diff --git a/.coveragerc b/.coveragerc
index e9bb799..281a4ad 100644
--- a/.coveragerc
+++ b/.coveragerc
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ exclude_lines =
     self.fail\(.*\)
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
     except ImportError:
-    pragma: no cover
+    skip coverage
 include =
     ./*
 omit =
diff --git a/simulators/acu/__init__.py b/simulators/acu/__init__.py
index 6e009b6..0b8abd1 100644
--- a/simulators/acu/__init__.py
+++ b/simulators/acu/__init__.py
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@ def __init__(self, sampling_time=default_sampling_time):
         self.command_threads = Queue()
 
         self.status = Array(c_char, 813)
-        self.status[0:4] = bytes(start_flag, 'raw_unicode_escape')
+        self.status[0:4] = bytes(start_flag, 'latin-1')
         self.status[4:8] = utils.uint_to_bytes(813)
-        self.status[-4:] = bytes(end_flag, 'raw_unicode_escape')
+        self.status[-4:] = bytes(end_flag, 'latin-1')
 
         subsystems = []
         subsystems.append(self.PS.update_status)
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ def system_stop(self):
                 command_thread.join()
             except Empty:
                 break
-        return '$server_shutdown%%%%%'
+        return super().system_stop()
 
     def _set_default(self):
         """This method resets the received command string to its default value.
diff --git a/simulators/acu/axis_status.py b/simulators/acu/axis_status.py
index 30981c7..9fabc50 100644
--- a/simulators/acu/axis_status.py
+++ b/simulators/acu/axis_status.py
@@ -1550,7 +1550,7 @@ def _validate_mode_command(self, mode_id, parameter_1, parameter_2):
         elif mode_id in [3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 52] and axis_state != 3:
             received_command_answer = 4
         elif mode_id == 15 and axis_state not in [0, 1]:
-            received_command_answer = 4  # pragma: no cover
+            received_command_answer = 4  # skip coverage
         elif mode_id == 50:
             if not self.stowPosOk:
                 received_command_answer = 4
diff --git a/simulators/acu/pointing_status.py b/simulators/acu/pointing_status.py
index be34b5a..abe5cc9 100644
--- a/simulators/acu/pointing_status.py
+++ b/simulators/acu/pointing_status.py
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 try:
     import numpy as np
-except ImportError as ex:  # pragma: no cover
+except ImportError as ex:  # skip coverage
     raise ImportError('The `numpy` package, required for the simulator'
         + ' to run, is missing!') from ex
 try:
     from scipy import interpolate
-except ImportError as ex:  # pragma: no cover
+except ImportError as ex:  # skip coverage
     raise ImportError('The `scipy` package, required for the simulator'
         + ' to run, is missing!') from ex
 from simulators import utils
diff --git a/simulators/gaia/__init__.py b/simulators/gaia/__init__.py
index a03796d..0132d8b 100644
--- a/simulators/gaia/__init__.py
+++ b/simulators/gaia/__init__.py
@@ -170,10 +170,7 @@ def _execute(self, msg):
 
     def _error(self, error_code):
         error_string = self.errors.get(error_code)
-        hex_string = codecs.encode(
-            error_string.encode('raw_unicode_escape'),
-            'hex'
-        )
+        hex_string = codecs.encode(error_string.encode('latin-1'), 'hex')
         retval = f'{self.header}ERROR({error_code})[{error_string}]'
         retval += f'({hex_string}) {self.cmd_id}{self.tail}'
         return retval
diff --git a/simulators/minor_servos/__init__.py b/simulators/minor_servos/__init__.py
index 5393ba5..51d9372 100644
--- a/simulators/minor_servos/__init__.py
+++ b/simulators/minor_servos/__init__.py
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 import os
 try:
     from numpy import sign
-except ImportError as ex:  # pragma: no cover
+except ImportError as ex:  # skip coverage
     raise ImportError('The `numpy` package, required for the simulator'
         + ' to run, is missing!') from ex
 try:
     from scipy.interpolate import splrep, splev
-except ImportError as ex:  # pragma: no cover
+except ImportError as ex:  # skip coverage
     raise ImportError('The `scipy` package, required for the simulator'
         + ' to run, is missing!') from ex
 from ctypes import c_bool, c_int
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.control = 1
         self.power = 1
         self.emergency = 2
-        self.gregorian_cap = Value(c_int, 0)
+        self.gregorian_cap = Value(c_int, 1)
         self.last_executed_command = 0
         self.servos = {
             'PFP': PFP(),
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ def system_stop(self):
                 self.cover_timer.join()
             except RuntimeError:
                 pass
-        return '$server_shutdown%%%%%'
+        return super().system_stop()
 
