//open the device(com port /usb port) to be non-blocking
      	fd1 = open(gtk_entry_get_text(GTK_ENTRY(entDev1)), O_RDWR | O_NOCTTY | O_NONBLOCK);
      	if (fd1>0)
      	{
	   //install the serial handler before making the device asynchronous
	   saio1.sa_handler = IOhandler1;
      	   sigemptyset(&saio1.sa_mask);   //saio1.sa_mask = 0;
      	   saio1.sa_flags = 0;
      	   saio1.sa_restorer = NULL;
      	   sigaction(SIGIO,&saio1,NULL);

      	   // allow the process to receive SIGIO
      	   fcntl(fd1, F_SETOWN, getpid())	;
      	   fcntl(fd1, F_SETFL, FASYNC)	; //0 || FASYNC

           tcgetattr(fd1,&oldtio1); // save current port settings 

           // set new port settings for canonical input processing 
      	   newtio1.c_cflag = BAUD | CRTSCTS | DATABITS | STOPBITS | PARITYON | PARITY | CLOCAL | CREAD;
      	   newtio1.c_iflag = IGNPAR;
      	   newtio1.c_oflag = 0;
      	   newtio1.c_lflag = 0;       //should be ICANON but dont seem possible;
      	   newtio1.c_cc[VMIN]=1;
      	   newtio1.c_cc[VTIME]=0;
	   //tcflush(fd1, TCIFLUSH); //clears lines
      	   tcsetattr(fd1,TCSANOW,&newtio1);
	   gtk_button_set_label(GTK_BUTTON(btnConnect1), "Disconnect");
      	   gtk_widget_show(btnSend1);
      	   gtk_widget_show(btnClear1);
      	   isconnected1 = TRUE;
	   sleep(1); //wait one sec so can properly establish connection
      	} //if fd>0
      }//if isconnected == false