diff --git a/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.html b/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.html
index 4cd1fef1..90df533b 100644
--- a/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.html
+++ b/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.html
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
 
 <script type="text/x-red" data-template-name="arduino out">
     <div class="form-row">
-        <label for="node-input-arduino"><i class="fa fa-tasks"></i> <span data-i18n="arduino.label.arduino"></span></label>
+        <label for="node-input-arduino"><i class="fa fa-tasks"></i> Arduino</label>
         <input type="text" id="node-input-arduino">
     </div>
     <div class="form-row">
diff --git a/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.js b/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.js
index 04c1f862..b3169106 100644
--- a/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.js
+++ b/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.js
@@ -10,26 +10,40 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
         RED.nodes.createNode(this,n);
         this.device = n.device || null;
         var node = this;
+        var running = false;
+        var reported = false;
 
-        node.board = new Board(node.device, function(e) {
-            //console.log("ERR",e);
-            if ((e !== undefined) && (e.toString().indexOf("cannot open") !== -1) ) {
-                node.error(RED._("arduino.errors.portnotfound",{device:node.device}));
-            }
-            else if (e === undefined) {
-                node.board.on('ready', function() {
-                    node.log(RED._("arduino.status.connected",{device:node.board.sp.path}));
-                    if (RED.settings.verbose) {
-                        node.log(RED._("arduino.status.version",{version:node.board.firmware.name+"-"+node.board.version.major+"."+node.board.version.minor}));
+        var startup = function() {
+            node.board = new Board(node.device, function(e) {
+                if ((e !== undefined) && (e.toString().indexOf("cannot open") !== -1) ) {
+                    if (!reported) {
+                        node.error(RED._("arduino.errors.portnotfound",{device:node.device}));
+                        reported = true;
                     }
-                });
-            }
-            node.board.on('close', function() {
-                node.error(RED._("arduino.status.portclosed"));
+                }
+                else if (e === undefined) {
+                    running = true;
+                    reported = false;
+                    node.board.once('ready', function() {
+                        node.log(RED._("arduino.status.connected",{device:node.board.sp.path}));
+                        if (RED.settings.verbose) {
+                            node.log(RED._("arduino.status.version",{version:node.board.firmware.name+"-"+node.board.version.major+"."+node.board.version.minor}));
+                        }
+                    });
+                    node.board.once('close', function() {
+                        node.error(RED._("arduino.status.portclosed"));
+                    });
+                    node.board.once('disconnect', function() {
+                        if (running) { setTimeout(function() { running = false; startup(); }, 5000); }
+                    });
+                }
             });
-        });
+            setTimeout(function() { if (!running) { startup(); } }, 5000);
+        };
+        startup();
 
         node.on('close', function(done) {
+            running = false;
             if (node.board) {
                 try {
                     node.board.transport.close(function() {
@@ -53,59 +67,68 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
         this.state = n.state;
         this.arduino = n.arduino;
         this.serverConfig = RED.nodes.getNode(this.arduino);
+        this.running = false;
+        var node = this;
         if (typeof this.serverConfig === "object") {
-            this.board = this.serverConfig.board;
-            var node = this;
-            node.oldval = "";
-            node.status({fill:"red",shape:"ring",text:"node-red:common.status.connecting"});
-            var doit = function() {
-                node.status({fill:"green",shape:"dot",text:"node-red:common.status.connected"});
-                if (node.state === "ANALOG") {
-                    node.board.pinMode(node.pin, 0x02);
-                    node.board.analogRead(node.pin, function(v) {
-                        if (v !== node.oldval) {
-                            node.oldval = v;
-                            node.send({payload:v, topic:"A"+node.pin});
-                        }
+            var startup = function() {
+                node.board = node.serverConfig.board;
+                node.oldval = "";
+                node.status({fill:"grey",shape:"ring",text:"node-red:common.status.connecting"});
+                var doit = function() {
+                    node.running = true;
+                    node.status({fill:"green",shape:"dot",text:"node-red:common.status.connected"});
+                    if (node.state === "ANALOG") {
+                        node.board.pinMode(node.pin, 0x02);
+                        node.board.analogRead(node.pin, function(v) {
+                            if (v !== node.oldval) {
