diff --git a/assignment-client/src/metavoxels/MetavoxelServer.cpp b/assignment-client/src/metavoxels/MetavoxelServer.cpp
index c601478f70..14765e2ddc 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/metavoxels/MetavoxelServer.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/metavoxels/MetavoxelServer.cpp
@@ -87,13 +87,14 @@ void MetavoxelServer::sendDeltas() {
     int elapsed = now - _lastSend;
     _lastSend = now;
     
-    _sendTimer.start(qMax(0, 2 * SEND_INTERVAL - elapsed));
+    _sendTimer.start(qMax(0, 2 * SEND_INTERVAL - qMax(elapsed, SEND_INTERVAL)));
 }
 
 MetavoxelSession::MetavoxelSession(const SharedNodePointer& node, MetavoxelServer* server) :
     Endpoint(node, new PacketRecord(), NULL),
     _server(server),
-    _reliableDeltaChannel(NULL) {
+    _reliableDeltaChannel(NULL),
+    _reliableDeltaID(0) {
     
     connect(&_sequencer, SIGNAL(receivedHighPriorityMessage(const QVariant&)), SLOT(handleMessage(const QVariant&)));
     connect(&_sequencer, SIGNAL(sendAcknowledged(int)), SLOT(checkReliableDeltaReceived()));
@@ -108,9 +109,7 @@ void MetavoxelSession::update() {
     }
     // if we're sending a reliable delta, wait until it's acknowledged
     if (_reliableDeltaChannel) {
-        Bitstream& out = _sequencer.startPacket();
-        out << QVariant::fromValue(MetavoxelDeltaPendingMessage());
-        _sequencer.endPacket();
+        sendPacketGroup();
         return;
     }
     Bitstream& out = _sequencer.startPacket();
@@ -134,12 +133,16 @@ void MetavoxelSession::update() {
         
         // go back to the beginning with the current packet and note that there's a delta pending
         _sequencer.getOutputStream().getUnderlying().device()->seek(start);
-        out << QVariant::fromValue(MetavoxelDeltaPendingMessage());
+        MetavoxelDeltaPendingMessage msg = { ++_reliableDeltaID };
+        out << QVariant::fromValue(msg);
         _sequencer.endPacket();
         
     } else {
         _sequencer.endPacket();
     }
+    
+    // perhaps send additional packets to fill out the group
+    sendPacketGroup(1);   
 }
 
 void MetavoxelSession::handleMessage(const QVariant& message, Bitstream& in) {
@@ -176,3 +179,17 @@ void MetavoxelSession::checkReliableDeltaReceived() {
     _reliableDeltaData = MetavoxelData();
     _reliableDeltaChannel = NULL;
 }
+
+void MetavoxelSession::sendPacketGroup(int alreadySent) {
+    int additionalPackets = _sequencer.notePacketGroup() - alreadySent;
+    for (int i = 0; i < additionalPackets; i++) {
+        Bitstream& out = _sequencer.startPacket();
+        if (_reliableDeltaChannel) {
+            MetavoxelDeltaPendingMessage msg = { _reliableDeltaID };
+            out << QVariant::fromValue(msg);
+        } else {
+            out << QVariant();
+        }
+        _sequencer.endPacket();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/metavoxels/MetavoxelServer.h b/assignment-client/src/metavoxels/MetavoxelServer.h
index f2769f26f2..6df769227c 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/metavoxels/MetavoxelServer.h
+++ b/assignment-client/src/metavoxels/MetavoxelServer.h
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ private slots:
     
 private:
     
+    void sendPacketGroup(int alreadySent = 0);
+    
     MetavoxelServer* _server;
     
     MetavoxelLOD _lod;
@@ -83,6 +85,7 @@ private:
     MetavoxelData _reliableDeltaData;
     MetavoxelLOD _reliableDeltaLOD;
     Bitstream::WriteMappings _reliableDeltaWriteMappings;
+    int _reliableDeltaID;
 };
 
 #endif // hifi_MetavoxelServer_h
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/DatagramSequencer.cpp b/libraries/metavoxels/src/DatagramSequencer.cpp
index 2c594fc1ca..536cfc9dfb 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/DatagramSequencer.cpp
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/DatagramSequencer.cpp
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ ReliableChannel* DatagramSequencer::getReliableInputChannel(int index) {
     return channel;
 }
 
-int DatagramSequencer::startPacketGroup(int desiredPackets) {
+int DatagramSequencer::notePacketGroup(int desiredPackets) {
     // figure out how much data we have enqueued and increase the number of packets desired
     int totalAvailable = 0;
     foreach (ReliableChannel* channel, _reliableOutputChannels) {
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/DatagramSequencer.h b/libraries/metavoxels/src/DatagramSequencer.h
index b85916b561..b6dce464f7 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/DatagramSequencer.h
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/DatagramSequencer.h
@@ -108,10 +108,10 @@ public:
     /// Returns the intput channel at the specified index, creating it if necessary.
     ReliableChannel* getReliableInputChannel(int index = 0);
     
