lol thanks, I didnt know I had to set the fuse in the programmer software by hand, it defaults to system PLL/3 and OSC HS/5.

I changed em to system (no divide) and osc /4

Does that mean its running at 4mhz?

I had hoped to get some more speed with it having a faster crystal on it.

The serout is working now.

I can go and hunt bigger issues in the code....