SQL (gen_random_uuid() for binary UUID)
+      for i <- 1..5 do
+        Repo.query!(
+          """
+          INSERT INTO packets (id, sender, base_callsign, ssid, destination, raw_packet,
+            data_type, lat, lon, received_at, inserted_at, updated_at)
+          VALUES (gen_random_uuid(), 'RECON' || $1, 'RECON', $1::text, 'APRS',
+            'RECON' || $1 || '>APRS:test', 'position', 39.0, -98.0,
+            $2, $2, $2)
+          ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING
+          """,
+          ["#{i}", DateTime.add(now, -i * 60, :second)]
+        )
+      end
+
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[total]]}} = Repo.query("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM packets")
+      assert total >= 5
+
+      # Set counter to wrong value (simulate drift)
+      Repo.query!("""
+      UPDATE packet_counters
+      SET count = 999, updated_at = NOW()
+      WHERE counter_type = 'total_packets'
+      """)
+
+      # Run reconciliation (from migration 20260726000002)
+      Repo.query!("""
+      UPDATE packet_counters
+      SET count = (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM packets),
+          updated_at = NOW()
+      WHERE counter_type = 'total_packets'
+      """)
+
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[counter_val]]}} =
+        Repo.query("SELECT count FROM packet_counters WHERE counter_type = 'total_packets'")
+
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[actual_count]]}} =
+        Repo.query("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM packets")
+
+      assert counter_val == actual_count
+    end
+
+    test "reconciliation resets to zero on empty packets table" do
+      # Set counter to wrong value
+      Repo.query!("""
+      UPDATE packet_counters
+      SET count = 123, updated_at = NOW()
+      WHERE counter_type = 'total_packets'
+      """)
+
+      # Run reconciliation
+      Repo.query!("""
+      UPDATE packet_counters
+      SET count = (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM packets),
+          updated_at = NOW()
+      WHERE counter_type = 'total_packets'
+      """)
+
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[counter_val]]}} =
+        Repo.query("SELECT count FROM packet_counters WHERE counter_type = 'total_packets'")
+
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[real_count]]}} =
+        Repo.query("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM packets")
+
+      assert counter_val == real_count
+    end
+
+    test "get_packet_count() function returns the reconciled counter value" do
+      Repo.query!("""
+      UPDATE packet_counters
+      SET count = (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM packets),
+          updated_at = NOW()
+      WHERE counter_type = 'total_packets'
+      """)
+
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[func_count]]}} =
+        Repo.query("SELECT get_packet_count()")
+
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[real_count]]}} =
+        Repo.query("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM packets")
+
+      assert func_count == real_count
+    end
+
+    test "triggers keep counter in sync on insert and delete" do
+      Repo.query!("""
+      UPDATE packet_counters
+      SET count = (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM packets),
+          updated_at = NOW()
+      WHERE counter_type = 'total_packets'
+      """)
+
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[before]]}} =
+        Repo.query("SELECT count FROM packet_counters WHERE counter_type = 'total_packets'")
+
+      now = DateTime.truncate(DateTime.utc_now(), :second)
+
+      # Insert via raw SQL — triggers should fire
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[inserted_id]]}} =
+        Repo.query(
+          """
+          INSERT INTO packets (id, sender, base_callsign, ssid, destination, raw_packet,
+            data_type, lat, lon, location, has_position, received_at, inserted_at, updated_at)
+          VALUES (gen_random_uuid(), 'TRIGTST', 'TRIGTST', '0', 'APRS', 'TRIGTST>APRS:test',
+            'position', 39.0, -98.0, ST_SetSRID(ST_MakePoint(-98.0, 39.0), 4326), true,
+            $1, $1, $1)
+          RETURNING id
+          """,
+          [now]
+        )
+
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[after_insert]]}} =
+        Repo.query("SELECT count FROM packet_counters WHERE counter_type = 'total_packets'")
+
+      assert after_insert == before + 1
+
+      # Delete the packet — trigger should decrement
+      Repo.query!("DELETE FROM packets WHERE id = $1", [inserted_id])
+
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[after_delete]]}} =
