diff --git a/Firmware/factoryTest/FactoryTest_wMenu/FactoryTest_wMenu.ino b/Firmware/factoryTest/FactoryTest_wMenu/FactoryTest_wMenu.ino
index 13d8953..4075cb7 100644
--- a/Firmware/factoryTest/FactoryTest_wMenu/FactoryTest_wMenu.ino
+++ b/Firmware/factoryTest/FactoryTest_wMenu/FactoryTest_wMenu.ino
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#define FIRMWARE_VERSION "v0.4.2.6"
+#define FIRMWARE_VERSION "v0.4.2.7"
 /*
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 File:            FactoryTest_wMenu.ino
@@ -26,9 +26,10 @@ Revision History:
 |v0.4.2.2 | 2026-1-1  | N. Kheir      | SPI cleanup test.                               |
 |v0.4.2.3 | 2026-1-5  | L. Erickson   | Make menu two columns.                          |
 |v0.4.2.4 | 2026-1-6  | L. Erickson   | Make volume full, 30.                           |
-|v0.4.2.5 | 2026-1-7  | L. Erickson   | Use dfPlayer.getVersion()                       |
+|v0.4.2.5 | 2026-1-7  | L. Erickson   | Use myDFPlayer.getVersion()                     |
 |v0.4.2.6 | 2026-1-8  | Yukti         | Fix DFPlayer test to fail cleanly when hardware |
 |         |           |               | is missing; improve error handling              |
+|v0.4.2.7 | 2026-2-7  | L. Erickson   | bugfix/356-firmware-factory-test-bring-up-add-flow-control-test-for-com-port|                      |
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 Overview:
 - Repeatable factory test sequence for ESP32-WROOM-32D Krake/GPAD v2 boards.
@@ -104,6 +105,8 @@ static const uint8_t TEST_PATTERN[] = {
 // RS-232 (UART1) – IMPORTANT: set these to YOUR PCB pins (via MAX3232)
 const int UART1_TXD1 = 2;   // placeholder safe GPIO
 const int UART1_RXD1 = 15;  // placeholder safe GPIO
+const int UART1_RTS1 = 32;   // placeholder safe GPIO, set as output
+const int UART1_CTS1 = 33;  // placeholder safe GPIO, set as input
 const long UART1_BAUD = 115200;
 static const uint32_t TIMEOUT_MS = 600;
 
@@ -637,34 +640,7 @@ static bool initDFPlayer() {
   Serial.println(F("DFPlayer detected and responding."));
   return true;
 }
-
-
-//  static bool initDFPlayer() {
-//   if (dfState == DF_OK)   return true;
-//   if (dfState == DF_FAIL) return false;
-
-//   Serial.println(F("Initializing DFPlayer (UART2)..."));
-//   pinMode(DF_BUSY_IN, INPUT_PULLUP);
-
-//   dfSerial.begin(9600, SERIAL_8N1, DF_RXD2, DF_TXD2);
-//   delay(300);
-
-//   // doReset=true helps a LOT with SD indexing reliability
-//   if (!dfPlayer.begin(dfSerial, true, true)) {
-//     Serial.println(F("  DFPlayer not detected. Check wiring & power."));
-//     dfState = DF_FAIL;
-//     return false;
-//   }else {
-
-//    dfState = DF_OK;
-//    Serial.println(F("  DFPlayer detected and initialized (SD selected)."));
-//   }
-
-//   dfPlayer.setTimeOut(1000);     // give replies more time (some modules are slow)
-//   return true;
-// }
-
-
+  
 // Put this OUTSIDE of runTest_DFPlayer() (global scope).
 // Call it when dfPlayer.available() is true.
 void printDetail(uint8_t type, int value) {
@@ -984,6 +960,13 @@ static bool runTest_RS232() {
   Serial.println(F("Connected RS-232 TX <-> RX at DB9 (pins 2 and 3) via MAX3232."));
   Serial.printf("Using UART1 TXD=%d, RXD=%d, BAUD=%ld\n", UART1_TXD1, UART1_RXD1, UART1_BAUD);
 
+  //Set up UART1
+  
+  pinMode(UART1_RTS1, OUTPUT);
+  pinMode(UART1_CTS1, INPUT);  // NO pull up required because MAX3232 drives.
+  //digitalWrite(UART1_RTS1, HIGH); // will make CTS at DB9 negative voltage through loop back
+  digitalWrite(UART1_RTS1, LOW); // will make CTS at DB9 positive voltage through loop back
+  
   HardwareSerial rs232(1);
   rs232.begin(UART1_BAUD, SERIAL_8N1, UART1_RXD1, UART1_TXD1);
   delay(150);
@@ -1015,6 +998,13 @@ static bool runTest_RS232() {
   rs232.end();
 
   // Validate
+  if (HIGH == digitalRead(UART1_CTS1)){
+     Serial.print("[rs232] FAIL: FLOW CONTROL. Expected DB9 pin 7 between 3-18V. ");
+    Serial.println("Tip: ensure rs232 RTS<->CTS loopback plug is installed.");
+    return false;
+  }
+
+
   if (rx.length() != n) {
     Serial.printf("[rs232] FAIL: expected %u bytes, got %u\n",
                   (unsigned)n, (unsigned)rx.length());
@@ -1037,7 +1027,11 @@ static bool runTest_RS232() {
   Serial.print(rx);
   Serial.println("[rs232] PASS: UART1 loopback OK");
   return true;
-}
+
+  bool ok = (rx == payload);
+  Serial.printf("RS-232 loopback test: %s\n", ok ? "PASS" : "FAIL (wiring/MAX3232/pins)");
+  return ok;
+}//end runTest_RS232()
 
 // ============================================================================
 // Dispatcher / Run All