diff --git a/gui/src/components/main_startup_check.vue b/gui/src/components/main_startup_check.vue
index 5ae7d06f..e097ccf0 100644
--- a/gui/src/components/main_startup_check.vue
+++ b/gui/src/components/main_startup_check.vue
@@ -6,15 +6,43 @@ import main_rig_control from "./main_rig_control.vue";
 import main_audio from "./main_audio.vue";
 import infoScreen_updater from "./infoScreen_updater.vue";
 
+import { saveModemConfig } from "../js/api";
+
+import { setActivePinia } from "pinia";
+import pinia from "../store/index";
+setActivePinia(pinia);
+
+import { useSettingsStore } from "../store/settingsStore.js";
+const settings = useSettingsStore(pinia);
+
+import { useAudioStore } from "../store/audioStore.js";
+const audio = useAudioStore(pinia);
+
+import { useStateStore } from "../store/stateStore.js";
+const state = useStateStore(pinia);
+
+import { startModem, stopModem } from "../js/api";
+import { getModemConfig } from "../js/api";
+
 // start modemCheck modal once on startup
 onMounted(() => {
+  getModemConfig();
   new Modal("#modemCheck", {}).show();
+  if (state.is_modem_running == false) {
+  }
 });
+
+function getModemState() {
+  // Returns active/inactive if modem is running for modem status label
+  console.log(state.is_modem_running);
+  if (state.is_modem_running == true) return "Active";
+  else return "Inactive";
+}
 </script>
 
 <template>
   <div
-    class="modal fade"
+    class="modal modal-lg fade"
     id="modemCheck"
     data-bs-backdrop="static"
     data-bs-keyboard="false"
@@ -88,12 +116,81 @@ onMounted(() => {
                   data-bs-target="#modemStatusCollapse"
                   data-bs-toggle="collapse"
                 >
-                  Modem <span class="badge ms-2 bg-success">Running</span>
+                  Modem
+                  <span
+                    class="badge ms-2"
+                    :class="
+                      state.is_modem_running === true
+                        ? 'bg-success'
+                        : 'bg-danger'
+                    "
+                    >{{ getModemState() }}</span
+                  >
                 </button>
               </h2>
               <div id="modemStatusCollapse" class="accordion-collapse collapse">
                 <div class="accordion-body">
-                  <main_audio />
+                  <div class="input-group input-group-sm mb-1">
+                    <label class="input-group-text w-25">Modem control</label>
+                    <label class="input-group-text">
+                      <button
+                        type="button"
+                        id="startModem"
+                        class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-success"
+                        data-bs-toggle="tooltip"
+                        data-bs-trigger="hover"
+                        data-bs-html="false"
+                        title="Start the Modem. Please set your audio and radio settings first!"
+                        @click="startModem"
+                        v-bind:class="{
+                          disabled: state.is_modem_running === true,
+                        }"
+                      >
+                        <i class="bi bi-play-fill"></i>
+                      </button> </label
+                    ><label class="input-group-text">
+                      <button
+                        type="button"
+                        id="stopModem"
+                        class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-danger"
+                        data-bs-toggle="tooltip"
+                        data-bs-trigger="hover"
+                        data-bs-html="false"
+                        title="Stop the Modem."
+                        @click="stopModem"
+                        v-bind:class="{
+                          disabled: state.is_modem_running === false,
+                        }"
+                      >
+                        <i class="bi bi-stop-fill"></i>
+                      </button>
+                    </label>
+                  </div>
+                  <!-- Audio Input Device -->
+                  <div class="input-group input-group-sm mb-1">
+                    <label class="input-group-text w-25">Input device</label>
+                    <select
+                      class="form-select form-select-sm"
+                      id="rx_audio"
+                      aria-label=".form-select-sm"
+                      @change="saveModemConfig"
+                      v-model="settings.input_device"
+                      v-html="audio.getInputDevices()"
+                    ></select>
+                  </div>
+
+                  <!-- Audio Output Device -->
+                  <div class="input-group input-group-sm mb-1">
+                    <label class="input-group-text w-25">Output device</label>
+                    <select
+                      class="form-select form-select-sm"
+                      id="tx_audio"
+                      aria-label=".form-select-sm"
+                      @change="saveModemConfig"
+                      v-model="settings.output_device"
+                      v-html="audio.getOutputDevices()"
+                    ></select>
+                  </div>
                 </div>
               </div>
             </div>
diff --git a/gui/src/components/settings_modem.vue b/gui/src/components/settings_modem.vue
index 2867f109..a9e40af4 100644
--- a/gui/src/components/settings_modem.vue
+++ b/gui/src/components/settings_modem.vue
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import { startModem, stopModem } from "../js/api";
       data-bs-html="false"
       title="Start the Modem. Please set your audio and radio settings first!"
       @click="startModem"
-      v-bind:class="{ disabled: state.modem_running_state === 'running' }"
+      v-bind:class="{ disabled: state.is_modem_running === true }"
     >
       <i class="bi bi-play-fill"></i>
       <span class="ms-2">start modem</span>
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ import { startModem, stopModem } from "../js/api";
       data-bs-html="false"
       title="Stop the Modem."
       @click="stopModem"
-      v-bind:class="{ disabled: state.modem_running_state === 'stopped' }"
+      v-bind:class="{ disabled: state.is_modem_running === false }"
     >
       <i class="bi bi-stop-fill"></i>
       <span class="ms-2">stop modem</span>
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ import { startModem, stopModem } from "../js/api";
       id="rx_audio"
       aria-label=".form-select-sm"
       @change="saveModemConfig"
-      v-model="settings.rx_audio"
+      v-model="settings.input_device"
       v-html="audio.getInputDevices()"
     ></select>
   </div>
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ import { startModem, stopModem } from "../js/api";
       id="tx_audio"
       aria-label=".form-select-sm"
       @change="saveModemConfig"
-      v-model="settings.tx_audio"
+      v-model="settings.output_device"
       v-html="audio.getOutputDevices()"
     ></select>
   </div>
diff --git a/gui/src/js/eventHandler.js b/gui/src/js/eventHandler.js
index 19514014..59761f93 100644
--- a/gui/src/js/eventHandler.js
+++ b/gui/src/js/eventHandler.js
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export function connectionFailed(endpoint, event) {
   stateStore.modem_connection = "disconnected";
 }
 export function stateDispatcher(data) {
+  data = JSON.parse(data);
   console.log(data);
 
