diff --git a/ethstats/ethstats.go b/ethstats/ethstats.go
index 4d38d3a500ca719171886ed0f72d25bdaebecc7d..9d494b615d62b55fc31d0559091af472d6118704 100644
--- a/ethstats/ethstats.go
+++ b/ethstats/ethstats.go
@@ -152,39 +152,31 @@ func (s *Service) loop() {
 			continue
 		}
 		// Authenticate the client with the server
-		in := json.NewDecoder(conn)
-		out := json.NewEncoder(conn)
-
-		if err = s.login(in, out); err != nil {
+		if err = s.login(conn); err != nil {
 			log.Warn("Stats login failed", "err", err)
 			conn.Close()
 			time.Sleep(10 * time.Second)
 			continue
 		}
-		go s.readLoop(conn, in)
+		go s.readLoop(conn)
 
 		// Send the initial stats so our node looks decent from the get go
-		if err = s.report(out); err != nil {
+		if err = s.report(conn); err != nil {
 			log.Warn("Initial stats report failed", "err", err)
 			conn.Close()
 			continue
 		}
-		if err = s.reportHistory(out, nil); err != nil {
-			log.Warn("Initial history report failed", "err", err)
-			conn.Close()
-			continue
-		}
 		// Keep sending status updates until the connection breaks
 		fullReport := time.NewTicker(15 * time.Second)
 
 		for err == nil {
 			select {
 			case <-fullReport.C:
-				if err = s.report(out); err != nil {
+				if err = s.report(conn); err != nil {
 					log.Warn("Full stats report failed", "err", err)
 				}
 			case list := <-s.histCh:
-				if err = s.reportHistory(out, list); err != nil {
+				if err = s.reportHistory(conn, list); err != nil {
 					log.Warn("Requested history report failed", "err", err)
 				}
 			case head, ok := <-headSub.Chan():
@@ -192,10 +184,10 @@ func (s *Service) loop() {
 					conn.Close()
 					return
 				}
-				if err = s.reportBlock(out, head.Data.(core.ChainHeadEvent).Block); err != nil {
+				if err = s.reportBlock(conn, head.Data.(core.ChainHeadEvent).Block); err != nil {
 					log.Warn("Block stats report failed", "err", err)
 				}
-				if err = s.reportPending(out); err != nil {
+				if err = s.reportPending(conn); err != nil {
 					log.Warn("Post-block transaction stats report failed", "err", err)
 				}
 			case _, ok := <-txSub.Chan():
@@ -211,7 +203,7 @@ func (s *Service) loop() {
 						exhausted = true
 					}
 				}
-				if err = s.reportPending(out); err != nil {
+				if err = s.reportPending(conn); err != nil {
 					log.Warn("Transaction stats report failed", "err", err)
 				}
 			}
@@ -225,17 +217,18 @@ func (s *Service) loop() {
 // from the network socket. If any of them match an active request, it forwards
 // it, if they themselves are requests it initiates a reply, and lastly it drops
 // unknown packets.
-func (s *Service) readLoop(conn *websocket.Conn, in *json.Decoder) {
+func (s *Service) readLoop(conn *websocket.Conn) {
 	// If the read loop exists, close the connection
 	defer conn.Close()
 
 	for {
 		// Retrieve the next generic network packet and bail out on error
 		var msg map[string][]interface{}
-		if err := in.Decode(&msg); err != nil {
+		if err := websocket.JSON.Receive(conn, &msg); err != nil {
 			log.Warn("Failed to decode stats server message", "err", err)
 			return
 		}
+		log.Trace("Received message from stats server", "msg", msg)
 		if len(msg["emit"]) == 0 {
 			log.Warn("Stats server sent non-broadcast", "msg", msg)
 			return
@@ -263,6 +256,7 @@ func (s *Service) readLoop(conn *websocket.Conn, in *json.Decoder) {
 			request, ok := msg["emit"][1].(map[string]interface{})
 			if !ok {
 				log.Warn("Invalid stats history request", "msg", msg["emit"][1])
+				s.histCh <- nil
 				continue // Ethstats sometime sends invalid history requests, ignore those
 			}
 			list, ok := request["list"].([]interface{})
@@ -314,7 +308,7 @@ type authMsg struct {
 }
 