+                                node.oldval = v;
+                                node.send({payload:v, topic:"A"+node.pin});
+                            }
+                        });
+                    }
+                    if (node.state === "INPUT") {
+                        node.board.pinMode(node.pin, 0x00);
+                        node.board.digitalRead(node.pin, function(v) {
+                            if (v !== node.oldval) {
+                                node.oldval = v;
+                                node.send({payload:v, topic:node.pin});
+                            }
+                        });
+                    }
+                    if (node.state === "PULLUP") {
+                        node.board.pinMode(node.pin, 0x0B);
+                        node.board.digitalRead(node.pin, function(v) {
+                            if (v !== node.oldval) {
+                                node.oldval = v;
+                                node.send({payload:v, topic:node.pin});
+                            }
+                        });
+                    }
+                    if (node.state == "STRING") {
+                        node.board.on('string', function(v) {
+                            if (v !== node.oldval) {
+                                node.oldval = v;
+                                node.send({payload:v, topic:"string"});
+                            }
+                        });
+                    }
+                    node.board.once('disconnect', function() {
+                        node.status({fill:"red",shape:"ring",text:"node-red:common.status.not-connected"});
+                        if (node.running) { setTimeout(function() { node.running = false; startup(); }, 5500); }
                     });
                 }
-                if (node.state === "INPUT") {
-                    node.board.pinMode(node.pin, 0x00);
-                    node.board.digitalRead(node.pin, function(v) {
-                        if (v !== node.oldval) {
-                            node.oldval = v;
-                            node.send({payload:v, topic:node.pin});
-                        }
-                    });
-                }
-                if (node.state === "PULLUP") {
-                    node.board.pinMode(node.pin, 0x0B);
-                    node.board.digitalRead(node.pin, function(v) {
-                        if (v !== node.oldval) {
-                            node.oldval = v;
-                            node.send({payload:v, topic:node.pin});
-                        }
-                    });
-                }
-                if (node.state == "STRING") {
-                    node.board.on('string', function(v) {
-                        if (v !== node.oldval) {
-                            node.oldval = v;
-                            node.send({payload:v, topic:"string"});
-                        }
-                    });
-                }
-                // node.board.on('close', function() {
-                //     node.board.removeAllListeners();
-                //     node.status({fill:"grey",shape:"ring",text:"node-red:common.status.not-connected"});
-                // });
+                if (node.board.isReady) { doit(); }
+                else { node.board.once("ready", function() { doit(); }); }
+                setTimeout(function() { if (node.running === false) { startup(); } }, 4500);
             }
-            if (node.board.isReady) { doit(); }
-            else { node.board.on("ready", function() { doit(); }); }
+            startup();
         }
         else {
-            this.warn(RED._("arduino.errors.portnotconf"));
+            node.warn(RED._("arduino.errors.portnotconf"));
         }
+        node.on('close', function() {
+            node.running = false;
+        });
     }
     RED.nodes.registerType("arduino in",DuinoNodeIn);
 
@@ -118,53 +141,65 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
         this.state = n.state;
         this.arduino = n.arduino;
         this.serverConfig = RED.nodes.getNode(this.arduino);
-        if (typeof this.serverConfig === "object") {
-            this.board = this.serverConfig.board;
-            var node = this;
-            node.status({fill:"red",shape:"ring",text:"node-red:common.status.connecting"});
-            var doit = function() {
-                node.status({fill:"green",shape:"dot",text:"node-red:common.status.connected"});
-                node.on("input", function(msg) {
-                    if (node.state === "OUTPUT") {
-                        node.board.pinMode(node.pin, 0x01);
-                        if ((msg.payload === true)||(msg.payload.toString() == "1")||(msg.payload.toString().toLowerCase() == "on")) {
-                            node.board.digitalWrite(node.pin, node.board.HIGH);
+        this.running = false;
+        var node = this;
+        if (typeof node.serverConfig === "object") {
+            var startup = function() {
+                node.board = node.serverConfig.board;
+                node.status({fill:"grey",shape:"ring",text:"node-red:common.status.connecting"});
+                var doit = function() {
+                    node.running = true;
+                    node.status({fill:"green",shape:"dot",text:"node-red:common.status.connected"});
+                    node.on("input", function(msg) {
