Question games not responding to game manager but output testing works

Hi - can someone please help? I had my setup working fine with the version 1 simtools. Since the V2 update, my rig does not respond to any games using the game manager. I'm using the racing Matt Arduino code with a 2 wiper motor setup and moto monster, just a basic standard rig.

When I do the output testing with the Game Engine - the sim responds just fine. I've read the guides and believe I have everything set up correctly - might just be missing something small... If someone has experienced a similar problem or might have an idea what's wrong - I would really appreciate some assistance.
Settings for serial output - Com5 |115200 | 8 data bits | parity - None | Stop bits - 1 | ... range - 8 | Output - Hex | Startup - L7RF7F | Output - L<Axis1a>R<Axis2a> (20ms) | Shutdown - L7FR7F.

As mentioned - communication is fine as the output testing responds. I have downloaded and correctly installed all the game plugins. Tried Dirt Rally, Project Cars 2, LFS and City Car driving. The seat does a little lurch when these games start - then nothing? This has me baffled and I'm really keen to get it running again. Please help.

Thanks - I'm reading through all the guides for about the tenth time Now my output testing doesn't work properly - the motors go to the full extent when I turn it on. What are the startup and shutdown HEX codes? I had my original rig working about 18 months back - it worked fine with V1 simtools. The rig was a bit heavy and I burnt out a motor. Shelved it for about a year.

I've since lightened the whole setup in the last 2 months. Now with version 2 - I'm having endless problems getting it working again. I'll post screenshots now. My setup is racingmat - based on "2DOF Motion Simulator with truck wiper motor playseat"

Even the virtual Axis don't work when running LFS. I'm fairly tech savvy and have done everything according to the instructions - this is really getting me very despondent and frustrated...

Ok - got the output testing working again Really strange - just updated to V2.3 - Before when I had L<Axis1a>R<Axis2a> it didn't respond and I tried L<Axis1>R<Axis2> - that's when it dived... Wit the update L<Axis1a>R<Axis2a> work again... Now I'll try getting the LFS to talk to it.

By the way - great work guys! This is really cool stuff and I've had lots of fun building and tweaking my rig. Very happy that I've got control of it again. Just need to get my Game Manager to talk to the Game Engine again.

Ok - please help with my game manager. Just won't communicate. I've added firewall and virus exceptions with Bitdefender...

Yes - I've tried all of that - tried LFS, PC2 and Dirt rally. Nothing Took lots of screenshots. Tuning center registers the output testing - as mentioned - got that working - so my racing rig is working fine. Something strange is up with the game manager. Tried running all in admin mode - disabled all virus and firewall settings - reinstalled game plugins? Hope you can help - really keen to try my lightened racing rig. Even managed to score an Audi S5 seat for it - which I gutted and fitted to a custom aluminum frame I made. Put a lot of work into the hardware - now the software isn't working. I work in IT and have tried everything - hopefully I'm overlooking something small.

That's going to be a bit tricky. But will give it a go - might only happen over the weekend though. In the interim - I found this post and tried the steps - without any joy sadly. Couldn't select the installation path though - however that's unlikely to have any effect. I did uninstall and reinstall though.
https://www.xsimulator.net/community/threads/games-manager-not-connecting.10918/

Update! Found the culprit. As you suspected, antivirus setting. I had disabled all settings in bitdefender, however found this one small hidden setting that didn't disable with the rest! In short - it's working now.

Thank you for all your prompt responses.

The problem with Bitdefender is that you cannot disable the entire application - I wasn't able to even kill it in task manager. As such I disabled all visible options and missed one small hidden setting.

It was the Port scan protection that caused all my headaches.
Protection > Firewall > Click Settings cog > Click Settings tab > Disable Port scan protection.
This stays on - even if you have disabled the firewall in the main settings page.
See the screenshot for details - hope this helps if anyone else encounters this problem.