     @staticmethod
     def _update(stop, servos):
diff --git a/simulators/mscu/__init__.py b/simulators/mscu/__init__.py
index c09c6e3..eefd173 100644
--- a/simulators/mscu/__init__.py
+++ b/simulators/mscu/__init__.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def __del__(self):
     def system_stop(self):
         for servo in self.servos.values():
             servo.stop()
-        return '$server_shutdown%%%%%'
+        return super().system_stop()
 
     def system_setpos_NAK(self):
         self.setpos_NAK[1].value = True  # The SRP address
diff --git a/simulators/server.py b/simulators/server.py
index e6d4aed..3e4656f 100644
--- a/simulators/server.py
+++ b/simulators/server.py
@@ -57,11 +57,10 @@ def _execute_custom_command(self, msg_body):
         else:
             params = ()
         try:
-            method = getattr(self.system, name)
-            response = method(*params)
+            response = getattr(self.system, name)(*params)
             if isinstance(response, str):
                 self.socket.sendto(
-                    response.encode('raw_unicode_escape'),
+                    response.encode('latin-1'),
                     self.client_address
                 )
                 if response == '$server_shutdown%%%%%':
@@ -83,7 +82,7 @@ def setup(self):
             greet_msg = self.system.system_greet()
             if greet_msg:
                 self.socket.sendto(
-                    greet_msg.encode('raw_unicode_escape'),
+                    greet_msg.encode('latin-1'),
                     self.client_address
                 )
         else:  # UDP client
@@ -101,16 +100,14 @@ def handle(self):
         scenario (i.e. some error condition)."""
         if not self.connection_oriented:  # UDP client
             msg, self.socket = self.socket
-            msg = msg.decode('raw_unicode_escape')
-            msg += '\n'
+            msg += b'\n'
             self._handle(msg)
         else:  # TCP client
             while True:
                 try:
-                    msg = self.socket.recv(1)
+                    msg = self.socket.recv(1024)
                     if not msg:
                         break
-                    msg = msg.decode('raw_unicode_escape')
                     self._handle(msg)
                 except IOError:
                     break
@@ -126,6 +123,7 @@ def _handle(self, msg):
         """
         response = None
         for byte in msg:
+            byte = chr(byte)
             try:
                 response = self.system.parse(byte)
             except ValueError as ex:
@@ -136,9 +134,9 @@ def _handle(self, msg):
                 pass
             elif response and isinstance(response, str):
                 try:
-                    response = response.encode('raw_unicode_escape')
+                    response = response.encode('latin-1')
                     self.socket.sendto(response, self.client_address)
-                except IOError:  # pragma: no cover
+                except IOError:  # skip coverage
                     # Something went wrong while sending the response,
                     # probably the client was stopped without closing
                     # the connection
@@ -178,14 +176,14 @@ def handle(self):
         while True:
             try:
                 if msg:
-                    custom_msg = msg.decode('raw_unicode_escape')
+                    custom_msg = msg
                     msg = None
                 else:
                     custom_msg = self.socket.recv(1024)
-                    custom_msg = custom_msg.decode('raw_unicode_escape')
                 # Check if the client is sending a custom command
                 if not custom_msg:
                     break
+                custom_msg = custom_msg.decode('latin-1')
                 if (
                     custom_msg.startswith(self.custom_header)
                     and custom_msg.endswith(self.custom_tail)
@@ -387,15 +385,14 @@ def _send_stop(entry):
                         pass
                     sockobj.sendto(b'$system_stop%%%%%', address)
                     response = sockobj.recv(1024)
-                    response = response.decode('raw_unicode_escape')
-                    if response != '$server_shutdown%%%%%':  # pragma: no cover
+                    if response != b'$server_shutdown%%%%%':  # skip coverage
                         logging.warning(
                             '%s %s %s',
                             'The server did not answer with the',
                             '$server_shutdown%%%%% string!',
                             'The simulator might still be running!'
                         )
-                except Exception as ex:  # pragma: no cover
+                except Exception as ex:  # skip coverage
                     logging.debug(ex)
                 finally:
                     sockobj.close()
diff --git a/simulators/totalpower/__init__.py b/simulators/totalpower/__init__.py
index 13c4d4f..1295716 100644
--- a/simulators/totalpower/__init__.py
+++ b/simulators/totalpower/__init__.py
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ def _get_status(self, ascii_format=False):
         status += '111'
         status = binary_to_string(status)
         if not ascii_format:
-            return status.encode('raw_unicode_escape')
+            return status.encode('latin-1')
         else:
             return ''.join([hex(ord(c))[-2:] for c in status[::-1]])
 