-    /// Starts a packet group.
+    /// Notes that we're sending a group of packets.
     /// \param desiredPackets the number of packets we'd like to write in the group
     /// \return the number of packets to write in the group
-    int startPacketGroup(int desiredPackets = 1);
+    int notePacketGroup(int desiredPackets = 1);
     
     /// Starts a new packet for transmission.
     /// \return a reference to the Bitstream to use for writing to the packet
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/Endpoint.cpp b/libraries/metavoxels/src/Endpoint.cpp
index 666ffe52d9..420a52ef95 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/Endpoint.cpp
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/Endpoint.cpp
@@ -39,9 +39,12 @@ Endpoint::~Endpoint() {
 }
 
 void Endpoint::update() {
-    Bitstream& out = _sequencer.startPacket();
-    writeUpdateMessage(out);
-    _sequencer.endPacket();
+    int packetsToSend = _sequencer.notePacketGroup();
+    for (int i = 0; i < packetsToSend; i++) {
+        Bitstream& out = _sequencer.startPacket();
+        writeUpdateMessage(out);
+        _sequencer.endPacket();
+    }
 }
 
 int Endpoint::parseData(const QByteArray& packet) {
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelClientManager.cpp b/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelClientManager.cpp
index e69794917f..f3ea1ae8c5 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelClientManager.cpp
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelClientManager.cpp
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ void MetavoxelClientManager::updateClient(MetavoxelClient* client) {
 MetavoxelClient::MetavoxelClient(const SharedNodePointer& node, MetavoxelClientManager* manager) :
     Endpoint(node, new PacketRecord(), new PacketRecord()),
     _manager(manager),
-    _reliableDeltaChannel(NULL) {
+    _reliableDeltaChannel(NULL),
+    _reliableDeltaID(0) {
     
     connect(_sequencer.getReliableInputChannel(RELIABLE_DELTA_CHANNEL_INDEX),
         SIGNAL(receivedMessage(const QVariant&, Bitstream&)), SLOT(handleMessage(const QVariant&, Bitstream&)));
@@ -139,10 +140,16 @@ void MetavoxelClient::handleMessage(const QVariant& message, Bitstream& in) {
             }
         }
     } else if (userType == MetavoxelDeltaPendingMessage::Type) {
-        if (!_reliableDeltaChannel) {
+        // check the id to make sure this is not a delta we've already processed
+        int id = message.value<MetavoxelDeltaPendingMessage>().id;
+        if (id > _reliableDeltaID) {
+            _reliableDeltaID = id;
             _reliableDeltaChannel = _sequencer.getReliableInputChannel(RELIABLE_DELTA_CHANNEL_INDEX);
             _reliableDeltaChannel->getBitstream().copyPersistentMappings(_sequencer.getInputStream());
             _reliableDeltaLOD = getLastAcknowledgedSendRecord()->getLOD();
+            PacketRecord* receiveRecord = getLastAcknowledgedReceiveRecord();
+            _remoteDataLOD = receiveRecord->getLOD();
+            _remoteData = receiveRecord->getData();
         }
     } else {
         Endpoint::handleMessage(message, in);
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelClientManager.h b/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelClientManager.h
index 1f37b15c18..ad6c86c8fc 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelClientManager.h
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelClientManager.h
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ private:
     
     ReliableChannel* _reliableDeltaChannel;
     MetavoxelLOD _reliableDeltaLOD;
+    int _reliableDeltaID;
 };
 
 #endif // hifi_MetavoxelClientManager_h
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelMessages.h b/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelMessages.h
index b822f1c561..91d73c08a9 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelMessages.h
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelMessages.h
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ DECLARE_STREAMABLE_METATYPE(MetavoxelDeltaMessage)
 /// A message indicating that metavoxel delta information is being sent on a reliable channel.
 class MetavoxelDeltaPendingMessage {
     STREAMABLE
+    
+public:
+    
+    STREAM int id;
 };
 
 DECLARE_STREAMABLE_METATYPE(MetavoxelDeltaPendingMessage)
diff --git a/tests/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelTests.cpp b/tests/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelTests.cpp
index 4132270620..0a6a5de96d 100644
--- a/tests/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelTests.cpp
+++ b/tests/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelTests.cpp
@@ -647,7 +647,8 @@ TestEndpoint::TestEndpoint(Mode mode) :
     _mode(mode),
     _highPriorityMessagesToSend(0.0f),
     _reliableMessagesToSend(0.0f),
-    _reliableDeltaChannel(NULL) {
+    _reliableDeltaChannel(NULL),
+    _reliableDeltaID(0) {
     
