def METHOD_NAME(self, cmd):
    cmd += "\r"
    # clear queue first, old data,etc
    rem_char = self.ser.inWaiting()
    if rem_char:
        self.ser.read(rem_char)
    # send command
    self.ser.write(str.encode(cmd))
    # wait until data is processed
    time.sleep(1)
    # read back
    rem_char = self.ser.inWaiting()
    retval = self.ser.read(rem_char)
    #print(retval)
    return retval #str(retval)#.strip('\r')