   stateStore.modem_connection = "connected";
diff --git a/modem/explorer.py b/modem/explorer.py
index 50cb1a35..7e004f5e 100644
--- a/modem/explorer.py
+++ b/modem/explorer.py
@@ -34,10 +34,10 @@ class explorer():
 
         frequency = 0 if HamlibParam.hamlib_frequency is None else HamlibParam.hamlib_frequency
         band = "USB"
-        callsign = str(self.config['STATION']['mycall'], "utf-8")
-        gridsquare = str(self.config['STATION']['mygrid'], "utf-8")
+        callsign = str(self.config['STATION']['mycall'])
+        gridsquare = str(self.config['STATION']['mygrid'])
         version = str(Modem.version)
-        bandwidth = str(self.config['Modem']['low_bandwidth_mode'])
+        bandwidth = str(self.config['MODEM']['enable_low_bandwidth_mode'])
         beacon = str(self.states.is_beacon_running)
         strength = str(HamlibParam.hamlib_strength)
 
diff --git a/modem/modem.py b/modem/modem.py
index 08b493ca..32bc6b39 100644
--- a/modem/modem.py
+++ b/modem/modem.py
@@ -999,8 +999,8 @@ class RF:
         # set tuning range
         codec2.api.freedv_set_tuning_range(
             c2instance,
-            ctypes.c_float(self.tuning_range_fmin),
-            ctypes.c_float(self.tuning_range_fmax),
+            ctypes.c_float(float(self.tuning_range_fmin)),
+            ctypes.c_float(float(self.tuning_range_fmax)),
         )
 
         # get bytes per frame