I am temporarily hard coding it to serial1, however I want the code to eventually be able to use any of the serial connections. I have a mega so I want to keep flexibility, but since I don't really know what I am doing I hard coded it until i get it to work on once connection I won't complicate things. I am digging thru a c++ book and trying to fiure out where I am misstepping.
I understand your point on the .begin() bit, I should be able to just copypasta the code and have my own begin function I do believe. Back to the grindstone.
oh the serial LCD display is curently conected to serial TX 1, the unit is fully self-suffecient, just needs power and serial commands.