diff --git a/daq/src/aaredaq/server.py b/daq/src/aaredaq/server.py
index c8ce9bf1..fa8cc974 100644
--- a/daq/src/aaredaq/server.py
+++ b/daq/src/aaredaq/server.py
@@ -26,8 +26,6 @@ from aaredaq.daq import AareDAQ
 
 from aaredaq.camera_stat_thread import start_image_stats_receiver, stop_image_stats_receiver
 
-from aaregui.panels.reference_tools_panel import ReferenceToolsModel
-
 app = FastAPI()
 
 # OAuth2 setup
@@ -246,6 +244,13 @@ def get_spreadsheet(data: TokenData) -> SampleShortInfoList:
 def get_reference_tools() -> SampleShortInfoList:
     return cfg.reference_tools
 
+async def reference_tools_event_stream() -> AsyncGenerator[str, None]:
+    try:
+        while True:
+            yield get_reference_tools().model_dump_json()
+            await asyncio.sleep(10)
+    except asyncio.CancelledError:
+        return
 
 async def spreadsheet_event_stream(data: TokenData) -> AsyncGenerator[str, None]:
     try:
@@ -270,6 +275,18 @@ async def spreadsheet_sse(token: str = Depends(oauth2_scheme)):
         }
     )
 
+@app.get("/sse/reference_tools")
+async def reference_tools_sse():
+    return StreamingResponse(
+        reference_tools_event_stream(),
+        media_type="text/event-stream",
+        headers={
+            "Cache-Control": "no-cache",
+            "Connection": "keep-alive",
+            "Access-Control-Allow-Origin": "*",
+            "Access-Control-Allow-Headers": "Cache-Control"
+        }
+    )
 
 @app.get("/sample/spreadsheet")
 async def spreadsheet(token: str = Depends(oauth2_scheme)) -> SampleShortInfoList:
diff --git a/gui/src/aaregui/panels/reference_tools_panel.py b/gui/src/aaregui/panels/reference_tools_panel.py
index 6f832a32..2787da3c 100644
--- a/gui/src/aaregui/panels/reference_tools_panel.py
+++ b/gui/src/aaregui/panels/reference_tools_panel.py
@@ -14,11 +14,14 @@ from PySide6.QtWidgets import (
 )
 from aaredaqlib.models import SampleShortInfoList, SampleShortInfo, BeamlineStateEnum
 
-
 class ReferenceToolsModel(QAbstractTableModel):
-    def __init__(self, rows: Optional[List[SampleShortInfo]] = None, parent=None):
+    def __init__(self, rows: Optional[list[SampleShortInfo]] | None = None, parent=None, current_reference: int | None = None,):
         super().__init__(parent)
-        self._rows: List[SampleShortInfo] = rows or []
+        self._rows: list[SampleShortInfo] = rows or []
+        self.current_reference = current_reference
+        self.__sort_col = 1
+        self.__sort_order = Qt.SortOrder.AscendingOrder
+        self._sort()
 
     def rowCount(self, parent: QModelIndex = QModelIndex()) -> int:
         return len(self._rows)
@@ -26,8 +29,8 @@ class ReferenceToolsModel(QAbstractTableModel):
     def columnCount(self, parent: QModelIndex = QModelIndex()) -> int:
         return 3  # position, sample_name, mount_count
 
-    def data(self, index: QModelIndex, role: int = Qt.DisplayRole):
-        if not index.isValid() or role != Qt.DisplayRole:
+    def data(self, index: QModelIndex, role=None):
+        if not index.isValid() or role != Qt.ItemDataRole.DisplayRole:
             return None
         s: SampleShortInfo = self._rows[index.row()]
         if index.column() == 0:
@@ -39,22 +42,39 @@ class ReferenceToolsModel(QAbstractTableModel):
             return str(getattr(s, "mount_count", 0))
         return None
 
-    def headerData(self, section: int, orientation, role: int = Qt.DisplayRole):
-        if role != Qt.DisplayRole:
+    def headerData(self, section: int, orientation, role=None):
+        if role != Qt.ItemDataRole.DisplayRole:
             return None
-        if orientation == Qt.Horizontal:
+        if orientation == Qt.Orientation.Horizontal:
             return ("position", "sample_name", "mount_count")[section]
         return str(section + 1)
 
-    def update_rows(self, rows: List[SampleShortInfo]):
+    def update_rows(self, rows: list[SampleShortInfo]):
         self.beginResetModel()
         self._rows = rows
         self.endResetModel()
 
+    def sort(self, column, order):
+        self.layoutAboutToBeChanged.emit()
+        self.__sort_order = order
+        self.__sort_col = column
+        self._sort()
+        self.layoutChanged.emit()
+
+    def _sort(self):
+        self.__sorted_samples = sorted(
+            self._rows,
+            key=lambda row: row[0],
+            reverse=(
+                self.__sort_order == Qt.SortOrder.AscendingOrder
+            ),  # Reverse for descending order
+        )
+
     def get_item(self, row: int) -> Optional[SampleShortInfo]:
         try:
             return self._rows[row]
-        except Exception:
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(e)
             return None
 
 class ReferenceToolsPanel(QFrame):
@@ -81,12 +101,17 @@ class ReferenceToolsPanel(QFrame):
         layout.addWidget(QLabel("Reference tools", parent=self), 0, 0, 1, 2)
 
         self.table_view = QTableView(parent=self)
+
         # initialize model with provided samples
-        self.table_model = ReferenceToolsModel(samples.s)
+        self.table_model = ReferenceToolsModel(rows=samples.s)
         self.table_view.setModel(self.table_model)
+        self.table_view.verticalHeader().setVisible(False)
+
         header = self.table_view.horizontalHeader()
         header.setSectionResizeMode(QHeaderView.ResizeMode.Interactive)
         header.setStretchLastSection(True)
+
+
         self.table_view.setSelectionBehavior(QTableView.SelectionBehavior.SelectRows)
         self.table_view.setSelectionMode(QTableView.SelectionMode.SingleSelection)
         self.table_view.setContextMenuPolicy(Qt.ContextMenuPolicy.CustomContextMenu)
@@ -98,10 +123,10 @@ class ReferenceToolsPanel(QFrame):
         layout.addWidget(self.unmount_button, 2, 0)
         self.unmount_button.clicked.connect(self._on_unmount_clicked)
 
-        self._timer = QTimer(self)
-        self._timer.setInterval(refresh_interval_ms)
-        self._timer.timeout.connect(self.request_refresh)  # implement to call DAQ/adapter
-        self._timer.start()
+        # self._timer = QTimer(self)
+        # self._timer.setInterval(refresh_interval_ms)
+        # self._timer.timeout.connect()  # implement to call DAQ/adapter
+        # self._timer.start()
 
     def _selected_item(self) -> Optional[SampleShortInfo]:
         idx = self.table_view.currentIndex()
@@ -131,6 +156,6 @@ class ReferenceToolsPanel(QFrame):
             self.unmount.emit(item)
 
     @Slot(SampleShortInfoList)
-    def new_list(self, lst: SampleShortInfoList):
+    def new_list(self, samples: SampleShortInfoList):
         # signal from DAQWorker will call this with the model
-        self.table_model.update_rows(lst.s)
\ No newline at end of file
+        self.table_model.update_rows(rows=samples.s)
\ No newline at end of file