diff --git a/src/pf_driver/config/r2000_params.yaml b/src/pf_driver/config/r2000_params.yaml
index 7896b7c..807046d 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/config/r2000_params.yaml
+++ b/src/pf_driver/config/r2000_params.yaml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ pf_r2000:
   ros__parameters:
     transport: "udp"
     scanner_ip: "10.0.10.9"
-    # port: "3000" # optional
+    # port: 3000 # optional
     device: "R2000"
     start_angle: -1800000
     max_num_points_scan: 0
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/config/r2300_params.yaml b/src/pf_driver/config/r2300_params.yaml
index d7b65a2..ca317a6 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/config/r2300_params.yaml
+++ b/src/pf_driver/config/r2300_params.yaml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ pf_r2300:
   ros__parameters:
     transport: "udp"
     scanner_ip: "169.254.235.110"
-    # port: "3000" # optional
+    # port: 3000 # optional
     start_angle: -450000
     max_num_points_scan: 0
     packet_type: "C1"
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/config/r2300_single_layer_params.yaml b/src/pf_driver/config/r2300_single_layer_params.yaml
index 48758a2..3a905a9 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/config/r2300_single_layer_params.yaml
+++ b/src/pf_driver/config/r2300_single_layer_params.yaml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ pf_r2300:
   ros__parameters:
     transport: "udp"
     scanner_ip: "169.254.235.110"
-    # port: "3000" # optional
+    # port: 3000 # optional
     start_angle: -450000
     max_num_points_scan: 0
     packet_type: "C1"
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/communication/transport.h b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/communication/transport.h
index ba94c00..e69f9b1 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/communication/transport.h
+++ b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/communication/transport.h
@@ -32,12 +32,12 @@ class Transport
   {
   }
 
-  void set_port(std::string port)
+  void set_port(int port)
   {
-    port_ = std::move(port);
+    port_ = port;
   }
 
-  std::string get_port()
+  int get_port()
   {
     return port_;
   }
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class Transport
 protected:
   std::string address_;
   std::string host_ip_;
-  std::string port_;
+  int port_;
   bool is_connected_;
   transport_type type_;
   std::shared_ptr<boost::asio::io_service> io_service_;
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/communication/udp_transport.h b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/communication/udp_transport.h
index 0089271..5dbe5cd 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/communication/udp_transport.h
+++ b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/communication/udp_transport.h
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 class UDPTransport : public Transport
 {
 public:
-  UDPTransport(std::string address, std::string port = "0");
+  UDPTransport(std::string address, int port = 0);
 
   ~UDPTransport();
 
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/handle_info.h b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/handle_info.h
index 78fab46..e335c04 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/handle_info.h
+++ b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/handle_info.h
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ struct HandleInfo
 
   int handle_type;
   std::string hostname;
-  std::string port;
+  int actual_port;
   std::string handle;
   std::string endpoint;
 };
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/curl_resource.h b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/curl_resource.h
index ff7cfc7..9ebca15 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/curl_resource.h
+++ b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/curl_resource.h
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 #include <curlpp/Options.hpp>
 #include <json/json.h>
 
-#include "pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/param_map_type.h"
+#include "pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/param_vector_type.h"
 #include "pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/param_type.h"
 
 class CurlResource
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class CurlResource
 
   void append_query(const std::initializer_list<param_type>& list, bool do_encoding = false);
 
-  void append_query(const param_map_type& params, bool do_encoding = false);
+  void append_query(const param_vector_type& params, bool do_encoding = false);
 
   void get(Json::Value& json_resp);
 
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/http_interface.h b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/http_interface.h
index 542bd50..fbd17cc 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/http_interface.h
+++ b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/http_interface.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #include <json/json.h>
 
 #include "pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/param_type.h"
-#include "pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/param_map_type.h"
+#include "pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/param_vector_type.h"
 
 class CurlResource;
 
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class HTTPInterface
   const Json::Value get(const std::string& command,
                         const std::initializer_list<param_type>& list = std::initializer_list<param_type>());
 
-  const Json::Value get(const std::string& command, const param_map_type& params = param_map_type());
+  const Json::Value get(const std::string& command, const param_vector_type& params = param_vector_type());
 
 private:
   const Json::Value get_(CurlResource& res);
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/param_map_type.h b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/param_vector_type.h
similarity index 86%
rename from src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/param_map_type.h
rename to src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/param_vector_type.h
index a71c85e..d3df1e3 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/param_map_type.h
+++ b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/param_vector_type.h
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include <map>
-#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+#include "param_type.h"
 
