diff --git a/scratch/mm_stream_probe.py b/scratch/mm_stream_probe.py
index b664b90..e5c1fc0 100644
--- a/scratch/mm_stream_probe.py
+++ b/scratch/mm_stream_probe.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "bridges"))
 
 from micromate.client import MicromateClient, _content  # noqa: E402
 from micromate.framing import MicromateFrameParser, build_request  # noqa: E402
-from micromate.protocol import SUB_BULK_DOWNLOAD  # noqa: E402
+from micromate.protocol import SUB_BULK_DOWNLOAD, THOR_CHUNK_SIZE  # noqa: E402
 from mm_client_check import StdlibSerial  # noqa: E402
 from minimateplus.transport import TcpTransport  # noqa: E402
 
@@ -83,9 +83,11 @@ def main() -> int:
     ap.add_argument("--event", default="smallest",
                     help="a key in hex, 'smallest' (default — the gentlest "
                          "first test) or 'largest' (the one that matters)")
-    ap.add_argument("--idle-gap", type=float, default=2.0,
-                    help="seconds of silence that end a streaming read; 2.0 is "
-                         "generous for a modem, which buffers ~1 s")
+    ap.add_argument("--idle-gap", type=float, default=3.0,
+                    help="seconds of silence that end a read.  A 16 KB response "
+                         "is ~1.4 s of serial time at 115200 BEFORE the modem's "
+                         "~1 s forwarding delay, so this is deliberately roomy; "
+                         "too small and a slow link looks like a clamp.")
     ap.add_argument("--timeout", type=float, default=90.0)
     a = ap.parse_args()
 
@@ -123,16 +125,22 @@ def main() -> int:
                 return 2
             ref = matches[0]
 
-        n_chunks = math.ceil(ref.size / 1024)
+        n_chunks = math.ceil(ref.size / THOR_CHUNK_SIZE)
         print(f"\n  target: {ref.key_hex}  {ref.size} B  {ref.record_type}  "
-              f"({n_chunks} chunks the known-good way)")
+              f"({n_chunks} requests at THOR's chunk size)")
 
-        # ── 1. the known-good chunk loop ──────────────────────────────────────
+        # ── 1. the control: THOR's 1024-byte chunk loop ───────────────────────
+        # ⚠ Pinned to THOR_CHUNK_SIZE on purpose.  The library default is now
+        # 16,384, and using it here would make the experiment circular -- the
+        # "known-good" reference would share any fault with the sizes under test.
+        # 1024 is the size with THOR's own captures behind it and the one proven
+        # over a modem, so it is the control.
         t0 = time.monotonic()
-        chunked = mm.protocol.read_event_file(ref.key, ref.size)
+        chunked = mm.protocol.read_event_file(ref.key, ref.size,
+                                              chunk_size=THOR_CHUNK_SIZE)
         dt_chunked = time.monotonic() - t0
-        print(f"\n  [1] chunk loop ...... {len(chunked)} B in {dt_chunked:.2f} s "
-              f"({n_chunks} requests)")
+        print(f"\n  [1] control ......... {len(chunked)} B in {dt_chunked:.2f} s "
+              f"({n_chunks} requests at THOR's 1024 B)")
 
         # ── 2. how many bytes will it serve in ONE frame? ─────────────────
         # The streaming hypothesis is dead (see the module docstring): `offset`
@@ -176,7 +184,7 @@ def main() -> int:
         if best is None:
             print("  VERDICT: nothing above the current chunk size verified.")
         else:
-            now = math.ceil(ref.size / 1024)
+            now = math.ceil(ref.size / THOR_CHUNK_SIZE)
             then = math.ceil(ref.size / best)
             print(f"  VERDICT: the device serves at least {best} B per request,")
             print(f"  verified byte-identical.  For this {ref.size} B event that")