diff --git a/simulators/utils.py b/simulators/utils.py
index 056fb5f..2741011 100644
--- a/simulators/utils.py
+++ b/simulators/utils.py
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ def binary_to_string(binary_string, little_endian=True):
     return binary_to_bytes(
         binary_string,
         little_endian
-    ).decode('raw_unicode_escape')
+    ).decode('latin-1')
 
 
 def bytes_to_int(byte_string, little_endian=True):
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ def string_to_int(string, little_endian=True):
     >>> string_to_int('hello', False)
     448378203247
     """
-    return bytes_to_int(string.encode('raw_unicode_escape'), little_endian)
+    return bytes_to_int(string.encode('latin-1'), little_endian)
 
 
 def bytes_to_binary(byte_string, little_endian=True):
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ def string_to_binary(string, little_endian=True):
     >>> string_to_binary('hi', little_endian=False)
     '0110100001101001'
     """
-    return bytes_to_binary(string.encode('raw_unicode_escape'), little_endian)
+    return bytes_to_binary(string.encode('latin-1'), little_endian)
 
 
 def bytes_to_uint(byte_string, little_endian=True):
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ def string_to_uint(string, little_endian=True):
     >>> string_to_uint('hi', little_endian=False)
     26729
     """
-    return bytes_to_uint(string.encode('raw_unicode_escape'), little_endian)
+    return bytes_to_uint(string.encode('latin-1'), little_endian)
 
 
 def real_to_binary(num, precision=1):
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ def real_to_string(num, precision=1, little_endian=True):
 
     binary_number = real_to_binary(num, precision)
     binary_number = binary_to_bytes(binary_number, little_endian=little_endian)
-    return binary_number.decode('raw_unicode_escape')
+    return binary_number.decode('latin-1')
 
 
 def bytes_to_real(bytes_real, precision=1, little_endian=True):
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ def string_to_real(string_real, precision=1, little_endian=True):
     >>> round(string_to_real('\x40\x7A\x25\x7D\x2E\x68\x51\x5D', 2, False), 2)
     418.34
     """
-    bytes_real = bytes(string_real, 'raw_unicode_escape')
+    bytes_real = bytes(string_real, 'latin-1')
     return bytes_to_real(bytes_real, precision, little_endian)
 
 
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ def int_to_string(val, n_bytes=4, little_endian=True):
         val,
         n_bytes,
         little_endian
-    ).decode('raw_unicode_escape')
+    ).decode('latin-1')
 
 
 def uint_to_bytes(val, n_bytes=4, little_endian=True):
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ def uint_to_string(val, n_bytes=4, little_endian=True):
         val,
         n_bytes,
         little_endian
-    ).decode('raw_unicode_escape')
+    ).decode('latin-1')
 
 
 def sign(number):
diff --git a/tests/test_acu.py b/tests/test_acu.py
index fa4166f..56c1068 100644
--- a/tests/test_acu.py
+++ b/tests/test_acu.py
@@ -2215,8 +2215,8 @@ class TestACUSimulator(unittest.TestCase):
 
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
-        cls.start_flag = '\x1A\xCF\xFC\x1D'
-        cls.end_flag = '\xD1\xCF\xFC\xA1'
+        cls.start_flag = b'\x1A\xCF\xFC\x1D'
+        cls.end_flag = b'\xD1\xCF\xFC\xA1'
         cls.simulator = Simulator('acu')
         cls.simulator.start(daemon=True)
 
