diff --git a/backend/services/track_gates.py b/backend/services/track_gates.py
index bc18b477..5ab2e492 100644
--- a/backend/services/track_gates.py
+++ b/backend/services/track_gates.py
@@ -737,9 +737,22 @@ def _num(v, fallback=0.0):
         "hex": ac_hex,
         "ground_truth_hex": resolve_ground_truth_hex(ac_hex, lat, lon),
         "type": "tisb_other",
-        "flight": (track.adsb_hex or f"PR{abs(hash(track.track_id)) % 10000:04d}").strip(),
-        "alt_baro": round(alt_ft),
-        "alt_geom": round(alt_ft),
+        # No fabricated identity for an unassociated track: the synthetic
+        # PR#### callsign made a radar-only return render as a plausible
+        # aircraft, so clutter promotions read as real low-level traffic.
+        # An empty flight falls back to the hex everywhere downstream.
+        "flight": (track.adsb_hex or "").strip(),
+        # Altitude only when some ADS-B identity vouches for it: a fresh fix
+        # supplies it directly, and an ADS-B-hexed track with a stale/partial
+        # fix keeps the solver fallback (test_fresh_adsb_fallback pins that).
+        # For a track with no ADS-B identity at all, single-node bistatic
+        # geometry is underdetermined in altitude (passive_radar.py, solver
+        # notes), so track.alt_ft is essentially free — observed live from
+        # 165 ft to 50,768 ft on one node — and publishing it painted ghost
+        # aircraft on the deck.  Every consumer null-guards alt_baro (the
+        # tar1090 schema omits it when unknown).
+        "alt_baro": round(alt_ft) if (adsb or track.adsb_hex) else None,
+        "alt_geom": round(alt_ft) if (adsb or track.adsb_hex) else None,
         "gs": gs,
         "track": heading,
         "lat": lat,
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_track_gates.py b/backend/tests/test_track_gates.py
index 4a042189..e0034787 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_track_gates.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_track_gates.py
@@ -287,3 +287,37 @@ def _spy(node_ids, lat, lon, age_s, fix_ts, detection_ts):
 
         assert captured["fix_ts"] == pytest.approx(now - 1.0, abs=0.01)
         assert captured["detection_ts"] == pytest.approx(now - 1.0, abs=0.01)
+
+
+class TestUnassociatedEntryHonesty:
+    """No fabricated aircraft attributes for a radar-only track.
+
+    Single-node bistatic geometry is underdetermined in altitude, so
+    track.alt_ft is essentially free (observed live 2026-08-26: 165 ft to
+    50,768 ft on one node), and the synthetic PR#### callsign made clutter
+    promotions render as plausible low-level traffic.  Altitude and callsign
+    are published only when ADS-B vouches for them.
+    """
+
+    def test_unassociated_track_publishes_no_altitude_or_callsign(self, node):
+        now = time.time()
+        track = _make_track(n_detections=3, last_detection_age_s=1.0, now=now)
+        track.adsb_hex = None
+        entry = track_gates.track_entry("pr1234", track, dict(_NODE_CFG), now, set())
+
+        assert entry is not None
+        assert entry["position_source"] == "solver_single_node"
+        assert entry["alt_baro"] is None
+        assert entry["alt_geom"] is None
+        # Empty, not a synthetic PR#### — the frontend falls back to the hex.
+        assert entry["flight"] == ""
+
+    def test_adsb_backed_track_keeps_altitude_and_identity(self, node):
+        now = time.time()
+        _adsb_fix(now)
+        track = _make_track(n_detections=3, last_detection_age_s=1.0, now=now)
+        entry = track_gates.track_entry(HEX, track, dict(_NODE_CFG), now, set())
+
+        assert entry["alt_baro"] == 30000
+        assert entry["alt_geom"] == 30000
+        assert entry["flight"] == HEX
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/LiveAircraftMap.tsx b/frontend/src/components/LiveAircraftMap.tsx
index 25ea79cc..5ade4a50 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/LiveAircraftMap.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/LiveAircraftMap.tsx
@@ -2019,6 +2019,11 @@ export default function LiveAircraftMap() {
                  users mistook the icon position for the actual location.  The detection arc
                  rendered by DetectionArcs is their only map presence; selecting them from the
                  list still highlights the arc and centers the map on the midpoint.
+                 Unassociated solver_single_node tracks (an arc-less frame of the same
+                 single-node geometry) are hidden for the same reason: a lone node's LM solve
+                 is underdetermined, and drawing it as a plane painted short-lived ghost
+                 aircraft wherever clutter promoted a track.  They stay in the list as
+                 Solver·1N rows.
                  A track that has dead-reckoned past DR_ICON_HIDE_DISTANCE_M loses its icon
                  for the same reason — the drawn position is no longer evidence of where the
                  aircraft is — but stays tracked everywhere else, so the next real solve
@@ -2026,6 +2031,7 @@ export default function LiveAircraftMap() {
             {visibleAircraft.map((ac) => {
               if (!validLatLon(ac.lat, ac.lon)) return null;
               if (ac.position_source === POSITION_SOURCE_ARC_ONLY) return null;
+              if (ac.position_source === "solver_single_node") return null;
               if (hideDrIcon(ac, markerNow)) return null;
               const isSelected = ac.hex === selectedHex;
               return (