         _outStream = new ObjectOutputStream(_outBuffer);
         _inStream = new ObjectInputStream();
 
-        _portIdx = 0;
-        logonToPort();
+        attemptLogon(0);
     }
 
     public function logoff () :void

            }
        }

        // kick off our writer thread now that we know we're ready to write 
        _writer = new Timer(1);
        _writer.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, sendPendingMessages);
        _writer.start();

     */
    protected function socketError (event :IOErrorEvent) :void
    {
        // if we're still trying ports, try the next one.
        if (_portIdx != -1) {
            if (attemptLogon(_portIdx+1)) {
                return;
            }
        }