+                        if (node.board.isReady) {
+                            if (node.state === "OUTPUT") {
+                                node.board.pinMode(node.pin, 0x01);
+                                if ((msg.payload === true)||(msg.payload.toString() == "1")||(msg.payload.toString().toLowerCase() == "on")) {
+                                    node.board.digitalWrite(node.pin, node.board.HIGH);
+                                }
+                                if ((msg.payload === false)||(msg.payload.toString() == "0")||(msg.payload.toString().toLowerCase() == "off")) {
+                                    node.board.digitalWrite(node.pin, node.board.LOW);
+                                }
+                            }
+                            if (node.state === "PWM") {
+                                node.board.pinMode(node.pin, 0x03);
+                                msg.payload = parseInt((msg.payload * 1) + 0.5);
+                                if ((msg.payload >= 0) && (msg.payload <= 255)) {
+                                    node.board.analogWrite(node.pin, msg.payload);
+                                }
+                            }
+                            if (node.state === "SERVO") {
+                                node.board.pinMode(node.pin, 0x04);
+                                msg.payload = parseInt((msg.payload * 1) + 0.5);
+                                if ((msg.payload >= 0) && (msg.payload <= 180)) {
+                                    node.board.servoWrite(node.pin, msg.payload);
+                                }
+                            }
+                            if (node.state === "SYSEX") {
+                                node.board.sysexCommand(msg.payload);
+                            }
+                            if (node.state === "STRING") {
+                            node.board.sendString(msg.payload.toString());
                         }
-                        if ((msg.payload === false)||(msg.payload.toString() == "0")||(msg.payload.toString().toLowerCase() == "off")) {
-                            node.board.digitalWrite(node.pin, node.board.LOW);
                         }
-                    }
-                    if (node.state === "PWM") {
-                        node.board.pinMode(node.pin, 0x03);
-                        msg.payload = parseInt((msg.payload * 1) + 0.5);
-                        if ((msg.payload >= 0) && (msg.payload <= 255)) {
-                            node.board.analogWrite(node.pin, msg.payload);
-                        }
-                    }
-                    if (node.state === "SERVO") {
-                        node.board.pinMode(node.pin, 0x04);
-                        msg.payload = parseInt((msg.payload * 1) + 0.5);
-                        if ((msg.payload >= 0) && (msg.payload <= 180)) {
-                            node.board.servoWrite(node.pin, msg.payload);
-                        }
-                    }
-                    if (node.state === "SYSEX") {
-                        node.board.sysexCommand(msg.payload);
-                    }
-                    if (node.state === "STRING") {
-                        node.board.sendString(msg.payload.toString());
-                    }
-                });
-                // node.board.on('close', function() {
-                //     node.status({fill:"grey",shape:"ring",text:"node-red:common.status.not-connected"});
-                // });
+                    });
+                    node.board.once('disconnect', function() {
+                        node.status({fill:"red",shape:"ring",text:"node-red:common.status.not-connected"});
+                        if (node.running) { setTimeout(function() { node.running = false; startup(); }, 5500); }
+                    });
+                }
+                if (node.board.isReady) { doit(); }
+                else { node.board.once("ready", function() { doit(); }); }
+                setTimeout(function() { if (!node.running) { startup(); } }, 4500);
             }
-            if (node.board.isReady) { doit(); }
-            else { node.board.on("ready", function() { doit(); }); }
+            startup();
         }
         else {
-            this.warn(RED._("arduino.errors.portnotconf"));
+            node.warn(RED._("arduino.errors.portnotconf"));
         }
+        node.on('close', function() {
+            node.running = false;
+        });
     }
     RED.nodes.registerType("arduino out",DuinoNodeOut);
 
diff --git a/hardware/Arduino/package.json b/hardware/Arduino/package.json
index d0bcf4ac..77d1dd66 100644
--- a/hardware/Arduino/package.json
+++ b/hardware/Arduino/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
     "name"          : "node-red-node-arduino",
-    "version"       : "0.1.0",
+    "version"       : "0.2.2",
     "description"   : "A Node-RED node to talk to an Arduino running firmata",
     "dependencies"  : {
         "firmata"   : "^2.0.0"
diff --git a/io/serialport/25-serial.html b/io/serialport/25-serial.html
index 835ad5a9..b78905f5 100644
--- a/io/serialport/25-serial.html
+++ b/io/serialport/25-serial.html
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
     with which it shares the configuration.</p>
     <p>Send the request message in <code>msg.payload</code> as you would do with a <code>serial out</code> node.
