diff --git a/net_io.c b/net_io.c
index cb53b650..0c643451 100644
--- a/net_io.c
+++ b/net_io.c
@@ -4438,6 +4438,10 @@ static int readClient(struct client *c, int64_t now) {
         nread = recv(c->fd, c->buf + c->buflen, left, 0);
     } else {
         // read instead of recv for modesbeast / gns-hulc ....
+        if (Modes.debug_serial) {
+            fprintTimePrecise(stderr, now);
+            fprintf(stderr, " serial read ... fd: %d maxbytes: %d\n", c->fd, left);
+        }
         nread = read(c->fd, c->buf + c->buflen, left);
         if (Modes.debug_serial) {
             fprintTimePrecise(stderr, now);
diff --git a/sdr_beast.c b/sdr_beast.c
index ffd0ea22..94111a0d 100644
--- a/sdr_beast.c
+++ b/sdr_beast.c
@@ -137,9 +137,6 @@ bool beastOpen(void) {
     speed_t baud = B3000000;
 
     int flags = O_RDWR | O_NOCTTY;
-    if (Modes.debug_serial) {
-        flags |= O_NONBLOCK;
-    }
     Modes.beast_fd = open(Modes.beast_serial, flags);
     if (Modes.beast_fd < 0) {
         fprintf(stderr, "Failed to open serial device %s: %s\n",
@@ -157,8 +154,8 @@ bool beastOpen(void) {
     tios.c_oflag = 0;
     tios.c_lflag = 0;
     tios.c_cflag = CS8 | CRTSCTS;
-    tios.c_cc[VMIN] = 11;
-    tios.c_cc[VTIME] = 0;
+    tios.c_cc[VMIN] = 11; // read returns when a minimum of 11 characters are available
+    tios.c_cc[VTIME] = 1; // 100 ms timeout for reads
 
     if (Modes.sdr_type == SDR_GNS) {
         baud = B921600;
@@ -194,6 +191,7 @@ bool beastOpen(void) {
 
     if (Modes.sdr_type == SDR_MODESBEAST) {
         /* set options */
+        beastSetOption('B'); /* set classic beast mode */
         beastSetOption('C'); /* use binary format */
         beastSetOption('H'); /* RTS enabled */