@@ -2230,7 +2230,6 @@ def test_different_statuses(self):
         prev = ''
         for _ in range(5):
             status = s.recv(1024)
-            status = status.decode('raw_unicode_escape')
             self.assertEqual(len(status), 813)
             self.assertEqual(status[0:4], self.start_flag)
             self.assertEqual(status[-4:], self.end_flag)
diff --git a/tests/test_minor_servos.py b/tests/test_minor_servos.py
index fa8190d..bcc8bcd 100644
--- a/tests/test_minor_servos.py
+++ b/tests/test_minor_servos.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def test_status(self):
         regex += r'CONTROL=1\|'
         regex += r'POWER=1\|'
         regex += r'EMERGENCY=2\|'
-        regex += r'GREGORIAN_CAP=0\|'
+        regex += r'GREGORIAN_CAP=1\|'
         regex += r'LAST_EXECUTED_COMMAND=0'
         regex += fr'{tail}$'
         for byte in cmd[:-1]:
diff --git a/tests/test_server.py b/tests/test_server.py
index 58bc524..5fc24fc 100644
--- a/tests/test_server.py
+++ b/tests/test_server.py
@@ -63,32 +63,32 @@ def test_wrong_greet_msg(self):
         with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
             get_response(
                 self.address,
-                greet_msg='Wrong greet message!',
+                greet_msg=b'Wrong greet message!',
             )
 
     def test_proper_request(self):
         response = get_response(
             self.address,
-            greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
-            msg='#command:a,b,c%%%%%'
+            greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
+            msg=b'#command:a,b,c%%%%%'
         )
-        self.assertEqual(response, 'aabbcc')
+        self.assertEqual(response, b'aabbcc')
 
     def test_wrong_request(self):
         """Wrong request but expected by the protocol"""
         response = get_response(
             self.address,
-            greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
-            msg='#wrong_command:foo%%%%%'
+            greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
+            msg=b'#wrong_command:foo%%%%%'
         )
-        self.assertRegex(response, 'you sent a wrong command')
+        self.assertRegex(response, b'you sent a wrong command')
 
     def test_value_error(self):
         """The message of ValueError in the logfile"""
         get_response(
             self.address,
-            greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
-            msg='#valueerror:%%%%%',
+            greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
+            msg=b'#valueerror:%%%%%',
             response=False
         )
         self.assertIn('unexpected value', get_logs())
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ def test_value_error(self):
     def test_unexpected_error(self):
         get_response(
             self.address,
-            greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
-            msg='#unexpected:%%%%%',
+            greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
+            msg=b'#unexpected:%%%%%',
             response=False
         )
         self.assertIn('unexpected exception', get_logs())
@@ -105,8 +105,8 @@ def test_unexpected_error(self):
     def test_unexpected_response(self):
         get_response(
             self.address,
-            greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
-            msg='#unexpected_response:%%%%%',
+            greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
+            msg=b'#unexpected_response:%%%%%',
             response=False
         )
         self.assertIn('unexpected response: 0.0', get_logs())
@@ -114,18 +114,18 @@ def test_unexpected_response(self):
     def test_custom_command_with_parameters(self):
         response = get_response(
             self.address,
-            greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
-            msg='$custom_command:a,b,c%%%%%'
+            greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
+            msg=b'$custom_command:a,b,c%%%%%'
         )
-        self.assertRegex(response, 'ok_abc')
+        self.assertRegex(response, b'ok_abc')
 
     def test_custom_command_without_parameters(self):
         response = get_response(
             self.address,
-            greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
-            msg='$custom_command%%%%%'
+            greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
+            msg=b'$custom_command%%%%%'
         )
-        self.assertRegex(response, 'no_params')
+        self.assertRegex(response, b'no_params')
 
 
 class TestListeningUDPServer(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -151,44 +151,44 @@ def tearDown(self):
     def test_proper_request(self):
         response = get_response(
             self.address,
-            msg='#command:a,b,c%%%%%',
+            msg=b'#command:a,b,c%%%%%',
             udp=True
         )
-        self.assertEqual(response, 'aabbcc')
+        self.assertEqual(response, b'aabbcc')
 
     def test_wrong_request(self):
         """Wrong request but expected by the protocol"""
         response = get_response(
-            self.address, msg='#wrong_command:foo%%%%%', udp=True
+            self.address, msg=b'#wrong_command:foo%%%%%', udp=True
         )
-        self.assertRegex(response, 'you sent a wrong command')
+        self.assertRegex(response, b'you sent a wrong command')
 
