For the AT89LP4052 - can't seem to get it to RX - RS232 but according to bible code is correct. What am I missing?

I can send the 9600 baud code to a printer and it prints correctly - but when trying to decode that same 9600 baud
with this board it doesn't see it.
Also set a spare port pin to emulate what RI is doing and it is always high - never goes low.

;
;***************************
;**ENABLE SERIAL INTERRUPT**
;***************************
;
;
MOV SCON,#50H ;SERIAL MODE 1
MOV TMOD,#20H
MOV TH1,#253D ;RELOAD VALUE FOR 9600 BAUD
CLR RI ;READY TO RECEIVE
CLR TI ;READY TO XMIT NOT USED
SETB TR1 ;TIMER1 ON
;
;
MAINPGM:CALL ALLOFF ;ALL A6821 OUTPUTS SET OFF
;
MAIJJ: JB RI,SERIN ;WAIT FOR CPU RX FLAG
;
;
JMP MAIJJ
;
SERIN: CALL SDATAIN
JMP MAIJJ
;
;BELOW ABBREVIATED FOR SIMPLICITY
;
SDATAIN:MOV A,SBUF
CLR RI
CJNE A,#2AH,NOT_AST
JNB RI,$
MOV A,SBUF
CLR RI
CJNE A,#4EH,NOT_N
RET