-using param_map_type = std::map<std::string, std::string>;
+using param_vector_type = std::vector<param_type>;
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/pfsdp_base.h b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/pfsdp_base.h
index 8152f9a..6314945 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/pfsdp_base.h
+++ b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/pfsdp_base.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 
 #include "pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/http_interface.h"
 #include "pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/param_type.h"
-#include "pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/param_map_type.h"
+#include "pf_driver/pf/http_helpers/param_vector_type.h"
 #include "pf_driver/pf/handle_info.h"
 #include "pf_driver/pf/scan_config.h"
 #include "pf_driver/pf/scan_parameters.h"
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class PFSDPBase
                                                        const std::initializer_list<param_type>& query);
   const std::map<std::string, std::string>
   get_request(const std::string& command, const std::vector<std::string>& json_keys = std::vector<std::string>(),
-              const param_map_type& query = param_map_type());
+              const param_vector_type& query = param_vector_type());
 
   bool get_request_bool(const std::string& command,
                         const std::vector<std::string>& json_keys = std::vector<std::string>(),
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class PFSDPBase
 
   std::string get_parameter_str(const std::string& param);
 
-  void request_handle_tcp();
+  void request_handle_tcp(int port = 0);
 
   virtual void request_handle_udp();
 
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/scan_config.h b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/scan_config.h
index 2500b73..b423f6d 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/scan_config.h
+++ b/src/pf_driver/include/pf_driver/pf/scan_config.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ struct ScanConfig
   int start_angle = 0;
   uint max_num_points_scan = 0;
   uint skip_scans = 0;
+  uint port = 0;
 
   // void print()
   // {
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/src/communication/tcp_transport.cpp b/src/pf_driver/src/communication/tcp_transport.cpp
index e7a94c3..3909b97 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/src/communication/tcp_transport.cpp
+++ b/src/pf_driver/src/communication/tcp_transport.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ bool TCPTransport::connect()
   try
   {
     tcp::resolver resolver(*io_service_);
-    tcp::resolver::query query(address_, port_);
+    tcp::resolver::query query(address_, std::to_string(port_));
     tcp::resolver::iterator endpoint_iterator = resolver.resolve(query);
     tcp::resolver::iterator end;
 
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/src/communication/udp_transport.cpp b/src/pf_driver/src/communication/udp_transport.cpp
index f6e6390..7b47422 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/src/communication/udp_transport.cpp
+++ b/src/pf_driver/src/communication/udp_transport.cpp
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@ using boost::asio::ip::udp;
 
 auto udp_logger = rclcpp::get_logger("transport");
 
-UDPTransport::UDPTransport(std::string address, std::string port) : Transport(address, transport_type::udp)
+UDPTransport::UDPTransport(std::string address, int port) : Transport(address, transport_type::udp)
 {
   io_service_ = std::make_shared<boost::asio::io_service>();
-  udp::endpoint local_endpoint = udp::endpoint(boost::asio::ip::address_v4::from_string("0.0.0.0"), stoi(port));
+  udp::endpoint local_endpoint = udp::endpoint(boost::asio::ip::address_v4::from_string("0.0.0.0"), port);
 
   socket_ = std::make_unique<udp::socket>(*io_service_, local_endpoint);
   timer_ = std::make_shared<boost::asio::deadline_timer>(*io_service_.get());
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ bool UDPTransport::connect()
 {
   udp::endpoint udp_endpoint = udp::endpoint(boost::asio::ip::address::from_string(address_), 0);
   socket_->connect(udp_endpoint);
-  port_ = std::to_string(socket_->local_endpoint().port());
+  port_ = socket_->local_endpoint().port();
   host_ip_ = socket_->local_endpoint().address().to_string();
 
   is_connected_ = true;
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/src/pf/http_helpers/curl_resource.cpp b/src/pf_driver/src/pf/http_helpers/curl_resource.cpp
index 96fd8ec..705a3d0 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/src/pf/http_helpers/curl_resource.cpp
+++ b/src/pf_driver/src/pf/http_helpers/curl_resource.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ void CurlResource::append_query(const std::initializer_list<param_type>& list, b
   url_.pop_back();
 }
 
