diff --git a/src/agent/teacher-agent.ts b/src/agent/teacher-agent.ts
index 805892b..8e92ae7 100644
--- a/src/agent/teacher-agent.ts
+++ b/src/agent/teacher-agent.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
 	createProberTools,
 	createTeacherTools,
 	type ProbeDoneContext,
+	type ProberToolContext,
 	type TeacherToolContext,
 } from "./tools.ts";
 import { toPiTools, type LhTool } from "./lh-tool.ts";
@@ -181,7 +182,7 @@ function baseAgentOptions(kind: AgentKind, opts: AgentBuildOptions, tools: Agent
  * handoff wake (see tools/probe.ts) and is the transcript seam the
  * handler keys teacher construction on.
  */
-export function createProberAgent(ctx: ProbeDoneContext, opts: AgentBuildOptions = {}) {
+export function createProberAgent(ctx: ProberToolContext, opts: AgentBuildOptions = {}) {
 	return baseAgentOptions("prober", opts, toPiTools(createProberTools(ctx, opts.toolToggles)));
 }
 
diff --git a/src/agent/tools.ts b/src/agent/tools.ts
index 62837c4..239bc7b 100644
--- a/src/agent/tools.ts
+++ b/src/agent/tools.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {
 import { filterEnabledTools, type EnabledTools } from "../core/pending.ts";
 import type { JobRecord } from "../core/contracts.ts";
 import type { JobStore } from "../core/ports.ts";
-import { jobTools, type DemoInput, type ResearchInput, type VisualInput } from "./tools/jobs.ts";
+import { jobTools, type DemoInput, type PdfInput, type ResearchInput, type VisualInput } from "./tools/jobs.ts";
 import { planTools, type PlanToolContext } from "./tools/plan.ts";
 import { probeDoneTool, type ProbeDoneContext } from "./tools/probe.ts";
 import { readTool } from "./tools/read.ts";
@@ -67,18 +67,40 @@ export const probeQuizTool: LhTool<any, any> = {
 	schema: probeQuizInputSchema,
 };
 
-/** The prober's tool set: probe quiz (no nodeId) + ask + probe_done.
+/** The prober's registry context: the probe's own needs (probe_done —
+ *  ProbeDoneContext) PLUS the job-dispatch wiring, since the owner ruling
+ *  (2026-09-20) puts research + pdf in the probe phase's registry too. */
+export interface ProberToolContext extends ProbeDoneContext {
+	/** Creates the job record (deduped by toolCallId). */
+	jobStore: JobStore;
+	/** Fire the background runner for a freshly created job. */
+	spawn: (job: JobRecord, input: ResearchInput | DemoInput | VisualInput | PdfInput) => void;
+	/** Search availability — the research dispatch tool's honest-disable
+	 *  signal (same gate as the teacher's). Absent = available. */
+	searchAvailable?: () => boolean;
+}
+
+/** The prober's tool set: probe quiz (no nodeId) + ask + the learner-fs
+ *  set + probe_done + the two phase-omnipresent job dispatch tools.
  *  `enabled` is the resolved settings seam (core/pending.ts): any tool
  *  explicitly false is dropped from the registry. probe_done stays
  *  always-on regardless — it is how the phase ENDS; a prober that can
  *  never conclude is a lockout. */
 export function createProberTools(
-	ctx: ProbeDoneContext,
+	ctx: ProberToolContext,
 	enabled?: EnabledTools,
 ): Record<string, LhTool<any, any>> {
 	// probe_done is re-added AFTER the filter, always-on by construction — it
 	// is how the phase ENDS; a prober that can never conclude is a lockout.
 	const done = probeDoneTool(ctx);
+	// The job tools build over the SAME context/gates as the teacher's
+	// (one builder, one gating semantic); the prober carries a SUBSET:
+	const jobs = jobTools({
+		chatId: ctx.chatId,
+		jobStore: ctx.jobStore,
+		spawn: ctx.spawn,
+		searchAvailable: ctx.searchAvailable,
+	});
 	return {
 		...filterEnabledTools(
 			{
@@ -91,6 +113,15 @@ export function createProberTools(
 				ls: lsTool,
 				find: findTool,
 				grep: grepTool,
+				// Job dispatch in the probe phase (owner ruling, 2026-09-20):
+				// research + pdf are ALWAYS available in every phase — the
+				// prober can verify facts or read learner PDFs while assessing.
+				// demo/visual stay teach-phase-only (they need the lesson's plan
+				// context). Same gating as the teacher: toggle-filtered here,
+				// research subject to the searchAvailable gate (honestly absent
+				// when no engine is live).
+				...(jobs.research ? { research: jobs.research } : {}),
+				pdf: jobs.pdf!,
 				...done,
 			},
 			enabled,
@@ -153,7 +184,7 @@ export interface TeacherToolContext extends PlanToolContext {
 	/** Fire the background runner for a freshly created job. The tool input
 	 *  rides along — the spawn fires mid-stream, before the tool part is
 	 *  persisted to the transcript (a transcript scan would race it). */
-	spawn: (job: JobRecord, input: ResearchInput | DemoInput | VisualInput) => void;
+	spawn: (job: JobRecord, input: ResearchInput | DemoInput | VisualInput | PdfInput) => void;
 	/** Search availability (search port wave, 2026-09-20): the research
 	 *  dispatch tool's honest-disable signal — no live engine = the tool
 	 *  drops from this registry (JobToolContext.searchAvailable). */
@@ -188,7 +219,11 @@ export function createTeacherTools(
 			find: findTool,
 			grep: grepTool,
 			...planTools(ctx),
-			...jobTools({ chatId: ctx.chatId, jobStore: ctx.jobStore, spawn: ctx.spawn }),
+			// Fix wave (2026-09-20): searchAvailable was RECEIVED here but
+			// DROPPED when building the inner JobToolContext — the drop-gate
+			// always took its ?? true default. Threaded now: the live signal
+			// reaches jobTools' research gate.
+			...jobTools({ chatId: ctx.chatId, jobStore: ctx.jobStore, spawn: ctx.spawn, searchAvailable: ctx.searchAvailable }),
 		},
 		enabled,
 	);
diff --git a/src/server/chat-handler.ts b/src/server/chat-handler.ts
index 07347b5..36be74f 100644
--- a/src/server/chat-handler.ts
+++ b/src/server/chat-handler.ts
@@ -276,6 +276,12 @@ export async function handleChatRequest(
 						chatId,
 						chatStore: stores.chatStore,
 						deliver: (steer) => void deliverJobResult(steer),
+						// Fix wave (2026-09-20): the prober carries research + pdf
+						// dispatch (owner ruling — phase-omnipresent), so its ctx
+						// needs the same job wiring as the teacher's.
+						jobStore: stores.jobStore,
+						spawn: (job, input) => void jobRunner.runJob(job.id, input),
+						searchAvailable,
 					},
 					agentOpts,
 				);
diff --git a/tests/question-tools.test.ts b/tests/question-tools.test.ts
index cd40aca..15cf79c 100644
--- a/tests/question-tools.test.ts
+++ b/tests/question-tools.test.ts
@@ -145,8 +145,12 @@ describe("the prober's quiz: no nodeId field at all", () => {
 
