diff --git a/network.cpp b/network.cpp
index ac9e5cf..05bc0a1 100644
--- a/network.cpp
+++ b/network.cpp
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ Connection::Connection() /* server */
     next_seq( 0 ),
     saved_timestamp( -1 ),
     RTT_hit( false ),
-    SRTT( 1 ),
-    RTTVAR( .5 )
+    SRTT( 1000 ),
+    RTTVAR( 500 )
 {
   setup();
 }
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ Connection::Connection( const char *key_str, const char *ip, int port ) /* clien
     next_seq( 0 ),
     saved_timestamp( -1 ),
     RTT_hit( false ),
-    SRTT( 1 ),
-    RTTVAR( .5 )
+    SRTT( 1000 ),
+    RTTVAR( 500 )
 {
   setup();
 
@@ -204,6 +204,8 @@ string Connection::recv( void )
     assert( now >= p.timestamp_reply );
     const double R = now - p.timestamp_reply;
 
+    fprintf( stderr, "Saw delay of %f\r\n", R );
+
     if ( !RTT_hit ) { /* first measurement */
       SRTT = R;
       RTTVAR = R / 2;
diff --git a/network.hpp b/network.hpp
index f59c600..bb14e1b 100644
--- a/network.hpp
+++ b/network.hpp
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ namespace Network {
     bool get_attached( void ) { return attached; }
 
     int timeout( void ) { return (int)lrint( ceil( SRTT + 4 * RTTVAR ) ); }
+    bool pending_timestamp( void ) { return ( saved_timestamp != uint64_t(-1) ); }
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/networktransport.cpp b/networktransport.cpp
index 37b6bec..2507e40 100644
--- a/networktransport.cpp
+++ b/networktransport.cpp
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@ void Transport<MyState, RemoteState>::send_to_receiver( void )
 
   if ( assumed_receiver_state->state == target_receiver_state ) {
     /* send empty ack */
-    if ( timestamp() - sent_states.back().timestamp < int64_t( ACK_INTERVAL ) ) {
+    if ( (!connection.pending_timestamp())
+	 && (timestamp() - sent_states.back().timestamp < int64_t( ACK_INTERVAL )) ) {
       return;
     }
 
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ void Transport<MyState, RemoteState>::send_to_receiver( void )
     string s = inst.tostring();
 
     try {
-      fprintf( stderr, "Sent instruction from %d => %d (terminal %d): %s\r\n", int(inst.old_num), int(inst.new_num), int(sent_states.back().num), inst.diff.c_str() );
+      fprintf( stderr, "Sent instruction (timeout %d) from %d => %d (terminal %d): %s\r\n", connection.timeout(), int(inst.old_num), int(inst.new_num), int(sent_states.back().num), inst.diff.c_str() );
       connection.send( s );
     } catch ( MTUException m ) {
       continue;
@@ -200,7 +201,6 @@ void Transport<MyState, RemoteState>::recv( void )
   Instruction inst( s );
   
   process_acknowledgment_through( inst.ack_num );
-  //  process_throwaway_until( inst.throwaway.num );
 
   /* first, make sure we don't already have the new state */
   for ( typename list< TimestampedState<RemoteState> >::iterator i = received_states.begin();