-void CurlResource::append_query(const param_map_type& params, bool do_encoding)
+void CurlResource::append_query(const param_vector_type& params, bool do_encoding)
 {
   url_ += "?";
   for (const auto& p : params)
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/src/pf/http_helpers/http_interface.cpp b/src/pf_driver/src/pf/http_helpers/http_interface.cpp
index 7a4ce4c..9472f9b 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/src/pf/http_helpers/http_interface.cpp
+++ b/src/pf_driver/src/pf/http_helpers/http_interface.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ const Json::Value HTTPInterface::get(const std::string& command, const std::init
   return get_(res);
 }
 
-const Json::Value HTTPInterface::get(const std::string& command, const param_map_type& params)
+const Json::Value HTTPInterface::get(const std::string& command, const param_vector_type& params)
 {
   CurlResource res(host);
   res.append_path(base_path);
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/src/pf/pf_interface.cpp b/src/pf_driver/src/pf/pf_interface.cpp
index ee87aad..6acf9d2 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/src/pf/pf_interface.cpp
+++ b/src/pf_driver/src/pf/pf_interface.cpp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ bool PFInterface::init(std::shared_ptr<HandleInfo> info, std::shared_ptr<ScanCon
 
   if (info->handle_type == HandleInfo::HANDLE_TYPE_UDP)
   {
-    transport_ = std::make_unique<UDPTransport>(info->hostname, info->port);
+    transport_ = std::make_unique<UDPTransport>(info->hostname, config->port);
     if (!transport_->connect())
     {
       RCLCPP_ERROR(node_->get_logger(), "Unable to establish UDP connection");
@@ -83,16 +83,16 @@ bool PFInterface::init(std::shared_ptr<HandleInfo> info, std::shared_ptr<ScanCon
     }
 
     info->endpoint = transport_->get_host_ip();
-    info->port = transport_->get_port();
+    info->actual_port = transport_->get_port();
     protocol_interface_->request_handle_udp();
   }
   else if (info->handle_type == HandleInfo::HANDLE_TYPE_TCP)
   {
     transport_ = std::make_unique<TCPTransport>(info->hostname);
-    protocol_interface_->request_handle_tcp();
+    protocol_interface_->request_handle_tcp(config->port);
     // if initially port was not set, request_handle sets it
     // set the updated port in transport
-    transport_->set_port(info_->port);
+    transport_->set_port(info->actual_port);
     if (!transport_->connect())
     {
       RCLCPP_ERROR(node_->get_logger(), "Unable to establish TCP connection");
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/src/pf/pfsdp_base.cpp b/src/pf_driver/src/pf/pfsdp_base.cpp
index 52a76d3..73fb0e7 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/src/pf/pfsdp_base.cpp
+++ b/src/pf_driver/src/pf/pfsdp_base.cpp
@@ -62,12 +62,12 @@ const std::map<std::string, std::string> PFSDPBase::get_request(const std::strin
                                                                 const std::vector<std::string>& json_keys,
                                                                 const std::initializer_list<param_type>& query)
 {
-  return get_request(command, json_keys, param_map_type(query.begin(), query.end()));
+  return get_request(command, json_keys, param_vector_type(query.begin(), query.end()));
 }
 
 const std::map<std::string, std::string> PFSDPBase::get_request(const std::string& command,
                                                                 const std::vector<std::string>& json_keys,
-                                                                const param_map_type& query)
+                                                                const param_vector_type& query)
 {
   Json::Value json_resp = http_interface->get(command, query);
 
@@ -254,29 +254,29 @@ std::string PFSDPBase::get_parameter_str(const std::string& param)
   return resp[param];
 }
 
-void PFSDPBase::request_handle_tcp()
+void PFSDPBase::request_handle_tcp(int port)
 {
-  param_map_type query;
+  param_vector_type query;
   if (!config_->packet_type.empty())
   {
-    query["packet_type"] = config_->packet_type;
+    query.push_back(KV("packet_type", packet_type));
   }
-  if (info_->port.compare("0") != 0)
+  if (port != 0)
   {
-    query["port"] = info_->port;
+    query.push_back(KV("port", port));
   }
   auto resp = get_request("request_handle_tcp", { "handle", "port" }, query);
 
   info_->handle = resp["handle"];
-  info_->port = resp["port"];
+  info_->actual_port = parser_utils::to_long(resp["port"]);
 }
 
