diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 692406f..b32e9ea 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ cp lib/keys.dart.example lib/keys.dart
 
 ### Needed Bugfixes
 - Upload queue processing is dook
-- Node fetch network indicator claims timeout too early; need to wait for split requests and backoffs to resolve
+
 - Ensure GPS/follow-me works after recent revamp (loses lock? have to move map for button state to update?)
 - Clean cache when nodes have been deleted by others
 - Are offline areas preferred for fast loading even when online? Check working.
diff --git a/assets/changelog.json b/assets/changelog.json
index a83281a..3937173 100644
--- a/assets/changelog.json
+++ b/assets/changelog.json
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
 {
+  "2.2.1": {
+    "content": [
+      "• Fixed network status indicator timing out prematurely while split requests were still loading",
+      "• Network status now accurately shows 'taking a while' when requests split or backoff, and only shows 'timed out' for actual network failures",
+      "• Removed artificial timeout timers in favor of reporting actual request status events"
+    ]
+  },
   "2.2.0": {
     "content": [
       "• Fixed follow-me sync issues where tracking would sometimes stop working after mode changes",
diff --git a/lib/services/map_data_submodules/nodes_from_overpass.dart b/lib/services/map_data_submodules/nodes_from_overpass.dart
index 99f9380..e8ed9af 100644
--- a/lib/services/map_data_submodules/nodes_from_overpass.dart
+++ b/lib/services/map_data_submodules/nodes_from_overpass.dart
@@ -78,6 +78,11 @@ Future<List<OsmNode>> _fetchOverpassNodesWithSplitting({
     // Rate limits should NOT be split - just fail with extended backoff
     debugPrint('[fetchOverpassNodes] Rate limited - using extended backoff, not splitting');
     
+    // Report slow progress when backing off
+    if (reportStatus) {
+      NetworkStatus.instance.reportSlowProgress();
+    }
+    
     // Wait longer for rate limits before giving up entirely  
     await Future.delayed(const Duration(seconds: 30));
     return []; // Return empty rather than rethrowing - let caller handle error reporting
@@ -88,6 +93,11 @@ Future<List<OsmNode>> _fetchOverpassNodesWithSplitting({
       return []; // Return empty - let caller handle error reporting
     }
     
+    // Report slow progress when we start splitting (only at the top level)
+    if (reportStatus) {
+      NetworkStatus.instance.reportSlowProgress();
+    }
+    
     // Split the bounds into 4 quadrants and try each separately
     debugPrint('[fetchOverpassNodes] Splitting area into quadrants (depth: $splitDepth)');
     final quadrants = _splitBounds(bounds);
diff --git a/lib/services/network_status.dart b/lib/services/network_status.dart
index fd7db81..e930bde 100644
--- a/lib/services/network_status.dart
+++ b/lib/services/network_status.dart
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class NetworkStatus extends ChangeNotifier {
   bool _hasSuccess = false;
   int _recentOfflineMisses = 0;
   Timer? _overpassRecoveryTimer;
-  Timer? _waitingTimer;
   Timer? _noDataResetTimer;
   Timer? _successResetTimer;
   // Getters
@@ -72,7 +71,25 @@ class NetworkStatus extends ChangeNotifier {
     }
   }
 
-  /// Set waiting status (show when loading tiles/cameras)
+  /// Report that requests are taking longer than usual (splitting, backoffs, etc.)
+  void reportSlowProgress() {
+    if (!_overpassHasIssues) {
+      _overpassHasIssues = true;
+      _isWaitingForData = false; // Transition from waiting to slow progress
+      notifyListeners();
+      debugPrint('[NetworkStatus] Surveillance data requests taking longer than usual');
+    }
+    
+    // Reset recovery timer - we'll clear this when the operation actually completes
+    _overpassRecoveryTimer?.cancel();
+    _overpassRecoveryTimer = Timer(const Duration(minutes: 2), () {
+      _overpassHasIssues = false;
+      notifyListeners();
+      debugPrint('[NetworkStatus] Slow progress status cleared');
+    });
+  }
+
+  /// Set waiting status (show when loading surveillance data)
   void setWaiting() {
     // Clear any previous timeout/no-data state when starting new wait
     _isTimedOut = false;
@@ -83,17 +100,7 @@ class NetworkStatus extends ChangeNotifier {
     if (!_isWaitingForData) {
       _isWaitingForData = true;
       notifyListeners();
-      // Don't log routine waiting - only log if we stay waiting too long
     }
-    
-    // Set timeout for genuine network issues (not 404s)
-    _waitingTimer?.cancel();
-    _waitingTimer = Timer(const Duration(seconds: 8), () {
-      _isWaitingForData = false;
-      _isTimedOut = true;
-      debugPrint('[NetworkStatus] Request timed out - likely network issues');
-      notifyListeners();
-    });
   }
   
   /// Show success status briefly when data loads
@@ -103,7 +110,6 @@ class NetworkStatus extends ChangeNotifier {
     _hasNoData = false;
     _hasSuccess = true;
     _recentOfflineMisses = 0;
-    _waitingTimer?.cancel();
     _noDataResetTimer?.cancel();
     notifyListeners();
     
@@ -123,7 +129,6 @@ class NetworkStatus extends ChangeNotifier {
     _isTimedOut = false;
     _hasSuccess = false;
     _hasNoData = true;
-    _waitingTimer?.cancel();
     _successResetTimer?.cancel();
     notifyListeners();
     
@@ -145,7 +150,6 @@ class NetworkStatus extends ChangeNotifier {
       _hasNoData = false;
       _hasSuccess = false;
       _recentOfflineMisses = 0;
-      _waitingTimer?.cancel();
       _noDataResetTimer?.cancel();
       _successResetTimer?.cancel();
       notifyListeners();
@@ -158,7 +162,6 @@ class NetworkStatus extends ChangeNotifier {
     _isTimedOut = true;
     _hasNoData = false;
     _hasSuccess = false;
-    _waitingTimer?.cancel();
     _noDataResetTimer?.cancel();
     _successResetTimer?.cancel();
     notifyListeners();
@@ -179,7 +182,6 @@ class NetworkStatus extends ChangeNotifier {
     _isTimedOut = false;
     _hasNoData = false; 
     _hasSuccess = false;
-    _waitingTimer?.cancel();
     _noDataResetTimer?.cancel();
     _successResetTimer?.cancel();
     
@@ -200,7 +202,6 @@ class NetworkStatus extends ChangeNotifier {
       _isWaitingForData = false;
       _isTimedOut = false;
       _hasNoData = true;
-      _waitingTimer?.cancel();
       notifyListeners();
       debugPrint('[NetworkStatus] No offline data available for this area');
     }
@@ -217,7 +218,6 @@ class NetworkStatus extends ChangeNotifier {
   @override
   void dispose() {
     _overpassRecoveryTimer?.cancel();
-    _waitingTimer?.cancel();
     _noDataResetTimer?.cancel();
     _successResetTimer?.cancel();
     super.dispose();
diff --git a/pubspec.yaml b/pubspec.yaml
index 82f0dd3..77bf249 100644
--- a/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/pubspec.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: deflockapp
 description: Map public surveillance infrastructure with OpenStreetMap
 publish_to: "none"
-version: 2.2.0+36   # The thing after the + is the version code, incremented with each release
+version: 2.2.1+37   # The thing after the + is the version code, incremented with each release
 
 environment:
   sdk: ">=3.5.0 <4.0.0"   # oauth2_client 4.x needs Dart 3.5+