+        Repo.query("SELECT count FROM packet_counters WHERE counter_type = 'total_packets'")
+
+      assert after_delete == before
+    end
+  end
+
+  # ── 3. Partition boundary cutoff ────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  describe "partition boundary cutoff" do
+    setup do
+      # Ensure today's partition exists so raw INSERTs route correctly
+      {:ok, _} = PartitionManager.ensure_partitions_exist()
+      :ok
+    end
+
+    test "FOR VALUES FROM ... TO ... uses strict < upper bound" do
+      date = Date.utc_today()
+      partition_name = PartitionManager.partition_name(date)
+      {from_dt, to_dt} = PartitionManager.partition_range(date)
+
+      # Insert packet at exact partition start (>= FROM bound)
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[start_id]]}} =
+        Repo.query(
+          """
+          INSERT INTO packets (id, sender, base_callsign, ssid, destination, raw_packet,
+            data_type, received_at, inserted_at, updated_at)
+          VALUES (gen_random_uuid(), 'BDSTART', 'BDSTART', '0', 'APRS', 'BDSTART>APRS:test',
+            'status', $1, $1, $1)
+          RETURNING id
+          """,
+          [from_dt]
+        )
+
+      # Insert packet at exact partition end (< TO bound)
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[end_id]]}} =
+        Repo.query(
+          """
+          INSERT INTO packets (id, sender, base_callsign, ssid, destination, raw_packet,
+            data_type, received_at, inserted_at, updated_at)
+          VALUES (gen_random_uuid(), 'BDEND', 'BDEND', '0', 'APRS', 'BDEND>APRS:test',
+            'status', $1, $1, $1)
+          RETURNING id
+          """,
+          [to_dt]
+        )
+
+      # Packet at FROM should be in this partition (>= FROM)
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[start_count]]}} =
+        Repo.query("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM #{partition_name} WHERE id = $1::uuid", [start_id])
+
+      assert start_count == 1
+
+      # Packet at TO should NOT be in this partition (< TO, strict upper bound)
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[end_count]]}} =
+        Repo.query("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM #{partition_name} WHERE id = $1::uuid", [end_id])
+
+      assert end_count == 0
+    end
+
+    test "packet at boundary timestamp is findable via parent table" do
+      date = Date.utc_today()
+      {_from_dt, to_dt} = PartitionManager.partition_range(date)
+
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[end_id]]}} =
+        Repo.query(
+          """
+          INSERT INTO packets (id, sender, base_callsign, ssid, destination, raw_packet,
+            data_type, received_at, inserted_at, updated_at)
+          VALUES (gen_random_uuid(), 'ROUTABLE', 'ROUTABLE', '0', 'APRS', 'ROUTABLE>APRS:test',
+            'status', $1, $1, $1)
+          RETURNING id
+          """,
+          [to_dt]
+        )
+
+      # Packet should be findable via parent table query
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[_]]}} =
+        Repo.query("SELECT sender FROM packets WHERE id = $1::uuid", [end_id])
+
+      # Verify it's NOT in today's partition (boundary exclusive)
+      today_name = PartitionManager.partition_name(date)
+
+      {:ok, %{rows: [[in_today]]}} =
+        Repo.query("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM #{today_name} WHERE id = $1::uuid", [end_id])
+
+      assert in_today == 0
+    end
+
+    test "drop_old_partitions drops partitions whose upper bound <= cutoff" do
+      old_date = Date.add(Date.utc_today(), -30)
+      old_name = PartitionManager.partition_name(old_date)
+      {from_dt, to_dt} = PartitionManager.partition_range(old_date)
+
+      Repo.query!("""
+      CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS #{old_name}
+      PARTITION OF packets
+      FOR VALUES FROM ('#{DateTime.to_iso8601(from_dt)}') TO ('#{DateTime.to_iso8601(to_dt)}')
+      """)
+
+      assert old_name in PartitionManager.list_partitions()
+
+      {:ok, dropped} = PartitionManager.drop_old_partitions(8)
+
+      assert old_name in dropped
+    end
+
+    test "boundary-day partition is retained when its upper bound > cutoff" do
+      cutoff_date = Date.add(Date.utc_today(), -7)
+      name = PartitionManager.partition_name(cutoff_date)
+      {from_dt, to_dt} = PartitionManager.partition_range(cutoff_date)
+
+      Repo.query!("""
+      CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS #{name}
+      PARTITION OF packets
+      FOR VALUES FROM ('#{DateTime.to_iso8601(from_dt)}') TO ('#{DateTime.to_iso8601(to_dt)}')
+      """)
+
+      {:ok, dropped} = PartitionManager.drop_old_partitions(7)
+
+      refute name in dropped
+    end
+  end
+end