diff --git a/python/radio.py b/python/radio.py
index d5f27b8..fe55686 100644
--- a/python/radio.py
+++ b/python/radio.py
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ class modes_radio (gr.top_block):
     self._sender = air_modes.zmq_pubsub_iface(context, subaddr=None, pubaddr="inproc://modes-radio-pub")
     self._async_sender = gru.msgq_runner(self._queue, self.send)
 
-  def send(self, data):
-    self._sender["dl_data"] = data
+  def send(self, msg):
+    self._sender["dl_data"] = msg.to_string()
 
   @staticmethod
   def add_radio_options(parser):
diff --git a/python/zmq_socket.py b/python/zmq_socket.py
index 885f144..495617f 100644
--- a/python/zmq_socket.py
+++ b/python/zmq_socket.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class zmq_pubsub_iface(threading.Thread):
         if not self._pubaddr:
             raise Exception("No publisher address set")
         if not self.shutdown.is_set():
-            self._queue.put([key, val.to_string()]) #TODO FIXME MSGQ
+            self._queue.put([key, val])
 
     def __getitem__(self, key):
         return self._pubsub[key]
@@ -97,9 +97,9 @@ class zmq_pubsub_iface(threading.Thread):
             #snooze
             time.sleep(0.1)
 
+        #one more send loop to clean up on shutdown
         while not self._queue.empty():
             self._pubsocket.send_multipart(self._queue.get())
-                
 
         self._subsocket.close()
         self._pubsocket.close()