     The message will be forwarded to the serial port following a strict FIFO (First In, First Out) queue, waiting for a single response before transmitting the next request.
-    Once a response is received (with the same logic of a <code>serial in</code> node), or after a timeout occurs, a message is produced to the output (see Outputs below),
+    Once a response is received (with the same logic of a <code>serial in</code> node), or after a timeout occurs, a message is sent to the output (see Outputs below),
     with <code>msg.payload</code> containing the received response (or missing in case if timeout) and all other fields preserved.</p>
     <p>For consistency with the <code>serial in</code> node, <code>msg.port</code> is set to the name of the port selected.</p>
     <h3>Inputs</h3>
@@ -108,7 +108,8 @@
     <code>msg.timeout</code> is the timeout (in ms) after which the incoming message is propagated to the output with <code>msg.status</code> set to <code>"ERR_TIMEOUT"</code> and missing payload.
     If not present, the default value is 10000 (10s).
     </li>
-    <li>Any other field will be propagated to the output so to allow to match responses with requests.</li>
+    <li><code>msg.count</code> if set this will override the configured number of characters as long as it is less than the number configured.</li>
+    <li><code>msg.waitfor</code> single character, escape code, or hex code. If set, the node will wait until it matches that character in the stream and then start the output.</li>
     </ul>
     <h3>Outputs</h3>
     <ul>
@@ -178,59 +179,66 @@
         </select>
         </td></tr></table>
     </div>
-    <br/>
-    <div class="form-row">
+    <div class="form-row" style="margin-top:16px; margin-bottom:0;">
         <label><i class="fa fa-sign-in"></i> <span data-i18n="serial.label.input"></span></label>
     </div>
-    <div class="form-row" style="padding-left:10px;">
+    <div class="form-row" style="padding-left:18px; margin-bottom:4px;">
+        <span data-i18n="serial.label.start"></span>
+        <input type="text" id="node-config-input-waitfor" style="width:50px; height:28px;">
+        <span data-i18n="serial.label.startor"></span>
+    </div>
+    <div class="form-row" style="padding-left:18px; margin-bottom:4px;">
         <span data-i18n="serial.label.split"></span>
-        <select type="text" id="node-config-input-out" style="margin-left:5px; width:200px;">
+        <select type="text" id="node-config-input-out" style="margin-left:11px; width:200px; height:28px;">
             <option value="char" data-i18n="serial.split.character"></option>
             <option value="time" data-i18n="serial.split.timeout"></option>
             <option value="interbyte" data-i18n="serial.split.silent"></option>
             <option value="count" data-i18n="serial.split.lengths"></option>
         </select>
-        <input type="text" id="node-config-input-newline" style="width:50px;">
+        <input type="text" id="node-config-input-newline" style="width:50px; height:28px;">
         <span id="node-units"></span>
     </div>
-    <div class="form-row" style="padding-left:10px;">
+    <div class="form-row" style="padding-left:18px; margin-bottom:4px;">
         <span data-i18n="serial.label.deliver"></span>
-        <select type="text" id="node-config-input-bin" style="margin-left:5px; width:150px;">
+        <select type="text" id="node-config-input-bin" style="margin-left:5px; width:150px; height:28px;">
             <option value="false" data-i18n="serial.output.ascii"></option>
             <option value="bin" data-i18n="serial.output.binary"></option>
         </select>
     </div>
-    <br/>
     <div id="node-config-addchar">
-        <div class="form-row">
+        <div class="form-row" style="margin-top:16px; margin-bottom:0;">
             <label><i class="fa fa-sign-out"></i> <span data-i18n="serial.label.output"></span></label>
         </div>
-        <div class="form-row">
-            <input style="width:30px; margin-left:10px; vertical-align:top;" type="checkbox" id="node-config-input-addchar"><label style="width:auto;" for="node-config-input-addchar"><span data-i18n="serial.addsplit"></span></label>
+        <div class="form-row" style="padding-left:18px; margin-bottom:4px;">
+            <label style="width:auto;" for="node-config-input-addchar"><span data-i18n="serial.addsplit"></span></label>
+            <input type="text" id="node-config-input-addchar" style="width:50px; height:28px;">
         </div>
     </div>
