diff --git a/direct/src/deadrec/smoothMover.I b/direct/src/deadrec/smoothMover.I
index 753607f2d9..f5e2a11016 100644
--- a/direct/src/deadrec/smoothMover.I
+++ b/direct/src/deadrec/smoothMover.I
@@ -132,6 +132,11 @@ set_pos(float x, float y, float z) {
 INLINE bool SmoothMover::
 set_x(float x) {
   bool result = (x != _sample._pos[0]);
+  /*
+  if (deadrec_cat.is_debug()) {
+    deadrec_cat.debug() << "set_x " << x << "\n";
+  }
+  */
   _sample._pos[0] = x;
   return result;
 }
@@ -144,6 +149,11 @@ set_x(float x) {
 INLINE bool SmoothMover::
 set_y(float y) {
   bool result = (y != _sample._pos[1]);
+  /*
+  if (deadrec_cat.is_debug()) {
+    deadrec_cat.debug() << "set_y " << y << "\n";
+  }
+  */
   _sample._pos[1] = y;
   return result;
 }
@@ -156,6 +166,11 @@ set_y(float y) {
 INLINE bool SmoothMover::
 set_z(float z) {
   bool result = (z != _sample._pos[2]);
+  /*
+  if (deadrec_cat.is_debug()) {
+    deadrec_cat.debug() << "set_z " << z << "\n";
+  }
+  */
   _sample._pos[2] = z;
   return result;
 }
@@ -208,6 +223,11 @@ set_hpr(float h, float p, float r) {
 INLINE bool SmoothMover::
 set_h(float h) {
   bool result = (h != _sample._hpr[0]);
+  /*
+  if (deadrec_cat.is_debug()) {
+    deadrec_cat.debug() << "set_h " << h << "\n";
+  }
+  */
   _sample._hpr[0] = h;
   return result;
 }
@@ -220,6 +240,11 @@ set_h(float h) {
 INLINE bool SmoothMover::
 set_p(float p) {
   bool result = (p != _sample._hpr[1]);
+  /*  
+  if (deadrec_cat.is_debug()) {
+    deadrec_cat.debug() << "set_p " << p << "\n";
+  }
+  */
   _sample._hpr[1] = p;
   return result;
 }
@@ -232,6 +257,11 @@ set_p(float p) {
 INLINE bool SmoothMover::
 set_r(float r) {
   bool result = (r != _sample._hpr[2]);
+  /*
+  if (deadrec_cat.is_debug()) {
+    deadrec_cat.debug() << "set_r " << r << "\n";
+  }
+  */
   _sample._hpr[2] = r;
   return result;
 }
@@ -276,6 +306,7 @@ INLINE void SmoothMover::
 set_phony_timestamp() {
   double now = ClockObject::get_global_clock()->get_frame_time();
   _sample._timestamp = now;
+  _most_recent_timestamp = now;
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -287,10 +318,39 @@ set_phony_timestamp() {
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE void SmoothMover::
 set_timestamp(double timestamp) {
+  /*
+  if (deadrec_cat.is_debug()) {
+    deadrec_cat.debug() << "set_timestamp " << timestamp << "\n";
+  }
+  */
   _sample._timestamp = timestamp;
+  _most_recent_timestamp = timestamp;
   record_timestamp_delay(timestamp);
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: SmoothMover::get_most_recent_timestamp
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Returns most recently recorded timestamp
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE double SmoothMover::
+get_most_recent_timestamp() {
+  return _most_recent_timestamp;
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: SmoothMover::set_most_recent_timestamp
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Specifies the time that the current position report
+//               applies.  This should be called after a call to
+//               mark_position().
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE void SmoothMover::
+set_most_recent_timestamp(double timestamp) {
+  _points.back()._timestamp = timestamp;
+  _most_recent_timestamp = timestamp;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: SmoothMover::compute_smooth_position
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/direct/src/deadrec/smoothMover.cxx b/direct/src/deadrec/smoothMover.cxx
index 8bdef43d54..e3196b052e 100644
--- a/direct/src/deadrec/smoothMover.cxx
+++ b/direct/src/deadrec/smoothMover.cxx
@@ -107,6 +107,9 @@ set_mat(const LMatrix4f &mat) {
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 void SmoothMover::
 mark_position() {
+  if (deadrec_cat.is_debug()) {
+    deadrec_cat.debug() << "mark_position\n";
+  }
   if (_smooth_mode == SM_off) {
     // With smoothing disabled, mark_position() simply stores its
     // current position in the smooth_position members.
@@ -138,6 +141,12 @@ mark_position() {
     // report.
 
     if (!_points.empty() && _points.back()._timestamp > _sample._timestamp) {
+      if (deadrec_cat.is_debug()) {
+        deadrec_cat.debug()
+          << "*** timestamp out of order " << _points.back()._timestamp << " "
+          << _sample._timestamp << "\n";
+      }
+
       // If we get a timestamp out of order, one of us must have just
       // reset our clock.  Flush the sequence and start again.
       _points.clear();
@@ -149,11 +158,19 @@ mark_position() {
       _points.push_back(_sample);
 
     } else if (!_points.empty() && _points.back()._timestamp == _sample._timestamp) {
+      if (deadrec_cat.is_debug()) {
+        deadrec_cat.debug()
+          << "*** same timestamp\n";
+      }
       // If the new timestamp is the same as the last timestamp, the
       // value simply replaces the previous value.
       _points.back() = _sample;
 
     } else if ((int)_points.size() >= max_position_reports) {
+      if (deadrec_cat.is_debug()) {
+        deadrec_cat.debug()
+          << "*** dropped oldest position report\n";
+      }
       // If we have too many position reports, throw away the oldest
       // one.
       _points.pop_front();
@@ -181,6 +198,11 @@ mark_position() {
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 void SmoothMover::
 clear_positions(bool reset_velocity) {
+  if (deadrec_cat.is_debug()) {
+    deadrec_cat.debug()
+      << "clear_positions " << reset_velocity << "\n";
+  }
+
   _points.clear();
   _last_point_before = -1;
   _last_point_after = -1;
@@ -530,6 +552,9 @@ compute_smooth_position(double timestamp) {
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 bool SmoothMover::
 get_latest_position() {
+  if (deadrec_cat.is_debug()) {
+    deadrec_cat.debug() << "get_latest_position\n";
+  }
   if (_points.empty()) {
     // Nothing to do if there are no points.
     return _smooth_position_known;
diff --git a/direct/src/deadrec/smoothMover.h b/direct/src/deadrec/smoothMover.h
index d50c188afb..ff2ec0d465 100644
--- a/direct/src/deadrec/smoothMover.h
+++ b/direct/src/deadrec/smoothMover.h
@@ -86,6 +86,9 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   INLINE void set_phony_timestamp();
   INLINE void set_timestamp(double timestamp);
+  
+  INLINE double get_most_recent_timestamp();
+  void set_most_recent_timestamp(double timestamp);
 
   void mark_position();
   void clear_positions(bool reset_velocity);
@@ -198,6 +201,8 @@ private:
   double _smooth_lateral_velocity;
   double _smooth_rotational_velocity;
 
+  double _most_recent_timestamp;
+
   //  typedef CircBuffer<SamplePoint, max_position_reports> Points;
   typedef pdeque<SamplePoint> Points;
   Points _points;