-void PFSDPBase::request_handle_udp()
+void PFSDPBase::request_handle_udp(const std::string& packet_type)
 {
-  param_map_type query = { KV("address", info_->endpoint), KV("port", info_->port) };
+  param_vector_type query = { KV("address", info_->endpoint), KV("port", info_->actual_port) };
   if (!config_->packet_type.empty())
   {
-    query["packet_type"] = config_->packet_type;
+    query.push_back(KV("packet_type", config_->packet_type));
   }
   auto resp = get_request("request_handle_udp", { "handle", "port" }, query);
   info_->handle = resp["handle"];
@@ -298,23 +298,23 @@ void PFSDPBase::get_scanoutput_config(const std::string& handle)
 
 bool PFSDPBase::update_scanoutput_config()
 {
-  param_map_type query = { KV("handle", info_->handle) };
+  param_vector_type query = { KV("handle", info_->handle) };
 
-  query.insert(KV("start_angle", config_->start_angle));
+  query.push_back(KV("start_angle", config_->start_angle));
   if (!config_->packet_type.empty())
   {
-    query.insert(KV("packet_type", config_->packet_type));
+    query.push_back(KV("packet_type", config_->packet_type));
   }
-  query.insert(KV("max_num_points_scan", config_->max_num_points_scan));
-  query.insert(KV("skip_scans", config_->skip_scans));
+  query.push_back(KV("max_num_points_scan", config_->max_num_points_scan));
+  query.push_back(KV("skip_scans", config_->skip_scans));
   if (config_->watchdogtimeout != 0)
   {
-    query.insert(KV("watchdogtimeout", config_->watchdogtimeout));
+    query.push_back(KV("watchdogtimeout", config_->watchdogtimeout));
   }
   if (config_->watchdog == false)
   {
     /* Force watchdog off. Otherwise (if watchdog==true), use scanner default */
-    query.insert(KV("watchdog", "off"));
+    query.push_back(KV("watchdog", "off"));
   }
 
   auto resp = get_request("set_scanoutput_config", { "" }, query);
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ bool PFSDPBase::reconfig_callback_impl(const std::vector<rclcpp::Parameter>& par
     }
     else if (parameter.get_name() == "port")
     {
-      info_->port = parameter.value_to_string();
+      config_->port = parameter.as_int();
     }
     else if (parameter.get_name() == "transport")
     {
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/src/ros/ros_main.cpp b/src/pf_driver/src/ros/ros_main.cpp
index a198d67..b5b75da 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/src/ros/ros_main.cpp
+++ b/src/pf_driver/src/ros/ros_main.cpp
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
   std::string device;
   std::string transport_str;
   std::string scanner_ip;
-  std::string port("0"); /* 0 means: automatic */
   std::string topic("/scan");
   std::string frame_id("scanner_link");
   std::string packet_type; /* empty means: use scanner default */
@@ -55,7 +54,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     node->declare_parameter("port", port);
   }
   node->get_parameter("port", port);
-  RCLCPP_INFO(node->get_logger(), "port: %s", port.c_str());
+  RCLCPP_INFO(node->get_logger(), "port: %d", port);
 
   if (!node->has_parameter("start_angle"))
   {
@@ -143,9 +142,11 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
   info->handle_type = transport_str == "udp" ? HandleInfo::HANDLE_TYPE_UDP : HandleInfo::HANDLE_TYPE_TCP;
 
   info->hostname = node->get_parameter("scanner_ip").get_parameter_value().get<std::string>();
-  info->port = node->get_parameter("port").get_parameter_value().get<std::string>();
+  info->actual_port = -1;
 
   std::shared_ptr<ScanConfig> config = std::make_shared<ScanConfig>();
+
+  config->port = node->get_parameter("port").get_parameter_value().get<int>();
   config->start_angle = node->get_parameter("start_angle").get_parameter_value().get<int>();
   config->max_num_points_scan = node->get_parameter("max_num_points_scan").get_parameter_value().get<int>();
   config->skip_scans = node->get_parameter("skip_scans").get_parameter_value().get<int>();
diff --git a/src/pf_driver/tests/pipeline.cpp b/src/pf_driver/tests/pipeline.cpp
index b37ef57..a691314 100644
--- a/src/pf_driver/tests/pipeline.cpp
+++ b/src/pf_driver/tests/pipeline.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ TEST(PFPipeline_TestSuite, testPipelineReadWrite)
   bool net_fail = false;
 
   std::unique_ptr<Transport> transport = std::make_unique<TCPTransport>("127.0.0.1");
-  transport->set_port("1234");
+  transport->set_port(1234);
 
   if (transport->connect())
   {