-    <br/>
-    <div id="node-config-addchar">
-        <div class="form-row">
+    <div id="node-config-req">
+        <div class="form-row" style="margin-top:16px; margin-bottom:0;">
             <label><i class="fa fa-exchange"></i> <span data-i18n="serial.label.request"></span></label>
         </div>
-        <div class="form-row" style="padding-left:10px;">
+        <div class="form-row" style="padding-left:18px; margin-bottom:18px;">
             <span data-i18n="serial.label.responsetimeout"></span>
-            <input type="text" id="node-config-input-responsetimeout" style="width:60px;">
+            <input type="text" id="node-config-input-responsetimeout" style="width:60px; height:28px;">
             <span data-i18n="serial.label.ms"></span>
         </div>
     </div>
+    <div class="form-tips" id="tip-waitfor" hidden><span data-i18n="serial.tip.waitfor"></span></div>
+    <div class="form-tips" id="tip-addchar" hidden><span data-i18n="serial.tip.addchar"></span></div>
     <div class="form-tips" id="tip-responsetimeout" hidden><span data-i18n="serial.tip.responsetimeout"></span></div>
     <div class="form-tips" id="tip-split"><span data-i18n="serial.tip.split"></span></div>
     <div class="form-tips" id="tip-timeout" hidden><span data-i18n="serial.tip.timeout"></span></div>
     <div class="form-tips" id="tip-silent" hidden><span data-i18n="serial.tip.silent"></span></div>
+    <div class="form-tips" id="tip-count" hidden><span data-i18n="serial.tip.count"></span></div>
 </script>
 
 <script type="text/x-red" data-help-name="serial-port">
     <p>Provides configuration options for a serial port.</p>
     <p>The search button should return a list of available serial ports to choose from, or you
     can type in the location if known.</p>
-    <p>The input can be split on a fixed character, after a timeout, or after a fixed number of characters.</p>
+    <p>The node can optionally wait until it matches a pre-defined character.
+        The data can then be split on a fixed character, after a timeout, or after a fixed number of characters.</p>
     <p>If using a character, it can be specified as either the character, the escaped shortcut (e.g. \n), or the hex code (e.g. 0x0d).</p>
 </script>
 
@@ -244,6 +252,7 @@
             databits: {value:8,required:true},
             parity: {value:"none",required:true},
             stopbits: {value:1,required:true},
+            waitfor: {value:""},
             newline: {value:"\\n"},
             bin: {value:"false"},
             out: {value:"char"},
@@ -290,41 +299,50 @@
                 if ($("#node-config-input-out").val() == "char") {
                     if (previous != "char") { $("#node-config-input-newline").val("\\n"); }
                     $("#node-units").text("");
-                    $("#node-config-addchar").show();
+                    // $("#node-config-addchar").show();
                     $("#tip-split").show();
                     $("#tip-timeout").hide();
                     $("#tip-silent").hide();
+                    $("#tip-count").hide();
                 }
                 else if ($("#node-config-input-out").val() == "time") {
                     if (previous != "time") { $("#node-config-input-newline").val("0"); }
                     $("#node-units").text("ms");
-                    $("#node-config-addchar").hide();
-                    $("#node-config-input-addchar").val("false");
+                    // $("#node-config-addchar").hide();
+                    // $("#node-config-input-addchar").val("false");
                     $("#tip-split").hide();
                     $("#tip-timeout").show();
                     $("#tip-silent").hide();
+                    $("#tip-count").hide();
                 }
                 else if ($("#node-config-input-out").val() == "interbyte") {
                     if (previous != "interbyte") { $("#node-config-input-newline").val("0"); }
                     $("#node-units").text("ms");
-                    $("#node-config-addchar").hide();
-                    $("#node-config-input-addchar").val("false");
+                    // $("#node-config-addchar").hide();
+                    // $("#node-config-input-addchar").val("false");
                     $("#tip-split").hide();
                     $("#tip-timeout").hide();
                     $("#tip-silent").show();
+                    $("#tip-count").hide();
                 }
                 else {
                     if (previous != "count") { $("#node-config-input-newline").val(""); }
