diff --git a/app/i18n/de.json b/app/i18n/de.json
index 237d03b5..91d4fba7 100644
--- a/app/i18n/de.json
+++ b/app/i18n/de.json
@@ -339,6 +339,8 @@
     "signal_ds_channels": "DS Kanäle",
     "signal_us_channels": "US Kanäle",
     "signal_snapshot_time": "Snapshot",
+    "channel_onboarding_title": "Kanal-Verlauf",
+    "channel_onboarding_desc": "Waehle einen Kanal aus dem Dropdown um den Signalverlauf zu sehen.",
     "channel_timeline": "Kanalverlauf",
     "select_channel": "Kanal wählen",
     "downstream_channels": "Downstream Kanäle",
diff --git a/app/i18n/en.json b/app/i18n/en.json
index 11c458e3..40758804 100644
--- a/app/i18n/en.json
+++ b/app/i18n/en.json
@@ -339,6 +339,8 @@
     "signal_ds_channels": "DS Channels",
     "signal_us_channels": "US Channels",
     "signal_snapshot_time": "Snapshot",
+    "channel_onboarding_title": "Channel Timeline",
+    "channel_onboarding_desc": "Select a channel from the dropdown to view its signal history over time.",
     "channel_timeline": "Channel Timeline",
     "select_channel": "Select Channel",
     "downstream_channels": "Downstream Channels",
diff --git a/app/i18n/es.json b/app/i18n/es.json
index e26972fc..c90b4809 100644
--- a/app/i18n/es.json
+++ b/app/i18n/es.json
@@ -334,6 +334,8 @@
     "signal_ds_channels": "Canales DS",
     "signal_us_channels": "Canales US",
     "signal_snapshot_time": "Snapshot",
+    "channel_onboarding_title": "Historial del canal",
+    "channel_onboarding_desc": "Selecciona un canal del menu para ver su historial de senal.",
     "channel_timeline": "Historial de canal",
     "select_channel": "Seleccionar canal",
     "downstream_channels": "Canales descendentes",
diff --git a/app/i18n/fr.json b/app/i18n/fr.json
index 4ec0a90a..7ca75a35 100644
--- a/app/i18n/fr.json
+++ b/app/i18n/fr.json
@@ -331,6 +331,8 @@
     "signal_ds_channels": "Canaux DS",
     "signal_us_channels": "Canaux US",
     "signal_snapshot_time": "Snapshot",
+    "channel_onboarding_title": "Historique du canal",
+    "channel_onboarding_desc": "Selectionnez un canal dans la liste pour voir son historique.",
     "channel_timeline": "Historique du canal",
     "select_channel": "Choisir un canal",
     "downstream_channels": "Canaux descendants",
diff --git a/app/i18n/template.json b/app/i18n/template.json
index 4d939b23..de926dd7 100644
--- a/app/i18n/template.json
+++ b/app/i18n/template.json
@@ -319,6 +319,8 @@
     "signal_ds_channels": "",
     "signal_us_channels": "",
     "signal_snapshot_time": "",
+    "channel_onboarding_title": "",
+    "channel_onboarding_desc": "",
     "channel_timeline": "",
     "select_channel": "",
     "downstream_channels": "",
diff --git a/app/static/css/views.css b/app/static/css/views.css
index ea4e3acb..5011f8e9 100644
--- a/app/static/css/views.css
+++ b/app/static/css/views.css
@@ -1232,6 +1232,88 @@
 .btn-ghost:hover { color: var(--text); }
 