     def test_value_error(self):
         """The message of ValueError in the logfile"""
         get_response(
-            self.address, msg='#valueerror:%%%%%', response=False, udp=True
+            self.address, msg=b'#valueerror:%%%%%', response=False, udp=True
         )
         self.assertIn('unexpected value', get_logs())
 
     def test_unexpected_error(self):
         get_response(
-            self.address, msg='#unexpected:%%%%%', response=False, udp=True
+            self.address, msg=b'#unexpected:%%%%%', response=False, udp=True
         )
         self.assertIn('unexpected exception', get_logs())
 
     def test_custom_command_with_parameters(self):
         response = get_response(
-            self.address, msg='$custom_command:a,b,c%%%%%', udp=True
+            self.address, msg=b'$custom_command:a,b,c%%%%%', udp=True
         )
-        self.assertRegex(response, 'ok_abc')
+        self.assertRegex(response, b'ok_abc')
 
     def test_custom_command_without_parameters(self):
         response = get_response(
             self.address,
-            msg='$custom_command%%%%%',
+            msg=b'$custom_command%%%%%',
             udp=True
         )
-        self.assertRegex(response, 'no_params')
+        self.assertRegex(response, b'no_params')
 
 
 class TestSendingServer(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -213,14 +213,18 @@ def tearDown(self):
 
     def test_get_message(self):
         response = get_response(self.address)
-        self.assertEqual(response, 'message')
+        self.assertEqual(response, b'message')
 
     def test_unknown_command(self):
-        get_response(self.address, msg='$unknown%%%%%', response=False)
+        get_response(self.address, msg=b'$unknown%%%%%', response=False)
         self.assertIn('command unknown not supported', get_logs())
 
     def test_raise_exception(self):
-        get_response(self.address, msg='$raise_exception%%%%%', response=False)
+        get_response(
+            self.address,
+            msg=b'$raise_exception%%%%%',
+            response=False
+        )
         self.assertIn(
             'unexpected exception raised by sendingtestsystem', get_logs()
         )
@@ -248,12 +252,12 @@ def tearDown(self):
 
     def test_get_message(self):
         response = get_response(self.address, udp=True)
-        self.assertEqual(response, 'message')
+        self.assertEqual(response, b'message')
 
     def test_unknown_command(self):
         get_response(
             self.address,
-            msg='$unknown%%%%%',
+            msg=b'$unknown%%%%%',
             response=False,
             udp=True
         )
@@ -261,7 +265,10 @@ def test_unknown_command(self):
 
     def test_raise_exception(self):
         get_response(
-            self.address, msg='$raise_exception%%%%%', response=False, udp=True
+            self.address,
+            msg=b'$raise_exception%%%%%',
+            response=False,
+            udp=True
         )
         self.assertIn(
             'unexpected exception raised by sendingtestsystem', get_logs()
@@ -293,50 +300,50 @@ def tearDown(self):
     def test_proper_request(self):
         response = get_response(
             self.l_address,
-            greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
-            msg='#command:a,b,c%%%%%'
+            greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
+            msg=b'#command:a,b,c%%%%%'
         )
-        self.assertEqual(response, 'aabbcc')
+        self.assertEqual(response, b'aabbcc')
 
     def test_wrong_request(self):
         """Wrong request but expected by the protocol"""
         response = get_response(
             self.l_address,
-            greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
-            msg='#wrong_command:foo%%%%%'
+            greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
+            msg=b'#wrong_command:foo%%%%%'
         )
-        self.assertRegex(response, 'you sent a wrong command')
+        self.assertRegex(response, b'you sent a wrong command')
 
     def test_custom_command_with_parameters(self):
         response = get_response(
             self.l_address,
-            greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
-            msg='$custom_command:a,b,c%%%%%'
+            greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
+            msg=b'$custom_command:a,b,c%%%%%'
         )
-        self.assertRegex(response, 'ok_abc')
+        self.assertRegex(response, b'ok_abc')
 
     def test_custom_command_without_parameters(self):
         response = get_response(
             self.l_address,
-            greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
-            msg='$custom_command%%%%%'
+            greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
+            msg=b'$custom_command%%%%%'
         )
-        self.assertRegex(response, 'no_params')
+        self.assertRegex(response, b'no_params')
 