 	it("the prober's tool registry carries the nodeId-less quiz, probe_done, and the learner-filesystem set", () => {
 		const chatId = newChat("Prober: registry");
-		const tools = createProberTools({ chatId, chatStore, deliver: () => {} });
-		assert.deepEqual(Object.keys(tools).sort(), ["ask_user_question", "find", "grep", "ls", "probe_done", "quiz", "read"]);
+		const tools = createProberTools({ chatId, chatStore, deliver: () => {}, jobStore, spawn: () => {} });
+		// Fix wave (2026-09-20): the owner ruling adds research + pdf dispatch
+		// to the probe phase's registry (demo/visual stay teach-only).
+		assert.deepEqual(Object.keys(tools).sort(), [
+			"ask_user_question", "find", "grep", "ls", "pdf", "probe_done", "quiz", "read", "research",
+		]);
 		const schema = quizSchemaOf(tools);
 		assert.equal(schema.safeParse({ ...validQuiz, nodeId: "anything" }).success, true, "no session check to fail");
 	});
@@ -166,16 +170,18 @@ describe("tool toggles (core/pending.ts + factories)", () => {
 
 	it("createProberTools: absent record = full set; explicit false drops exactly that tool; probe_done survives everything", () => {
 		const chatId = newChat("Prober: toggles");
-		const ctx = { chatId, chatStore, deliver: () => {} };
-		assert.deepEqual(Object.keys(createProberTools(ctx)).sort(), ["ask_user_question", "find", "grep", "ls", "probe_done", "quiz", "read"]);
+		const ctx = { chatId, chatStore, deliver: () => {}, jobStore, spawn: () => {} };
+		assert.deepEqual(Object.keys(createProberTools(ctx)).sort(), [
+			"ask_user_question", "find", "grep", "ls", "pdf", "probe_done", "quiz", "read", "research",
+		]);
 
 		const noAsk = createProberTools(ctx, { ask_user_question: false });
-		assert.deepEqual(Object.keys(noAsk).sort(), ["find", "grep", "ls", "probe_done", "quiz", "read"]);
+		assert.deepEqual(Object.keys(noAsk).sort(), ["find", "grep", "ls", "pdf", "probe_done", "quiz", "read", "research"]);
 
