Thanks Steve,

I've tried pacing after I posted my question. It has made a difference but I still get a garbled character on the very first access to the LCD. The code currently is:

DEFINE CHAR_PACING 500
..
Pause 1000
Serout 3,N1200,[254.1]
Pause 500
Serout 3,N1200,[254,20]
Pause 20
Serout 3,N1200,["Waiting For Cmd"]
Serout 3,N1200,[254,192,"Address = ",#UnitAddr]

The VERY FIRST time this code is executed, I will get a garbled character in front of the message "Waiting for Cmd". Can't for the life of me figure out what's causing it.

Not a big deal for what I'm doing but I would like to understand what is happening here.

Thanks..chris