 
+/* ── Channel View Controls ── */
+.ch-controls {
+    display: flex;
+    gap: 12px;
+    margin-bottom: var(--space-lg, 20px);
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
+    align-items: center;
+}
+
+/* Channel info bar */
+.ch-info-bar {
+    display: flex;
+    gap: var(--space-md, 16px);
+    padding: var(--space-sm, 8px) var(--space-md, 16px);
+    margin-bottom: var(--space-md, 16px);
+    background: var(--tint-subtle, rgba(255,255,255,0.02));
+    border: 1px solid var(--glass-border, var(--card-border));
+    border-radius: var(--radius-sm, 8px);
+    font-size: 0.82em;
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
+    align-items: center;
+}
+.ch-info-item {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 6px;
+    color: var(--text-secondary);
+}
+.ch-info-item strong {
+    color: var(--text-primary);
+}
+.ch-info-sep {
+    width: 1px;
+    height: 16px;
+    background: var(--glass-border);
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+.ch-info-health {
+    display: inline-flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 4px;
+    font-weight: 600;
+}
+.ch-info-health.good { color: var(--good); }
+.ch-info-health.tolerated { color: var(--tolerated, var(--warn)); }
+.ch-info-health.marginal, .ch-info-health.warn, .ch-info-health.warning { color: var(--warn); }
+.ch-info-health.critical, .ch-info-health.crit { color: var(--crit); }
+
+/* Channel onboarding (empty state) */
+.ch-onboarding {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: var(--space-md, 16px);
+    padding: var(--space-xl, 32px);
+    background: var(--tint-subtle, rgba(255,255,255,0.02));
+    border: 1px dashed var(--glass-border);
+    border-radius: var(--radius-md, 12px);
+    color: var(--text-secondary);
+}
+.ch-onboarding > i, .ch-onboarding > svg {
+    width: 32px; height: 32px;
+    color: var(--text-muted);
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+.ch-onboarding-text {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    gap: 4px;
+}
+.ch-onboarding-text strong {
+    color: var(--text-primary);
+    font-size: 0.95em;
+}
+.ch-onboarding-text span {
+    font-size: 0.85em;
+}
+
+/* Full-width chart card (modulation) */
+.ch-full-width {
+    grid-column: 1 / -1;
+}
+
 /* ── Channel Compare ── */
 .compare-controls {
     display: flex;
diff --git a/app/static/js/channels.js b/app/static/js/channels.js
index 0708e03a..0118f615 100644
--- a/app/static/js/channels.js
+++ b/app/static/js/channels.js
@@ -150,11 +150,13 @@ function switchChannelMode() {
     var comparePanel = document.getElementById('channel-panel-compare');
     var timelineControls = document.getElementById('channel-timeline-controls');
     var compareControls = document.getElementById('channel-compare-controls');
+    var infoBar = document.getElementById('channel-info-bar');
     if (mode === 'compare') {
         timelinePanel.style.display = 'none';
         comparePanel.style.display = '';
         if (timelineControls) timelineControls.style.display = 'none';
         if (compareControls) compareControls.style.display = 'contents';
+        if (infoBar) infoBar.style.display = 'none';
         loadCompareChannelList();
         if (_compareChannels.length === 0) {
             var emptyEl = document.getElementById('compare-empty');
@@ -168,9 +170,12 @@ function switchChannelMode() {
         if (compareControls) compareControls.style.display = 'none';
         var sel = document.getElementById('channel-select');
         if (!sel || !sel.value) {
-            var chEmpty = document.getElementById('channel-empty');
-            chEmpty.textContent = T.channel_select_prompt || 'Select a channel above to view its signal history.';
-            chEmpty.style.display = '';
+            document.getElementById('channel-empty').style.display = '';
+            document.getElementById('channel-no-data').style.display = 'none';
+        } else {
+            // Restore info bar for already-selected channel
+            var cparts = sel.value.split('-');
+            _updateChannelInfoBar(cparts[0], cparts[1]);
         }
     }
     writeChannelHash();
@@ -213,22 +218,91 @@ function loadChannelList(callback) {
                 });
                 sel.appendChild(grp2);
             }
+            _cachedChannelData = data;
             _channelsLoaded = true;
             if (callback) callback();
         })
         .catch(function() { if (callback) callback(); });
 }
 
+function _makeInfoItem(text, bold) {
+    var el = document.createElement('span');
+    el.className = 'ch-info-item';
+    if (bold) {
+        var b = document.createElement('strong');
+        b.textContent = text;
+        el.appendChild(b);
+    } else {
+        el.textContent = text;
+    }
+    return el;
+}
+function _makeInfoItemWithLabel(label, value, unit) {
+    var el = document.createElement('span');
+    el.className = 'ch-info-item';
+    el.textContent = label + ' ';
+    var b = document.createElement('strong');
+    b.textContent = value;
+    el.appendChild(b);
+    if (unit) el.appendChild(document.createTextNode(' ' + unit));
+    return el;
+}
+function _makeInfoSep() {
+    var el = document.createElement('span');
+    el.className = 'ch-info-sep';
+    return el;
+}
+
+function _updateChannelInfoBar(direction, channelId) {
+    var bar = document.getElementById('channel-info-bar');
+    if (!bar) return;
+    if (!_cachedChannelData) { bar.style.display = 'none'; return; }
+    var channels = direction === 'ds'
+        ? (_cachedChannelData.ds_channels || [])
+        : (_cachedChannelData.us_channels || []);
+    var ch = null;
+    for (var i = 0; i < channels.length; i++) {
+        if (String(channels[i].channel_id) === String(channelId)) { ch = channels[i]; break; }
+    }
+    if (!ch) { bar.style.display = 'none'; return; }
+    while (bar.firstChild) bar.removeChild(bar.firstChild);
+    var dir = direction.toUpperCase();
+    var health = ch.health || 'unknown';
+    var healthLabel = T['health_' + health] || health;
+
+    bar.appendChild(_makeInfoItem(dir + ' ' + channelId, true));
+    bar.appendChild(_makeInfoSep());
+    if (ch.frequency) {
+        var freqStr = String(ch.frequency);
+        bar.appendChild(_makeInfoItem(freqStr.indexOf('MHz') === -1 ? freqStr + ' MHz' : freqStr));
+    }
+    bar.appendChild(_makeInfoItem('DOCSIS ' + (ch.docsis_version || '3.0')));
+    bar.appendChild(_makeInfoSep());
+    if (ch.power != null) bar.appendChild(_makeInfoItemWithLabel('Power', ch.power, 'dBmV'));
+    if (ch.snr != null) bar.appendChild(_makeInfoItemWithLabel('SNR', ch.snr, 'dB'));
+    bar.appendChild(_makeInfoSep());
+    var healthEl = document.createElement('span');
+    healthEl.className = 'ch-info-health ' + health;
+    healthEl.textContent = healthLabel;
+    bar.appendChild(healthEl);
+    bar.style.display = '';
+}
+
+var _cachedChannelData = null;
+
 function loadChannelTimeline() {
     var sel = document.getElementById('channel-select');
     var val = sel.value;
     var chartsEl = document.getElementById('channel-charts');
     var emptyEl = document.getElementById('channel-empty');
+    var noDataEl = document.getElementById('channel-no-data');
     var loadingEl = document.getElementById('channel-loading');
+    var infoBar = document.getElementById('channel-info-bar');
     if (!val) {
         chartsEl.style.display = 'none';
+        noDataEl.style.display = 'none';
         loadingEl.style.display = 'none';
-        emptyEl.textContent = T.channel_select_prompt || 'Select a channel above to view its signal history.';
+        if (infoBar) infoBar.style.display = 'none';
         emptyEl.style.display = '';
         writeChannelHash();
         return;
@@ -244,14 +318,16 @@ function loadChannelTimeline() {
     loadingEl.style.display = '';
     chartsEl.style.display = 'none';
     emptyEl.style.display = 'none';
+    noDataEl.style.display = 'none';
+    _updateChannelInfoBar(direction, channelId);
 
