diff --git a/minimateplus/client.py b/minimateplus/client.py
index 767d104..7bb6e8f 100644
--- a/minimateplus/client.py
+++ b/minimateplus/client.py
@@ -1833,6 +1833,26 @@ def _encode_compliance_config(
     _ANC = b'\xbe\x80\x00\x00\x00\x00'
     _anc = buf.find(_ANC, 0, 150)
 
+    # Log anchor position every time so we can detect unexpected shifts due to
+    # DLE jitter or firmware differences.  Expected position is ~15.
+    if _anc < 0:
+        log.warning(
+            "_encode_compliance_config: anchor NOT FOUND in cfg[0:150] "
+            "(buf len=%d) — all anchor-relative writes will be skipped",
+            len(buf),
+        )
+    else:
+        log.info(
+            "_encode_compliance_config: anchor at cfg[%d]  buf_len=%d  "
+            "(expected ~15; fields: recording_mode@%d  sample_rate@%d:%d  "
+            "histogram_interval@%d:%d  record_time@%d:%d)",
+            _anc, len(buf),
+            _anc - 7,
+            _anc - 6, _anc - 4,
+            _anc - 4, _anc - 2,
+            _anc + 6, _anc + 10,
+        )
+
     if recording_mode is not None:
         if _anc < 7:
             log.warning("_encode_compliance_config: anchor not found — cannot write recording_mode")
@@ -2001,6 +2021,27 @@ def _decode_compliance_config_into(data: bytes, info: DeviceInfo) -> None:
     #   _anchor + 6 : record_time        (float32 BE)
     _ANCHOR = b'\xbe\x80\x00\x00\x00\x00'
     _anchor = data.find(_ANCHOR, 0, 150)
+
+    # Log anchor position on every decode so we can compare read vs write and
+    # catch unexpected shifts from DLE jitter or firmware differences.
+    # Expected position is ~15 for the E5 read payload (anchor - 8 = recording_mode).
+    if _anchor < 0:
+        log.warning(
+            "_decode_compliance_config_into: anchor NOT FOUND in data[0:150] (len=%d)",
+            len(data),
+        )
+    else:
+        log.info(
+            "_decode_compliance_config_into: anchor at data[%d]  data_len=%d  "
+            "(expected ~15; recording_mode@%d  sample_rate@%d:%d  "
+            "histogram_interval@%d:%d  record_time@%d:%d)",
+            _anchor, len(data),
+            _anchor - 8,
+            _anchor - 6, _anchor - 4,
+            _anchor - 4, _anchor - 2,
+            _anchor + 6, _anchor + 10,
+        )
+
     if _anchor >= 8 and _anchor + 10 <= len(data):
         try:
             config.recording_mode = data[_anchor - 8]