Hi: One problem is probably that speakup can't get feedback from the synth, which it uses to control it. My advice would be to invest in a 16550A UART as either way, it will save you a lot of grief. I wouldn't be expecting terrific performance form any serial devices without one. Geoff. -- Geoff Shang <gshang10 at scu.edu.au> ICQ number 43634701