 #ifdef DEBUG
   // serial interface for debugging etc.
   Serial.begin(9600);
-  
+
+#if 0
   while (!Serial) {
     ; // wait for serial port to connect. Needed for native USB port only
   }
-  
+#endif
+
   Serial.println("Initialisation done!");
 #endif // DEBUG
 

void loop() {

  static bool first = true;
  static unsigned long loop_init = millis();
  static bool left_switch = (bool)digitalRead(kLEFT_SWITCH);

  transvControl.rxMode = Icom706.getMode();
  transvControl.rxFrequency = Icom706.getFrequency();


    delay(20);  // 'debouncing'
  }
  
  if ( (bool)digitalRead(kMIDDLE_SWITCH) != middle_switch) {
    Serial.print("Middle switch is ");
    middle_switch = !middle_switch;
    Serial.println((middle_switch ? "ON" : "OFF"));

    delay(20);  // 'debouncing'
  }
  
  if ( (bool)digitalRead(kRIGHT_SWITCH) != right_switch) {
    Serial.print("Right switch is ");
    right_switch = !right_switch;
    Serial.println((right_switch ? "ON" : "OFF"));

    delay(20);  // 'debouncing'
  }
#endif // DEBUG_SWITCH

  bool rxStatus = Icom706.run( transvControl.rxFrequency, transvControl.rxMode );

  bool txStatus = false;
  
  // write RX frequency to LCD
  if ( transvControl.rxFrequency != IcomCAT::ILLEGAL_FREQ && lcd_counter > 1000 ) {

    lcd_counter = millis();
    
    // convert the integer frequency into a string of 10 bytes length
    char freq_str[12];