 // login tries to authorize the client at the remote server.
-func (s *Service) login(in *json.Decoder, out *json.Encoder) error {
+func (s *Service) login(conn *websocket.Conn) error {
 	// Construct and send the login authentication
 	infos := s.server.NodeInfo()
 
@@ -345,12 +339,12 @@ func (s *Service) login(in *json.Decoder, out *json.Encoder) error {
 	login := map[string][]interface{}{
 		"emit": {"hello", auth},
 	}
-	if err := out.Encode(login); err != nil {
+	if err := websocket.JSON.Send(conn, login); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	// Retrieve the remote ack or connection termination
 	var ack map[string][]string
-	if err := in.Decode(&ack); err != nil || len(ack["emit"]) != 1 || ack["emit"][0] != "ready" {
+	if err := websocket.JSON.Receive(conn, &ack); err != nil || len(ack["emit"]) != 1 || ack["emit"][0] != "ready" {
 		return errors.New("unauthorized")
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -359,17 +353,17 @@ func (s *Service) login(in *json.Decoder, out *json.Encoder) error {
 // report collects all possible data to report and send it to the stats server.
 // This should only be used on reconnects or rarely to avoid overloading the
 // server. Use the individual methods for reporting subscribed events.
-func (s *Service) report(out *json.Encoder) error {
-	if err := s.reportLatency(out); err != nil {
+func (s *Service) report(conn *websocket.Conn) error {
+	if err := s.reportLatency(conn); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := s.reportBlock(out, nil); err != nil {
+	if err := s.reportBlock(conn, nil); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := s.reportPending(out); err != nil {
+	if err := s.reportPending(conn); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := s.reportStats(out); err != nil {
+	if err := s.reportStats(conn); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -377,7 +371,7 @@ func (s *Service) report(out *json.Encoder) error {
 
 // reportLatency sends a ping request to the server, measures the RTT time and
 // finally sends a latency update.
-func (s *Service) reportLatency(out *json.Encoder) error {
+func (s *Service) reportLatency(conn *websocket.Conn) error {
 	// Send the current time to the ethstats server
 	start := time.Now()
 
@@ -387,7 +381,7 @@ func (s *Service) reportLatency(out *json.Encoder) error {
 			"clientTime": start.String(),
 		}},
 	}
-	if err := out.Encode(ping); err != nil {
+	if err := websocket.JSON.Send(conn, ping); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	// Wait for the pong request to arrive back
@@ -398,28 +392,35 @@ func (s *Service) reportLatency(out *json.Encoder) error {
 		// Ping timeout, abort
 		return errors.New("ping timed out")
 	}
+	latency := strconv.Itoa(int((time.Since(start) / time.Duration(2)).Nanoseconds() / 1000000))
+
 	// Send back the measured latency
-	latency := map[string][]interface{}{
+	log.Trace("Sending measured latency to ethstats", "latency", latency)
+
+	stats := map[string][]interface{}{
 		"emit": {"latency", map[string]string{
 			"id":      s.node,
-			"latency": strconv.Itoa(int((time.Since(start) / time.Duration(2)).Nanoseconds() / 1000000)),
+			"latency": latency,
 		}},
 	}
-	return out.Encode(latency)
+	return websocket.JSON.Send(conn, stats)
 }
 