     def test_get_message(self):
         response = get_response(self.s_address)
-        self.assertEqual(response, 'message')
+        self.assertEqual(response, b'message')
 
     def test_last_cmd(self):
-        message = '#test:1,2,3%%%%%'
+        message = b'#test:1,2,3%%%%%'
         l_response = get_response(
             self.l_address,
-            greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
+            greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
             msg=message
         )
-        self.assertEqual(l_response, '112233')
+        self.assertEqual(l_response, b'112233')
         s_response = get_response(self.s_address)
-        self.assertEqual(s_response, message[1:].strip('%'))
+        self.assertEqual(s_response, message[1:].strip(b'%'))
 
 
 class TestDuplexUDPServer(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -363,41 +370,41 @@ def tearDown(self):
 
     def test_proper_request(self):
         response = get_response(
-            self.l_address, msg='#command:a,b,c%%%%%', udp=True
+            self.l_address, msg=b'#command:a,b,c%%%%%', udp=True
         )
-        self.assertEqual(response, 'aabbcc')
+        self.assertEqual(response, b'aabbcc')
 
     def test_wrong_request(self):
         """Wrong request but expected by the protocol"""
         response = get_response(
-            self.l_address, msg='#wrong_command:foo%%%%%', udp=True
+            self.l_address, msg=b'#wrong_command:foo%%%%%', udp=True
         )
-        self.assertRegex(response, 'you sent a wrong command')
+        self.assertRegex(response, b'you sent a wrong command')
 
     def test_custom_command_with_parameters(self):
         response = get_response(
             self.l_address,
-            msg='$custom_command:a,b,c%%%%%',
+            msg=b'$custom_command:a,b,c%%%%%',
             udp=True
         )
-        self.assertRegex(response, 'ok_abc')
+        self.assertRegex(response, b'ok_abc')
 
     def test_custom_command_without_parameters(self):
         response = get_response(
-            self.l_address, msg='$custom_command%%%%%', udp=True
+            self.l_address, msg=b'$custom_command%%%%%', udp=True
         )
-        self.assertRegex(response, 'no_params')
+        self.assertRegex(response, b'no_params')
 
     def test_get_message(self):
         response = get_response(self.s_address, udp=True)
-        self.assertEqual(response, 'message')
+        self.assertEqual(response, b'message')
 
     def test_last_cmd(self):
-        message = '#test:1,2,3%%%%%'
+        message = b'#test:1,2,3%%%%%'
         l_response = get_response(self.l_address, msg=message, udp=True)
-        self.assertEqual(l_response, '112233')
+        self.assertEqual(l_response, b'112233')
         s_response = get_response(self.s_address, udp=True)
-        self.assertEqual(s_response, message[1:].strip('%'))
+        self.assertEqual(s_response, message[1:].strip(b'%'))
 
 
 class TestServerVarious(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -415,10 +422,10 @@ def test_server_shutdown(self):
         def shutdown(self):
             response = get_response(
                 address,
-                greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
-                msg='$system_stop%%%%%'
+                greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
+                msg=b'$system_stop%%%%%'
             )
-            self.assertEqual(response, '$server_shutdown%%%%%')
+            self.assertEqual(response, b'$server_shutdown%%%%%')
 
         t = Timer(0.01, shutdown, args=(self,))
         t.start()
@@ -509,10 +516,10 @@ def test_start_and_stop_listening(self):
 
         response = get_response(
             address,
-            greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
-            msg='#command:a,b,c%%%%%'
+            greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
+            msg=b'#command:a,b,c%%%%%'
         )
-        self.assertEqual(response, 'aabbcc')
+        self.assertEqual(response, b'aabbcc')
 
         simulator.stop()
 
@@ -525,7 +532,7 @@ def test_start_and_stop_sending(self):
         simulator.start(daemon=True)
 
         response = get_response(address)
-        self.assertEqual(response, 'message')
+        self.assertEqual(response, b'message')
 
         simulator.stop()
 
