diff --git a/connections/canconfactory.cpp b/connections/canconfactory.cpp
index 5042ac0..55e1727 100644
--- a/connections/canconfactory.cpp
+++ b/connections/canconfactory.cpp
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ CANConnection* CanConFactory::create(type pType, QString pPortName)
     case SOCKETCAN:
         return new SerialBusConnection(pPortName);
     case GVRET_SERIAL:
-        return new GVRetSerial(pPortName);
+        return new GVRetSerial(pPortName, false);
     case REMOTE:
-        return new GVRetSerial(pPortName);  //it's a special case of GVRET connected over TCP/IP so it uses the same class
+        return new GVRetSerial(pPortName, true);  //it's a special case of GVRET connected over TCP/IP so it uses the same class
     default: {}
     }
 
diff --git a/connections/gvretserial.cpp b/connections/gvretserial.cpp
index 4aa1540..efee5f3 100644
--- a/connections/gvretserial.cpp
+++ b/connections/gvretserial.cpp
@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@
 
 #include "gvretserial.h"
 
-GVRetSerial::GVRetSerial(QString portName) :
+GVRetSerial::GVRetSerial(QString portName, bool useTcp) :
     CANConnection(portName, CANCon::GVRET_SERIAL, 3, 4000, true),
+    useTcp(useTcp),
     mTimer(this) /*NB: set this as parent of timer to manage it from working thread */
 {
     qDebug() << "GVRetSerial()";
@@ -284,7 +285,10 @@ void GVRetSerial::connectDevice()
         disconnectDevice();
 
     /* open new device */
-    if (getPort().contains('.')) //TCP/IP mode then since it looks like an IP address
+
+    // this does the wrong thing if the serial port has a '.' in the name
+    // if (getPort().contains('.')) //TCP/IP mode then since it looks like an IP address
+    if (useTcp)
     {
         qDebug() << "TCP Connection to a GVRET device";
         tcpClient = new QTcpSocket();
diff --git a/connections/gvretserial.h b/connections/gvretserial.h
index 6a54ad6..efff041 100644
--- a/connections/gvretserial.h
+++ b/connections/gvretserial.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class GVRetSerial : public CANConnection
     Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-    GVRetSerial(QString portName);
+    GVRetSerial(QString portName, bool useTcp);
     virtual ~GVRetSerial();
 
 protected:
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ protected:
     bool gotValidated;
     bool isAutoRestart;
     bool continuousTimeSync;
+    bool useTcp;
     QSerialPort *serial;
     QTcpSocket *tcpClient;
     int framesRapid;