diff --git a/instruments/abstract_instruments/comm/serial_communicator.py b/instruments/abstract_instruments/comm/serial_communicator.py
index 02b88f23c..1cdf31f5e 100644
--- a/instruments/abstract_instruments/comm/serial_communicator.py
+++ b/instruments/abstract_instruments/comm/serial_communicator.py
@@ -34,7 +34,13 @@ class SerialCommunicator(io.IOBase, AbstractCommunicator):
     def __init__(self, conn):
         super(SerialCommunicator, self).__init__(self)
 
-        if isinstance(conn, serial.Serial):
+        allowed_bases = (serial.Serial, )
+        try:
+            allowed_bases += (serial.serialutil.SerialBase, )
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+
+        if isinstance(conn, allowed_bases):
             self._conn = conn
             self._terminator = "\n"
             self._debug = False
@@ -172,8 +178,10 @@ def _sendcmd(self, msg):
 
         :param str msg: The command message to send to the instrument
         """
-        msg += self._terminator
-        self.write(msg)
+
+        message = msg.decode(encoding='UTF-8')
+        message += self._terminator
+        self.write(message)
 
     def _query(self, msg, size=-1):
         """
diff --git a/instruments/abstract_instruments/instrument.py b/instruments/abstract_instruments/instrument.py
index 0e791142f..2e6b2b4ff 100644
--- a/instruments/abstract_instruments/instrument.py
+++ b/instruments/abstract_instruments/instrument.py
@@ -15,9 +15,10 @@
 import os
 import collections
 import socket
+import serial
 
 from builtins import map
-from serial import SerialException
+from serial import SerialException 
 from serial.tools.list_ports import comports
 
 from future.standard_library import install_aliases
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ class WindowsError(OSError):
 from instruments.abstract_instruments.comm import (
     SocketCommunicator, USBCommunicator, VisaCommunicator, FileCommunicator,
     LoopbackCommunicator, GPIBCommunicator, AbstractCommunicator,
-    USBTMCCommunicator, VXI11Communicator, serial_manager
+    USBTMCCommunicator, VXI11Communicator, serial_manager, SerialCommunicator
 )
 from instruments.errors import AcknowledgementError, PromptError
 
@@ -524,6 +525,26 @@ def open_serial(cls, port=None, baud=9600, vid=None, pid=None,
         )
         return cls(ser)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def open_serial_remote(cls, url=None, baud=115200, dsrdtr=False, rtscts=False,
+                    xonxoff = True, timeout=3):
+        """
+        This method follows updates in the API for PySerial so that IK can use the new 
+        serial.serial_for_url constuctor for serial devices.
+        TODO: Finish me
+        """
+        # baudrate=9600, bytesize=8, parity='N', stopbits=1, timeout=None, xonxoff=False, rtscts=False, dsrdtr=False
+        #Should put in parsing to check for valid URL?
+        ser = serial.serial_for_url(
+            url, 
+            baudrate=baud,
+            timeout=timeout,
+            xonxoff=xonxoff, 
+            rtscts=rtscts, 
+            dsrdtr=dsrdtr
+        )
+        return cls(SerialCommunicator(ser))
+
     @classmethod
     def open_gpibusb(cls, port, gpib_address, timeout=3, write_timeout=3):
         """
diff --git a/instruments/thorlabs/thorlabsapt.py b/instruments/thorlabs/thorlabsapt.py
index d79ab01ad..06f24740d 100644
--- a/instruments/thorlabs/thorlabsapt.py
+++ b/instruments/thorlabs/thorlabsapt.py
@@ -474,7 +474,8 @@ class MotorChannel(ThorLabsAPT.APTChannel):
                 'DRV113': (pq.Quantity(20480, 'ct/mm'),) * 3,
                 'DRV114': (pq.Quantity(20480, 'ct/mm'),) * 3,
                 'FW103':  (pq.Quantity(25600 / 360, 'ct/deg'),) * 3,
-                'NR360':  (pq.Quantity(25600 / 5.4546, 'ct/deg'),) * 3
+                'NR360':  (pq.Quantity(25600 / 5.4546, 'ct/deg'),) * 3,
+                'PRM1-Z8': (pq.Quantity(1919.64 / 360 ,'ct/deg'),) * 3
             },
             # TODO: add other tables here.
         }