diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a0ac6c5..4a9f949 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ This bridigng component reads Dutch Smart Meter Requirements (DSMR) telegrams an
 * [DSMR Parser](https://github.com/ndokter/dsmr_parser)
 * [Homie4](https://github.com/mjcumming/homie4)
 
-## Configuration
+## Configuring the bridge
 
 Create some environment variables (e.g. with a .env file) to specify the required settings:
 
@@ -18,10 +18,10 @@ DSMR_PORT=/dev/ttyUSB0
 DSMR_PROTOCOL=V5
 ```
 
-If you have forwared the raw serial signal through ser2net, you should use `DSMR_PORT=remote://<hostname>:<port>`, e.g.:
+If you have forwared the raw serial signal through ser2net, you should use `DSMR_PORT=tcp://<hostname>:<port>`, e.g.:
 
 ```bash
-DSMR_PORT=remote://forwarding-pi.local:3333
+DSMR_PORT=tcp://forwarding-pi.local:3334
 ```
 
 If you use credentials to access the MQTT broker, then alsp specify:
@@ -33,4 +33,22 @@ MQTT_PASSWORD=<mqtt-password>
 
 Inspect the source [`app_settings.py`](app_settings.py) to find out about the other less frequently used settings.
 
+## Configuring ser2net
+
+On the forwarding computer (e.g a Raspberry Pi) you need to install ser2net:
+
+```bash
+sudo apt upgrade && sudo apt install ser2net
+```
+
+Then edit the configurion file `/etc/ser2net.yaml` and add
+
+```yaml
+connection: &Dsmr
+    accepter: tcp,3334
+    connector: serialdev,
+      /dev/ttyUSB0,
+      115200n81, local
+```
+
 ![Works with Homie](https://homieiot.github.io/img/works-with-homie.png)
diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index c1e6e96..501dc51 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -9,24 +9,24 @@ from dsmr_parser.clients import SerialReader, SocketReader, SERIAL_SETTINGS_V2_2
 
 from app_settings import Settings
 from device_dsmr import Device_DSMR
-from serial import SerialException
 
 import logging
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 def main():
+    cfg = Settings()
+
     logfmt = "%(asctime)s [%(levelname)-5.5s] [%(name)s]  %(message)s"
-    logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO, format=logfmt, filename="dsmr2mqtt.log")
+    logging.basicConfig(level=cfg.loglevel, format=logfmt, filename="dsmr2mqtt.log")
     # set up logging to console
     consolelog = logging.StreamHandler(sys.stdout)
-    consolelog.setLevel(logging.INFO)
+    consolelog.setLevel(cfg.loglevel)
     # set a format which is simpler for console use
     formatter = logging.Formatter(logfmt)
     consolelog.setFormatter(formatter)
     logging.getLogger("").addHandler(consolelog)
 
-    cfg = Settings()
     protocol_version: str = str(cfg.dsmr_protocol)
     if 'V2' in protocol_version:
         serial_setup = SERIAL_SETTINGS_V2_2
@@ -42,34 +42,35 @@ def main():
         spec = telegram_specifications.V5
 
     device = Device_DSMR("dsmr", name="Digitale Slimme Meter")
-    if "remote:" not in cfg.dsmr_port:
-        logger.info(f"using serial port {cfg.dsmr_port}")
-        reader = SerialReader(cfg.dsmr_port, serial_setup, spec)
-    else:
-        result = re.search(r"remote://([^:]+):(.+)", cfg.dsmr_port)
+    if "tcp:" in cfg.dsmr_port:
+        result = re.search(r"tcp://([^:]+):(.+)", cfg.dsmr_port)
         host = result.group(1)
         port = int(result.group(2))
         logger.info(f"reading from remote host {host} on port {port}")
         reader = SocketReader(host, port, spec)
+    else:
+        logger.info(f"using serial port {cfg.dsmr_port}")
+        reader = SerialReader(cfg.dsmr_port, serial_setup, spec)
 
     def handle_next_telegram():
         telegram = next(reader.read_as_object())
         device.update(telegram)
         logger.info(f"New telegram at {telegram.P1_MESSAGE_TIMESTAMP.value}")
         
-    def startTimer():
-        threading.Timer(cfg.dsmr_update_interval, startTimer).start()
+    def start_timer():
+        threading.Timer(cfg.dsmr_update_interval, start_timer).start()
         try:
             handle_next_telegram()
-        except:
+        except UnicodeDecodeError:
+            logger.warning("Cannot decode telegram")
+        except Exception as ex:
             _thread.interrupt_main()
 
+    start_timer.has_decode_error = False
 
-    startTimer()
+    start_timer()
     # for telegram in serial_reader.read_as_object():
     #         device.update(telegram)
-    
-
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     main()
diff --git a/device_dsmr.py b/device_dsmr.py
index a849143..a1a67d5 100644
--- a/device_dsmr.py
+++ b/device_dsmr.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import logging
-import datetime
 
 from homie.device_base import Device_Base
 from homie.node.node_base import Node_Base