Some garbled serial comms from Micro:bit

Question

My Serial writes are garbled when sent out to TeraTerm terminal program but Ok when viewed on the Serial monitor. Characters get dropped. This is quite useless as I want my class to receive the data in Python on the PC. I get this in both micro:bit Python editor and MS Makecode. I have used different micro:bits on different PCs, same result. 
 I tried Mu Editor and the micro:bit sends data across the serial port perfectly. I'm using V2. Is there an issue with the firmware used by MS Makecode and micro:bit Python editor? 
 I wrote a short Python program to read the serial port on the PC and I get the same results as with TeraTerm i.e. dropped characters, about 10% only, no major garbling.

pmulvey · Answer

Finally an answer: 
 
 Thanks for contacting the Micro:bit Educational Foundation. 
 
 When a WebUSB connection is used to send a program directly to micro:bit, MakeCode and the Python Editor stay connected and ready for incoming serial data. 
 
 With a serial terminal program connected, for some reason an occasional character still finds it's way to WebUSB. 
 ​ 
 Use the three dots menu on the Download/send to micro:bit button to Disconnect, or close the WebUSB connected browser tab. 
 ​ 
 I have found this easy to forget. It's taken a while, but I finally now do think "shut MakeCode" when serial is misbehaving! 
 
 For the same reason, having more than one tab with MakeCode or the Python Editor open can lead to errors.

Some garbled serial comms from Micro:bit

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