@@ -540,12 +547,12 @@ def test_start_and_stop_duplex(self):
 
         l_response = get_response(
             l_addr,
-            greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
-            msg='#command:a,b,c%%%%%'
+            greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
+            msg=b'#command:a,b,c%%%%%'
         )
-        self.assertEqual(l_response, 'aabbcc')
+        self.assertEqual(l_response, b'aabbcc')
         s_response = get_response(s_addr)
-        self.assertEqual(s_response, 'command:a,b,c')
+        self.assertEqual(s_response, b'command:a,b,c')
 
         simulator.stop()
 
@@ -567,12 +574,12 @@ def test_non_daemon_simulator(self):
         def shutdown(self):
             response = get_response(
                 l_addr,
-                greet_msg='This is a greeting message!',
-                msg='$system_stop%%%%%'
+                greet_msg=b'This is a greeting message!',
+                msg=b'$system_stop%%%%%'
             )
-            self.assertEqual(response, '$server_shutdown%%%%%')
-            response = get_response(s_addr, msg='$system_stop%%%%%')
-            self.assertEqual(response, '$server_shutdown%%%%%')
+            self.assertEqual(response, b'$server_shutdown%%%%%')
+            response = get_response(s_addr, msg=b'$system_stop%%%%%')
+            self.assertEqual(response, b'$server_shutdown%%%%%')
 
         t = Timer(0.01, shutdown, args=(self,))
         t.start()
@@ -587,11 +594,11 @@ def get_response(
         timeout=2.0,
         response=True,
         udp=False):
-    retval = ''
+    retval = b''
     if udp:
         socket_type = socket.SOCK_DGRAM
         if not msg:
-            msg = ''
+            msg = b''
     else:
         socket_type = socket.SOCK_STREAM
     with socket_context(socket.AF_INET, socket_type) as sock:
@@ -599,14 +606,15 @@ def get_response(
         sock.connect(server_address)
         if greet_msg:
             greeting = sock.recv(len(greet_msg))
-            greeting = greeting.decode('raw_unicode_escape')
             if greeting != greet_msg:
                 raise ValueError
-        if isinstance(msg, str):
-            msg = msg.encode('raw_unicode_escape')
-            sock.sendto(msg, server_address)
+        if isinstance(msg, bytes):
+            sock.sendall(msg)
         if response:
-            retval = sock.recv(1024).decode('raw_unicode_escape')
+            try:
+                retval = sock.recv(1024)
+            except socket.timeout:
+                pass
     return retval
 
 
@@ -615,22 +623,20 @@ def get_logs():
     filename = os.path.join(os.getenv('ACSDATA', ''), 'sim-server.log')
     logs = []
     with open(filename, mode='rb') as f:
-        f.seek(0, os.SEEK_END)
-        # read last 3 lines with current process ID
         buffer_string = ''
-        while len(logs) <= 3:
+        f.seek(0, os.SEEK_END)
+        while len(logs) < 3:
             try:
                 f.seek(-2, os.SEEK_CUR)
                 buffer_string += f.read(1).decode('utf-8')
             except OSError:
-                if buffer_string:
-                    buffer_string += '\n'
-                else:
-                    break
+                break
             if buffer_string.endswith('\n'):
-                buffer_string = buffer_string.strip()[::-1].split()
-                if str(os.getpid()) in buffer_string[2]:
-                    logs.append(' '.join(buffer_string[3:]))
+                log = buffer_string[:-1][::-1]
+                pid = str(os.getpid())
+                index = log.find(pid)
+                if index != -1:
+                    logs.append(log[index + len(pid) + 1:])
                     buffer_string = ''
     return logs
 
@@ -657,7 +663,7 @@ def parse(self, byte):
             if self.msg.endswith(self.tail):
                 self.msg = self.msg.lstrip(self.header)
                 self.msg = self.msg.rstrip(self.tail)
-                self.last_cmd.value = bytes(self.msg, 'raw_unicode_escape')
+                self.last_cmd.value = self.msg.encode('utf-8')
                 name, params_str = self.msg.split(':')
                 self.msg = ''
                 if name == 'wrong_command':
@@ -695,7 +701,7 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
             getattr(self, 'last_cmd')
         except AttributeError:
             self.last_cmd = Array(c_char, b'\x00' * 50)
-        self.last_cmd.value = 'message'.encode('raw_unicode_escape')
+        self.last_cmd.value = b'message'
         self.t = None
 
     def subscribe(self, q):