                     $("#node-units").text("chars");
-                    $("#node-config-addchar").hide();
-                    $("#node-config-input-addchar").val("false");
+                    // $("#node-config-addchar").hide();
+                    // $("#node-config-input-addchar").val("false");
                     $("#tip-split").hide();
                     $("#tip-timeout").hide();
                     $("#tip-silent").hide();
+                    $("#tip-count").show();
                 }
             });
 
             $("#node-config-input-responsetimeout").on('focus', function () { $("#tip-responsetimeout").show(); });
+            $("#node-config-input-responsetimeout").on('blur', function () { $("#tip-responsetimeout").hide(); });
+            $("#node-config-input-waitfor").on('focus', function () { $("#tip-waitfor").show(); });
+            $("#node-config-input-waitfor").on('blur', function () { $("#tip-waitfor").hide(); });
+            $("#node-config-input-addchar").on('focus', function () { $("#tip-addchar").show(); });
+            $("#node-config-input-addchar").on('blur', function () { $("#tip-addchar").hide(); });
 
             try {
                 $("#node-config-input-serialport").autocomplete( "destroy" );
diff --git a/io/serialport/25-serial.js b/io/serialport/25-serial.js
index 0a02a89d..c039e30d 100644
--- a/io/serialport/25-serial.js
+++ b/io/serialport/25-serial.js
@@ -13,13 +13,14 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
         RED.nodes.createNode(this,n);
         this.serialport = n.serialport;
         this.newline = n.newline; /* overloaded: split character, timeout, or character count */
-        this.addchar = n.addchar || "false";
+        this.addchar = n.addchar || "";
         this.serialbaud = parseInt(n.serialbaud) || 57600;
         this.databits = parseInt(n.databits) || 8;
         this.parity = n.parity || "none";
         this.stopbits = parseInt(n.stopbits) || 1;
         this.bin = n.bin || "false";
         this.out = n.out || "char";
+        this.waitfor = n.waitfor || "";
         this.responsetimeout = n.responsetimeout || 10000;
     }
     RED.nodes.registerType("serial-port",SerialPortNode);
@@ -117,6 +118,10 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
             // Serial Out
             node.on("input",function(msg) {
                 if (!msg.hasOwnProperty("payload")) { return; } // do nothing unless we have a payload
+                if (msg.hasOwnProperty("count") && (typeof msg.count === "number") && (node.serialConfig.out === "count")) {
+                    node.serialConfig.newline = msg.count;
+                }
+                if (msg.hasOwnProperty("flush") && msg.flush === true) { node.port.serial.flush(); }
                 node.status({fill:"yellow",shape:"dot",text:"serial.status.waiting"});
                 node.port.enqueue(msg,node,function(err,res) {
                     if (err) {
@@ -176,6 +181,7 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
                     stopbits  = serialConfig.stopbits,
                     newline   = serialConfig.newline,
                     spliton   = serialConfig.out,
+                    waitfor   = serialConfig.waitfor,
                     binoutput = serialConfig.bin,
                     addchar   = serialConfig.addchar,
                     responsetimeout = serialConfig.responsetimeout;
@@ -191,18 +197,24 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
                 //   "time"  : a msg will be sent after .newline milliseconds
                 //   "count" : a msg will be sent after .newline characters
                 // if we use "count", we already know how big the buffer will be
-                var bufSize = spliton == "count" ? Number(newline): bufMaxSize;
-                var buf = new Buffer(bufSize);
+                var bufSize = (spliton === "count") ? Number(newline): bufMaxSize;
+
+                waitfor = waitfor.replace("\\n","\n").replace("\\r","\r").replace("\\t","\t").replace("\\e","\e").replace("\\f","\f").replace("\\0","\0"); // jshint ignore:line
+                if (waitfor.substr(0,2) == "0x") { waitfor = parseInt(waitfor,16); }
+                if (waitfor.length === 1) { waitfor = waitfor.charCodeAt(0); }
+                var active = (waitfor === "") ? true : false;
+                var buf = new Buffer.alloc(bufSize);
 
                 var splitc; // split character
                 // Parse the split character onto a 1-char buffer we can immediately compare against