     fetch('/api/channel-history?channel_id=' + channelId + '&direction=' + direction + '&days=' + days)
         .then(function(r) { return r.json(); })
         .then(function(data) {
             loadingEl.style.display = 'none';
             if (!data || data.length === 0) {
-                emptyEl.textContent = T.no_channel_data || 'No data available for this channel.';
-                emptyEl.style.display = '';
+                noDataEl.textContent = T.no_channel_data || 'No data available for this channel.';
+                noDataEl.style.display = '';
                 return;
             }
             chartsEl.style.display = '';
@@ -321,8 +397,8 @@ function loadChannelTimeline() {
         })
         .catch(function() {
             loadingEl.style.display = 'none';
-            emptyEl.textContent = T.trend_error || 'Error loading data.';
-            emptyEl.style.display = '';
+            noDataEl.textContent = T.trend_error || 'Error loading data.';
+            noDataEl.style.display = '';
         });
 }
 window.loadChannelTimeline = loadChannelTimeline;
diff --git a/app/templates/index.html b/app/templates/index.html
index ff0c84cb..a8e8ff17 100644
--- a/app/templates/index.html
+++ b/app/templates/index.html
@@ -1338,10 +1338,7 @@ <h2 id="bqm-import-modal-title">{{ t.bqm_import_title }}</h2>
 
 <!-- ═══ View: Channel Timeline ═══ -->
 <div id="view-channels" class="view">
-    <div class="trend-header" style="margin-bottom:12px;">
-        <span class="trend-title">{{ t.channels }}</span>
-    </div>
-    <div style="display:flex; gap:12px; margin-bottom:20px; flex-wrap:wrap; align-items:center;">
+    <div class="ch-controls">
         <div class="trend-tabs" id="channel-mode-tabs">
             <button class="trend-tab active" data-value="timeline" onclick="selectPill(this, switchChannelMode)">{{ t.channel_timeline }}</button>
             <button class="trend-tab" data-value="compare" onclick="selectPill(this, switchChannelMode)">{{ t.channel_compare }}</button>
@@ -1375,12 +1372,22 @@ <h2 id="bqm-import-modal-title">{{ t.bqm_import_title }}</h2>
         </span>
     </div>
 
+    <!-- Channel info bar (populated by JS after channel selection) -->
+    <div id="channel-info-bar" class="ch-info-bar" style="display:none;"></div>
+
     <!-- ── Timeline Sub-View ── -->
     <div id="channel-panel-timeline">
         <div id="channel-loading" class="waiting" style="display:none;">
             <div class="skeleton skel-chart"></div>
         </div>
-        <div id="channel-empty" class="events-empty" style="display:none;"></div>
+        <div id="channel-empty" class="ch-onboarding" style="display:none;">
+            <i data-lucide="layers"></i>
+            <div class="ch-onboarding-text">
+                <strong>{{ t.get('channel_onboarding_title', 'Channel Timeline') }}</strong>
+                <span>{{ t.get('channel_onboarding_desc', 'Select a channel from the dropdown to view its signal history over time.') }}</span>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+        <div id="channel-no-data" class="no-data-msg" style="display:none;"></div>
         <div id="channel-charts" class="charts-grid" style="display:none;">
             <div class="chart-card">
                 <div class="chart-card-header">
@@ -1408,7 +1415,7 @@ <h2 id="bqm-import-modal-title">{{ t.bqm_import_title }}</h2>
                 </div>
                 <canvas id="chart-ch-errors"></canvas>
             </div>
-            <div class="chart-card" id="channel-modulation-card">
+            <div class="chart-card ch-full-width" id="channel-modulation-card">
                 <div class="chart-card-header">
                     <div class="chart-header-content">
                         <svg class="chart-icon" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2">