So what your saying is scrap the 555 idea and go back to using RTS. I guess that is an option. Ill have to look into how that will affect the software. I know i can easily control RTS in VB using the comm control but i do like to use API for speed. Ive not had the need to use handshaking before so i should probs read up on that.

Thanx for the suggestion and the diagram. Now i see the point in the MAX232 having 2 ins and outs