                 if (newline.substr(0,2) == "0x") {
-                    splitc = new Buffer([parseInt(newline)]);
+                    splitc = new Buffer.alloc([parseInt(newline,16)]);
                 }
                 else {
-                    splitc = new Buffer(newline.replace("\\n","\n").replace("\\r","\r").replace("\\t","\t").replace("\\e","\e").replace("\\f","\f").replace("\\0","\0")); // jshint ignore:line
+                    splitc = new Buffer.from(newline.replace("\\n","\n").replace("\\r","\r").replace("\\t","\t").replace("\\e","\e").replace("\\f","\f").replace("\\0","\0")); // jshint ignore:line
                 }
-
+                if (addchar === true) { addchar = splitc; }
+                
                 connections[id] = (function() {
                     var obj = {
                         _emitter: new events.EventEmitter(),
@@ -220,10 +232,10 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
                                 else {
                                     payload = payload.toString();
                                 }
-                                if ((spliton === "char") && (addchar === true)) { payload += splitc; }
+                                if ((spliton === "char") && (addchar !== "")) { payload += addchar; }
                             }
-                            else if ((spliton === "char") && (addchar === true) && (splitc !== "")) {
-                                payload = Buffer.concat([payload,splitc]);
+                            else if ((spliton === "char") && (addchar !== "")) {
+                                payload = Buffer.concat([payload,addchar]);
                             }
                             return payload;
                         },
@@ -287,6 +299,7 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
                     //newline = newline.replace("\\n","\n").replace("\\r","\r");
                     var olderr = "";
                     var setupSerial = function() {
+
                         obj.serial = new serialp(port,{
                             baudRate: baud,
                             dataBits: databits,
@@ -331,23 +344,26 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
 
                         obj.serial.on('data',function(d) {
                             function emitData(data) {
-                                var m = Buffer.from(data);
-                                var last_sender = null;
-                                if (obj.queue.length) { last_sender = obj.queue[0].sender; }
-                                if (binoutput !== "bin") { m = m.toString(); }
-                                var msgout = obj.dequeue() || {};
-                                msgout.payload = m;
-                                msgout.port = port;
-                                obj._emitter.emit('data',
-                                    msgout,
-                                    last_sender);
+                                if (active === true) {
+                                    var m = Buffer.from(data);
+                                    var last_sender = null;
+                                    if (obj.queue.length) { last_sender = obj.queue[0].sender; }
+                                    if (binoutput !== "bin") { m = m.toString(); }
+                                    var msgout = obj.dequeue() || {};
+                                    msgout.payload = m;
+                                    msgout.port = port;
+                                    obj._emitter.emit('data', msgout, last_sender);
+                                }
+                                active = (waitfor === "") ? true : false;
                             }
 
                             for (var z=0; z<d.length; z++) {
                                 var c = d[z];
+                                if (c === waitfor) { active = true; }
                                 // handle the trivial case first -- single char buffer
+                                if (!active) { return; }
                                 if ((newline === 0)||(newline === "")) {
-                                    emitData(new Buffer([c]));
+                                    emitData(new Buffer.from([c]));
                                     continue;
                                 }
 
@@ -376,6 +392,7 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
                                 }
                                 // count bytes into a buffer...
