diff --git a/light9/io/parport.c b/light9/io/parport.c
--- a/light9/io/parport.c
+++ b/light9/io/parport.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <Python.h>
 
 int getparport() {
+  printf("parport - ver 4\n");
     if( ioperm(888,3,1) ) {
       printf("Couldn't get parallel port at 888-890\n");
 
@@ -26,34 +27,26 @@ void outcontrol( unsigned char val ) {
 }
 
 void outbyte( unsigned char val ) {
+  int i;
   // set data, raise clock, lower clock
   outdata(val);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
-  outcontrol(2);
+
+  /* this was originally 26 outcontrol calls, but on new dash that
+     leads to screwed up dmx about once a minute. I tried doing 26*4
+     outcontrol calls, but it still screwed up. I suspect the athlon64
+     or my new kernel version is sending the parport really fast,
+     sometimes faster than the pic sees the bits. Then I put a 1ms
+     sleep after the outcontrol(2)'s and that didn't help either, so
+     I'm not sure what's going on. Putting the parallel cable on miles
+     seems to work. 
+
+     todo:
+     try a little pause after outcontrol(3) to make sure pic sees that
+  */
+
+  for (i=0; i<26*4; i++) {
+    outcontrol(2);
+  }
   outcontrol(3);
 }
 void outstart() {