I will try the 4.7k, but i did manage to use the scope and the values coming out of the digital B port (the one still wired to the LEDs) read around 5V each.

I also added BIN8 to my SEROUT2 command line. I then started seeing 1s and 0s in the serial command window, however there appeared to be way too many 0s.

Again, this could be because the baud rate, parity, stop bits, etc. are still miscoded.

What should I use if all i can set in the PBP serial window is baud rate, parity, stop bits, and the COM port?

the settings in SEROUT2 use open/driven, inverted/true, and they also reference bits 13,14, and 15, which I don't really understand (this info from Appendix A in the manual) because I am only sending 8 data.

In any case, I think i am getting closer to what I am looking for, it's just a matter of selecting the correct settings.

thanks again for all your help.