JS> On the other hand the I  cannot seem to find out how to get
 JS> this program to answer on a different port

quoting from the VMODEM.TXT file from SIO v1.60d

The Virtual Modem Protocol (VMP) that is implemented by Vmodem uses TCP/IP
Sockets.  The default port number used by Vmodem is 3141 (the first 4
digits of pi, un-rounded).  However, this default port number can be
overridden by using the SERVICES file in the TCP/IP ETC directory.  If the
user defines a "Well-Known Port" called "vmodem" (lower
case) in the SERVICES file, then that port will be used instead of 3141. 
The port number 3141 has been assigned to the Virtual Modem Protocol (VMP)
by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). The name associated with
port 3141 is "vmodem" (without the quotes). Likewise, the Telnet
Server in Vmodem can be directed to use any port number by adding a
"Well-Known Port" called VMOTelnet to your SERVICES file.  The
Telnet Server defaults to port 23 (the standard Telnet port).

 JS> and for the life of me cannot get fd to accept the space
 JS> between the ip address and the port number... it calls out
 JS> like it's not there...

are you sure that its FD that is ignoring the space?

 JS> and then calls out on it's default port.. port 23

that's because you haven't followed the quoted stuff above ;)

you are using SIO v1.60d, right??

)\/(ark