diff --git a/grbl_communication.cpp b/grbl_communication.cpp
index 916e64e..56a18b6 100644
--- a/grbl_communication.cpp
+++ b/grbl_communication.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ grbl::tcp_transport::tcp_transport(std::string address, uint16_t p)
     live_check_thread = std::thread(&grbl::tcp_transport::worker, this);
 }
 
-void grbl::tcp_transport::open(grbl::transport_callbacks& cb) {
+void grbl::tcp_transport::open(grbl::transport_callbacks &cb) {
     if (is_connected) {
         close();
     }
@@ -52,14 +52,21 @@ void grbl::tcp_transport::close() {
         is_connected = false;
         send_queue = std::queue<std::string>{};
 
-        if (listener != nullptr)
+        if (listener != nullptr) {
             listener->on_disconnected(this);
+            listener = nullptr;
+        }
+
+        fd = -1;
     }
 }
 
 void grbl::tcp_transport::send(std::string line) {
     if (is_connected) {
-        send_queue.push(line + "\r");
+        if (line.at(0) == (char) 0xff)
+            send_queue.push(line);
+        else
+            send_queue.push(line + "\r");
     }
 }
 
@@ -93,7 +100,13 @@ void grbl::tcp_transport::worker() {
                     auto is_eol = buffer[i] == '\r' || buffer[i] == '\n';
                     if (is_eol) {
                         if (!is_empty_line(received)) {
-                            listener->on_line_received(received, this);
+                            // starts with? https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1878001/how-do-i-check-if-a-c-stdstring-starts-with-a-certain-string-and-convert-a
+                            if (received.rfind("Grbl", 0) == 0) {
+                                listener->on_banner(received, this);
+
+                            } else {
+                                listener->on_line_received(received, this);
+                            }
                         }
                         received.clear();
                     } else {
@@ -114,11 +127,32 @@ grbl::tcp_transport::~tcp_transport() {
     live_check_thread.join();
 }
 
-bool grbl::tcp_transport::is_empty_line(std::string line) {
-    for (auto& c: line) {
+bool grbl::tcp_transport::is_empty_line(const std::string &line) {
+    for (auto &c: line) {
         if (c != '\r' && c != '\n' && c != ' ') {
             return false;
         }
     }
     return true;
 }
+
+void grbl::tcp_transport::send_single_char_command(uint8_t data) const {
+    if (is_connected)
+        write(fd, &data, 1);
+}
+
+void grbl::tcp_transport::request_realtime_report() {
+    send_single_char_command(0x80);
+}
+
+void grbl::tcp_transport::request_cycle_start() {
+    send_single_char_command(0x81);
+}
+
+void grbl::tcp_transport::request_feed_hold() {
+    send_single_char_command(0x82);
+}
+
+void grbl::tcp_transport::parser_state_report() {
+    send_single_char_command(0x83);
+}
diff --git a/grbl_communication.h b/grbl_communication.h
index 94ad643..d94df5a 100644
--- a/grbl_communication.h
+++ b/grbl_communication.h
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ struct transport_callbacks {
     virtual void on_connected(transport*) = 0;
     virtual void on_disconnected(transport*) = 0;
     virtual void on_line_received(std::string line, transport* ) = 0;
+    virtual void on_banner(std::string version, transport* ) = 0;
 };
 
 struct transport {
@@ -28,6 +29,14 @@ struct tcp_transport : public transport {
     void close() override;
     void send(std::string line) override;
 
+    void request_realtime_report();
+
+    void request_cycle_start();
+
+    void request_feed_hold();
+
+    void parser_state_report();
+
 private:
 
     void worker();
@@ -40,7 +49,9 @@ private:
     std::thread live_check_thread;
     std::queue<std::string> send_queue;
     volatile bool should_quit = false;
-    bool is_empty_line(std::string line);
+    static bool is_empty_line(const std::string& line);
+
+    void send_single_char_command(uint8_t data) const;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/main.cpp b/main.cpp
index ea1f047..338e9b4 100644
--- a/main.cpp
+++ b/main.cpp
@@ -553,7 +553,7 @@ public:
         m_shader->set_uniform("intensity", 0.5f);
     }
 
-    bool resize_event(const Vector2i& size) override {
+    bool resize_event(const Vector2i &size) override {
         window->set_size(size);
         Screen::resize_event(size);
         return true;
@@ -616,7 +616,9 @@ private:
 struct grbl_listener : public grbl::transport_callbacks {
     void on_connected(grbl::transport *t) override {
         std::cout << "Listener: connected!" << std::endl;
-        t->send("$$");
+        // telnet handshake so that we get the banner. banner won't be coming otherwise
+//        t->send("\xff\xfd\x18\xff\xfd\x20\xff\xfd\x23\xff\xfd\x27");
+        t->send("\xff\xfd\x18");
     }
 
     void on_disconnected(grbl::transport *t) override {
@@ -626,6 +628,11 @@ struct grbl_listener : public grbl::transport_callbacks {
     void on_line_received(std::string line, grbl::transport *t) override {
         std::cout << "Listener: -> " << line << std::endl;
     }
+
+    void on_banner(std::string version, grbl::transport *t) override {
+        std::cout << "Banner: " << version << std::endl;
+        t->send("$$");
+    }
 };
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
@@ -641,6 +648,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
         exit(result);
     }
 
+    transport.request_realtime_report();
+    transport.request_cycle_start();
+    transport.request_feed_hold();
+    transport.parser_state_report();
+
     try {
 
 //        grbl::program pgm;
@@ -659,7 +671,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
         }
 
         nanogui::shutdown();
-    } catch (const std::exception& e) {
+    } catch (const std::exception &e) {
         std::string error_msg = std::string("Caught a fatal error: ") + std::string(e.what());
         std::cerr << error_msg << std::endl;
         return -1;