 // blockStats is the information to report about individual blocks.
 type blockStats struct {
-	Number    *big.Int       `json:"number"`
-	Hash      common.Hash    `json:"hash"`
-	Timestamp *big.Int       `json:"timestamp"`
-	Miner     common.Address `json:"miner"`
-	GasUsed   *big.Int       `json:"gasUsed"`
-	GasLimit  *big.Int       `json:"gasLimit"`
-	Diff      string         `json:"difficulty"`
-	TotalDiff string         `json:"totalDifficulty"`
-	Txs       txStats        `json:"transactions"`
-	Uncles    uncleStats     `json:"uncles"`
+	Number     *big.Int       `json:"number"`
+	Hash       common.Hash    `json:"hash"`
+	ParentHash common.Hash    `json:"parentHash"`
+	Timestamp  *big.Int       `json:"timestamp"`
+	Miner      common.Address `json:"miner"`
+	GasUsed    *big.Int       `json:"gasUsed"`
+	GasLimit   *big.Int       `json:"gasLimit"`
+	Diff       string         `json:"difficulty"`
+	TotalDiff  string         `json:"totalDifficulty"`
+	Txs        txStats        `json:"transactions"`
+	TxHash     common.Hash    `json:"transactionsRoot"`
+	Root       common.Hash    `json:"stateRoot"`
+	Uncles     uncleStats     `json:"uncles"`
 }
 
 // txStats is a custom wrapper around a transaction array to force serializing
@@ -445,16 +446,21 @@ func (s uncleStats) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 }
 
 // reportBlock retrieves the current chain head and repors it to the stats server.
-func (s *Service) reportBlock(out *json.Encoder, block *types.Block) error {
-	// Assemble the block stats report and send it to the server
+func (s *Service) reportBlock(conn *websocket.Conn, block *types.Block) error {
+	// Gather the block details from the header or block chain
+	details := s.assembleBlockStats(block)
+
+	// Assemble the block report and send it to the server
+	log.Trace("Sending new block to ethstats", "number", details.Number, "hash", details.Hash)
+
 	stats := map[string]interface{}{
 		"id":    s.node,
-		"block": s.assembleBlockStats(block),
+		"block": details,
 	}
 	report := map[string][]interface{}{
 		"emit": {"block", stats},
 	}
-	return out.Encode(report)
+	return websocket.JSON.Send(conn, report)
 }
 
 // assembleBlockStats retrieves any required metadata to report a single block
@@ -488,22 +494,25 @@ func (s *Service) assembleBlockStats(block *types.Block) *blockStats {
 	}
 	// Assemble and return the block stats
 	return &blockStats{
-		Number:    header.Number,
-		Hash:      header.Hash(),
-		Timestamp: header.Time,
-		Miner:     header.Coinbase,
-		GasUsed:   new(big.Int).Set(header.GasUsed),
-		GasLimit:  new(big.Int).Set(header.GasLimit),
-		Diff:      header.Difficulty.String(),
-		TotalDiff: td.String(),
-		Txs:       txs,
-		Uncles:    uncles,
+		Number:     header.Number,
+		Hash:       header.Hash(),
+		ParentHash: header.ParentHash,
+		Timestamp:  header.Time,
+		Miner:      header.Coinbase,
+		GasUsed:    new(big.Int).Set(header.GasUsed),
+		GasLimit:   new(big.Int).Set(header.GasLimit),
+		Diff:       header.Difficulty.String(),
+		TotalDiff:  td.String(),
+		Txs:        txs,
+		TxHash:     header.TxHash,
+		Root:       header.Root,
+		Uncles:     uncles,
 	}
 }
 