     connect(&_sequencer, SIGNAL(receivedHighPriorityMessage(const QVariant&)),
         SLOT(handleHighPriorityMessage(const QVariant&)));
@@ -858,7 +859,7 @@ bool TestEndpoint::simulate(int iterationNumber) {
             bytesReceived += datagram.size();
             _remainingPipelineCapacity += datagram.size();
         }
-        int packetCount = _sequencer.startPacketGroup();
+        int packetCount = _sequencer.notePacketGroup();
         groupsSent++;
         maxPacketsPerGroup = qMax(maxPacketsPerGroup, packetCount);
         for (int i = 0; i < packetCount; i++) {
@@ -908,7 +909,8 @@ bool TestEndpoint::simulate(int iterationNumber) {
         // if we're sending a reliable delta, wait until it's acknowledged
         if (_reliableDeltaChannel) {
             Bitstream& out = _sequencer.startPacket();
-            out << QVariant::fromValue(MetavoxelDeltaPendingMessage());
+            MetavoxelDeltaPendingMessage msg = { _reliableDeltaID };
+            out << QVariant::fromValue(msg);
             _sequencer.endPacket();
             return false;
         }
@@ -932,7 +934,8 @@ bool TestEndpoint::simulate(int iterationNumber) {
             _reliableDeltaLOD = _lod;
             
             _sequencer.getOutputStream().getUnderlying().device()->seek(start);
-            out << QVariant::fromValue(MetavoxelDeltaPendingMessage());
+            MetavoxelDeltaPendingMessage msg = { ++_reliableDeltaID };
+            out << QVariant::fromValue(msg);
             _sequencer.endPacket();
             
         } else {
@@ -1081,15 +1084,22 @@ void TestEndpoint::handleMessage(const QVariant& message, Bitstream& in) {
     
     } else if (userType == MetavoxelDeltaMessage::Type) {
         PacketRecord* receiveRecord = getLastAcknowledgedReceiveRecord();
-        _data.readDelta(receiveRecord->getData(), receiveRecord->getLOD(), in,
-            _dataLOD = getLastAcknowledgedSendRecord()->getLOD());
+        _remoteData.readDelta(receiveRecord->getData(), receiveRecord->getLOD(), in,
+            _remoteDataLOD = getLastAcknowledgedSendRecord()->getLOD());
+        in.reset();
+        _data = _remoteData;
         compareMetavoxelData();
     
     } else if (userType == MetavoxelDeltaPendingMessage::Type) {
-        if (!_reliableDeltaChannel) {
+        int id = message.value<MetavoxelDeltaPendingMessage>().id;
+        if (id > _reliableDeltaID) {
+            _reliableDeltaID = id;
             _reliableDeltaChannel = _sequencer.getReliableInputChannel(RELIABLE_DELTA_CHANNEL_INDEX);
             _reliableDeltaChannel->getBitstream().copyPersistentMappings(_sequencer.getInputStream());
             _reliableDeltaLOD = getLastAcknowledgedSendRecord()->getLOD();
+            PacketRecord* receiveRecord = getLastAcknowledgedReceiveRecord();
+            _remoteDataLOD = receiveRecord->getLOD();
+            _remoteData = receiveRecord->getData();
         }
     } else if (userType == QMetaType::QVariantList) {
         foreach (const QVariant& element, message.toList()) {
@@ -1107,7 +1117,7 @@ PacketRecord* TestEndpoint::maybeCreateSendRecord() const {
 }
 
 PacketRecord* TestEndpoint::maybeCreateReceiveRecord() const {
-    return new TestReceiveRecord(_dataLOD, (_mode == METAVOXEL_SERVER_MODE) ? MetavoxelData() : _data, _remoteState);
+    return new TestReceiveRecord(_remoteDataLOD, _remoteData, _remoteState);
 }
 
 void TestEndpoint::handleHighPriorityMessage(const QVariant& message) {
@@ -1127,9 +1137,10 @@ void TestEndpoint::handleHighPriorityMessage(const QVariant& message) {
 void TestEndpoint::handleReliableMessage(const QVariant& message, Bitstream& in) {
     if (message.userType() == MetavoxelDeltaMessage::Type) {
         PacketRecord* receiveRecord = getLastAcknowledgedReceiveRecord();
-        _data.readDelta(receiveRecord->getData(), receiveRecord->getLOD(), in, _dataLOD = _reliableDeltaLOD);
+        _remoteData.readDelta(receiveRecord->getData(), receiveRecord->getLOD(), in, _remoteDataLOD = _reliableDeltaLOD);
         _sequencer.getInputStream().persistReadMappings(in.getAndResetReadMappings());
         in.clearPersistentMappings();
+        _data = _remoteData;
         compareMetavoxelData();
         _reliableDeltaChannel = NULL;
         return;
diff --git a/tests/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelTests.h b/tests/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelTests.h
index 5d719ccfdf..ce357fbb90 100644
--- a/tests/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelTests.h
+++ b/tests/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelTests.h
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ private:
     
     MetavoxelData _data;
     MetavoxelLOD _dataLOD;
+    MetavoxelData _remoteData;
+    MetavoxelLOD _remoteDataLOD;
     MetavoxelLOD _lod;
     
     SharedObjectPointer _sphere;
@@ -104,6 +106,7 @@ private:
     MetavoxelData _reliableDeltaData;
     MetavoxelLOD _reliableDeltaLOD;
     Bitstream::WriteMappings _reliableDeltaWriteMappings;
+    int _reliableDeltaID;
 };
 
 /// A simple shared object.