 		// quiz off is honored by the generic machinery too (future toggleable),
 		// but probe_done is never droppable — it is how the phase ends.
 		const noQuiz = createProberTools(ctx, { quiz: false });
-		assert.deepEqual(Object.keys(noQuiz).sort(), ["ask_user_question", "find", "grep", "ls", "probe_done", "read"]);
+		assert.deepEqual(Object.keys(noQuiz).sort(), ["ask_user_question", "find", "grep", "ls", "pdf", "probe_done", "read", "research"]);
 		assert.ok(createProberTools(ctx, { probe_done: false }).probe_done, "probe_done always-on");
 	});
 
diff --git a/tests/tool-toggles-bridge.test.ts b/tests/tool-toggles-bridge.test.ts
index 2a4bdac..e0fc4ce 100644
--- a/tests/tool-toggles-bridge.test.ts
+++ b/tests/tool-toggles-bridge.test.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ import assert from "node:assert/strict";
 import { z } from "zod";
 import { describe, it } from "node:test";
 import { createProberAgent, createTeacherAgent } from "../src/agent/teacher-agent.ts";
-import type { ProbeDoneContext } from "../src/agent/tools.ts";
+import type { ProberToolContext } from "../src/agent/tools.ts";
+import { jobStore } from "../src/store/jobs.ts";
 import { parseAgentSettingsBody } from "../src/server/settings-body.ts";
 import { chatStore } from "../src/store/chats.ts";
 import type { AgentSettings } from "../src/core/settings.ts";
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ describe("AgentBuildOptions.toolToggles (the P2 bridge)", () => {
 
 	it("flows into the prober's registry; probe_done survives everything", () => {
 		const chatId = chatStore.createChat("Toggle bridge test").id;
-		const ctx: ProbeDoneContext = { chatId, chatStore, deliver: () => {} };
+		const ctx: ProberToolContext = { chatId, chatStore, deliver: () => {}, jobStore, spawn: () => {} };
 		const prober = createProberAgent(ctx, { toolToggles: { ask_user_question: false } });
 		const names = toolNames(prober);
 		assert.ok(!names.includes("ask_user_question"), "the delta dropped the tool");
diff --git a/tests/web-search.test.ts b/tests/web-search.test.ts
index 90d81ae..4dfd373 100644
--- a/tests/web-search.test.ts
+++ b/tests/web-search.test.ts
@@ -137,3 +137,75 @@ describe("the research registry drop (jobTools)", () => {
 		assert.ok(tools.research, "the seam is optional — default is honest availability");
 	});
 });
+
+// ─── the threaded gate (fix wave, 2026-09-20) ────────────────────────────────
+//
+// The fix: createTeacherTools/createProberTools used to DROP searchAvailable
+// when building the inner JobToolContext, so jobTools' gate always took its
+// ?? true default even when the live wiring said unavailable. These pins
+// hold the THREADED path (the registry factories, not jobTools directly).
+
+import { createProberTools, createTeacherTools } from "../src/agent/tools.ts";
+import type { ChatStore } from "../src/core/ports.ts";
+
+/** A chat-store stub — the registry factories only CLOSE OVER it at build
+ *  time (quiz/plan superRefines read it at execute time, never here). */
+const fakeChatStore = {
+	getChat: () => null,
+	saveMessages: () => {},
+} as unknown as ChatStore;
+
+const ctxBase = { chatId: "chat-gate-test", chatStore: fakeChatStore };
+
+describe("the threaded searchAvailable gate (registry factories)", () => {
+	it("createTeacherTools: unavailable drops research on the live wiring path", () => {
+		const tools = createTeacherTools({
+			...ctxBase,
+			jobStore: fakeJobStore(),
+			spawn: () => {},
+			searchAvailable: () => false,
+		});
+		assert.equal("research" in tools, false, "the threaded signal reached jobTools' gate");
+		assert.ok(tools.demo && tools.visual && tools.pdf, "the other job tools survive");
+	});
+
+	it("createTeacherTools: available keeps research (the gate reads the signal both ways)", () => {
+		const tools = createTeacherTools({
+			...ctxBase,
+			jobStore: fakeJobStore(),
+			spawn: () => {},
+			searchAvailable: () => true,
+		});
+		assert.ok(tools.research, "a keyed server exposes research through the teacher");
+	});
+
+	it("createProberTools: research + pdf are phase-omnipresent; the gate drops research only", () => {
+		const on = createProberTools({
+			...ctxBase,
+			deliver: () => {},
+			jobStore: fakeJobStore(),
+			spawn: () => {},
+			searchAvailable: () => true,
+		});
+		assert.ok(on.research && on.pdf, "the owner ruling: research + pdf in the probe phase");
+
+		const off = createProberTools({
+			...ctxBase,
+			deliver: () => {},
+			jobStore: fakeJobStore(),
+			spawn: () => {},
+			searchAvailable: () => false,
+		});
+		assert.equal("research" in off, false, "no engine = no research dispatch in the prober either");
+		assert.ok(off.pdf && off.probe_done, "pdf is keyless — it survives; probe_done always-on");
+	});
+
+	it("createProberTools: the user toggle drops research independently of the gate", () => {
+		const tools = createProberTools(
+			{ ...ctxBase, deliver: () => {}, jobStore: fakeJobStore(), spawn: () => {}, searchAvailable: () => true },
+			{ research: false },
+		);
+		assert.equal("research" in tools, false, "toggle-filtered like the teacher side");
+		assert.ok(tools.pdf, "pdf unaffected by a research toggle");
+	});
+});