 // reportHistory retrieves the most recent batch of blocks and reports it to the
 // stats server.
-func (s *Service) reportHistory(out *json.Encoder, list []uint64) error {
+func (s *Service) reportHistory(conn *websocket.Conn, list []uint64) error {
 	// Figure out the indexes that need reporting
 	indexes := make([]uint64, 0, historyUpdateRange)
 	if len(list) > 0 {
@@ -511,17 +520,17 @@ func (s *Service) reportHistory(out *json.Encoder, list []uint64) error {
 		indexes = append(indexes, list...)
 	} else {
 		// No indexes requested, send back the top ones
-		var head *types.Header
+		var head int64
 		if s.eth != nil {
-			head = s.eth.BlockChain().CurrentHeader()
+			head = s.eth.BlockChain().CurrentHeader().Number.Int64()
 		} else {
-			head = s.les.BlockChain().CurrentHeader()
+			head = s.les.BlockChain().CurrentHeader().Number.Int64()
 		}
-		start := head.Number.Int64() - historyUpdateRange
+		start := head - historyUpdateRange + 1
 		if start < 0 {
 			start = 0
 		}
-		for i := uint64(start); i <= head.Number.Uint64(); i++ {
+		for i := uint64(start); i <= uint64(head); i++ {
 			indexes = append(indexes, i)
 		}
 	}
@@ -529,12 +538,14 @@ func (s *Service) reportHistory(out *json.Encoder, list []uint64) error {
 	history := make([]*blockStats, len(indexes))
 	for i, number := range indexes {
 		if s.eth != nil {
-			history[i] = s.assembleBlockStats(s.eth.BlockChain().GetBlockByNumber(number))
+			history[len(history)-1-i] = s.assembleBlockStats(s.eth.BlockChain().GetBlockByNumber(number))
 		} else {
-			history[i] = s.assembleBlockStats(types.NewBlockWithHeader(s.les.BlockChain().GetHeaderByNumber(number)))
+			history[len(history)-1-i] = s.assembleBlockStats(types.NewBlockWithHeader(s.les.BlockChain().GetHeaderByNumber(number)))
 		}
 	}
 	// Assemble the history report and send it to the server
+	log.Trace("Sending historical blocks to ethstats", "first", history[0].Number, "last", history[len(history)-1].Number)
+
 	stats := map[string]interface{}{
 		"id":      s.node,
 		"history": history,
@@ -542,7 +553,7 @@ func (s *Service) reportHistory(out *json.Encoder, list []uint64) error {
 	report := map[string][]interface{}{
 		"emit": {"history", stats},
 	}
-	return out.Encode(report)
+	return websocket.JSON.Send(conn, report)
 }
 
 // pendStats is the information to report about pending transactions.
@@ -552,7 +563,7 @@ type pendStats struct {
 
 // reportPending retrieves the current number of pending transactions and reports
 // it to the stats server.
-func (s *Service) reportPending(out *json.Encoder) error {
+func (s *Service) reportPending(conn *websocket.Conn) error {
 	// Retrieve the pending count from the local blockchain
 	var pending int
 	if s.eth != nil {
@@ -561,6 +572,8 @@ func (s *Service) reportPending(out *json.Encoder) error {
 		pending = s.les.TxPool().Stats()
 	}
 	// Assemble the transaction stats and send it to the server
+	log.Trace("Sending pending transactions to ethstats", "count", pending)
+
 	stats := map[string]interface{}{
 		"id": s.node,
 		"stats": &pendStats{
@@ -570,10 +583,10 @@ func (s *Service) reportPending(out *json.Encoder) error {
 	report := map[string][]interface{}{
 		"emit": {"pending", stats},
 	}
-	return out.Encode(report)
+	return websocket.JSON.Send(conn, report)
 }
 
-// blockStats is the information to report about the local node.
+// nodeStats is the information to report about the local node.
 type nodeStats struct {
 	Active   bool `json:"active"`
 	Syncing  bool `json:"syncing"`
@@ -586,7 +599,7 @@ type nodeStats struct {
 
 // reportPending retrieves various stats about the node at the networking and
 // mining layer and reports it to the stats server.
-func (s *Service) reportStats(out *json.Encoder) error {
+func (s *Service) reportStats(conn *websocket.Conn) error {
 	// Gather the syncing and mining infos from the local miner instance
 	var (
 		mining   bool
@@ -606,6 +619,9 @@ func (s *Service) reportStats(out *json.Encoder) error {
 		sync := s.les.Downloader().Progress()
 		syncing = s.les.BlockChain().CurrentHeader().Number.Uint64() >= sync.HighestBlock
 	}
+	// Assemble the node stats and send it to the server
+	log.Trace("Sending node details to ethstats")
+
 	stats := map[string]interface{}{
 		"id": s.node,
 		"stats": &nodeStats{
@@ -621,5 +637,5 @@ func (s *Service) reportStats(out *json.Encoder) error {
 	report := map[string][]interface{}{
 		"emit": {"stats", stats},
 	}
-	return out.Encode(report)
+	return websocket.JSON.Send(conn, report)
 }