Using serial ports for more than debug problems

Using r54473 boot dbg I have these problems:

1) Can't open COM1 even when ReactOS is started normally. In that case COM1 should be closed and available to user programs but isn't?

2) Can open COM2 and can also send characters out the COM1 port. You read that right. I open COM2 but I have to put my cable on COM1.

3) Characters sent by another PC are not received via COM2.

On an earlier boot rel version item #3 was not a problem. So on a rel version I can probably send and receive OK using COM2 (and the COM1 connector).

I understand the rel builder is down but as soon as it is up again I will try a new trunk build to verify item #3 is indeed not a problem on the rel build.

I've used log to disk debugging but not much goes into the log:
(ntoskrnl/mm/ARM3/sysldr.c:174) Loading: \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\serial.sys at FA0E2000 with 13 pages
and
(drivers/serial/serial/devctrl.c:697) IOCTL_SERIAL_SET_HANDFLOW not implemented.
(drivers/serial/serial/devctrl.c:655) IOCTL_SERIAL_SET_CHARS not implemented.