                                 else if (spliton === "count") {
+                                    newline = serialConfig.newline;
                                     if ( i >= parseInt(newline)) {
                                         emitData(buf.slice(0,i));
                                         i=0;
diff --git a/io/serialport/locales/en-US/25-serial.json b/io/serialport/locales/en-US/25-serial.json
index e6246c27..46ea9641 100644
--- a/io/serialport/locales/en-US/25-serial.json
+++ b/io/serialport/locales/en-US/25-serial.json
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@
             "responsetimeout": "Default response timeout",
             "ms": "ms",
             "serial": "serial",
-            "none": "none"
+            "none": "none",
+            "start": "Optionally wait for a start character of",
+            "startor": ", then"
         },
         "placeholder": {
             "serialport": "for example: /dev/ttyUSB0/"
@@ -41,12 +43,15 @@
             "ascii": "ascii strings",
             "binary": "binary buffers"
         },
-        "addsplit": "add split character to output messages",
+        "addsplit": "Add character to output messages",
         "tip": {
             "responsetimeout": "Tip: The default response timeout can be overridden by setting msg.timeout.",
-            "split": "Tip: the \"Split on\" character is used to split the input into separate messages. It can also be added to every message sent out to the serial port.",
+            "split": "Tip: the \"Split on\" character is used to split the input into separate messages. Can accept chars ($), escape codes (\\n), or hex codes (0x03).",
             "silent": "Tip: In line-silent mode timeout is restarted upon arrival of any character (i.e. inter-byte timeout).",
-            "timeout": "Tip: In timeout mode timeout starts from arrival of first character."
+            "timeout": "Tip: In timeout mode timeout starts from arrival of first character.",
+            "count": "Tip: In count mode msg.count can override the configured count as long as it smaller than the configured value.",
+            "waitfor": "Tip: Optional. Leave blank to receive all data. Can accept chars ($), escape codes (\\n), or hex codes (0x02)." ,
+            "addchar": "Tip: This character is added to every message sent out to the serial port. Usually \\r or \\n."
         },
         "onopen": "serial port __port__ opened at __baud__ baud __config__",
         "errors": {
diff --git a/io/serialport/package.json b/io/serialport/package.json
index f0214b22..845167da 100644
--- a/io/serialport/package.json
+++ b/io/serialport/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
     "name"          : "node-red-node-serialport",
-    "version"       : "0.7.1",
+    "version"       : "0.8.1",
     "description"   : "Node-RED nodes to talk to serial ports",
     "dependencies"  : {
         "serialport"   : "^7.1.4"
diff --git a/social/email/61-email.js b/social/email/61-email.js
index acf8ebd9..e9cc7974 100644
--- a/social/email/61-email.js
+++ b/social/email/61-email.js
@@ -116,10 +116,10 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
                     smtpTransport.sendMail(sendopts, function(error, info) {
                         if (error) {
                             node.error(error,msg);
-                            node.status({fill:"red",shape:"ring",text:"email.status.sendfail"});
+                            node.status({fill:"red",shape:"ring",text:"email.status.sendfail",response:error.response,msg:{to:msg.to,topic:msg.topic,id:msg._msgid}});
                         } else {
                             node.log(RED._("email.status.messagesent",{response:info.response}));
-                            node.status({});
+                            node.status({text:"",response:info.response,msg:{to:msg.to,topic:msg.topic,id:msg._msgid}});
                         }
                     });
                 }
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
                                 //console.log("> search - err=%j, results=%j", err, results);
                                 if (results.length === 0) {
                                     //console.log(" [X] - Nothing to fetch");
-                                    node.status({});
+                                    node.status({results:0});
                                     imap.end();
                                     s = false;
                                     setInputRepeatTimeout();
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
 
                                 // When we have fetched all the messages, we don't need the imap connection any more.
                                 fetch.on('end', function() {
-                                    node.status({});
+                                    node.status({results:results.length});
                                     var cleanup = function() {
                                         imap.end();
                                         s = false;
diff --git a/social/email/package.json b/social/email/package.json
index 62e3ac5f..28a7884a 100644
--- a/social/email/package.json
+++ b/social/email/package.json
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 {
   "name": "node-red-node-email",
-  "version": "1.3.0",
+  "version": "1.4.0",
   "description": "Node-RED nodes to send and receive simple emails",
   "dependencies": {
     "imap": "^0.8.19",
     "mailparser-mit": "^1.0.0",
-    "nodemailer": "^4.7.0",
+    "nodemailer": "^5.1.1",
     "poplib": "^0.1.7"
   },
   "repository": {