diff --git a/LedD/controller.py b/LedD/controller.py
index 11b3973..50b4b39 100644
--- a/LedD/controller.py
+++ b/LedD/controller.py
@@ -1,3 +1,25 @@
+import smbus
+
+PCA9685_SUBADR1 = 0x2
+PCA9685_SUBADR2 = 0x3
+PCA9685_SUBADR3 = 0x4
+
+PCA9685_MODE1 = 0x00
+PCA9685_MODE2 = 0x01
+PCA9685_PRESCALE = 0xFE
+PCA9685_RESET = 0xFE
+
+LED0_ON_L = 0x06
+LED0_ON_H = 0x07
+LED0_OFF_L = 0x08
+LED0_OFF_H = 0x09
+
+ALLLED_ON_L = 0xFA
+ALLLED_ON_H = 0xFB
+ALLLED_OFF_L = 0xFC
+ALLLED_OFF_H = 0xFD
+
+
 class Controller:
     """
     A controller controls a number of stripes.
@@ -22,6 +44,7 @@ class Controller:
         self.pwm_freq = pwm_freq
         self.channels = channels
         self.i2c_device = i2c_device
+        self.bus = smbus.SMBus(i2c_device)
         self.address = address
         self.id = cid
         self.db = db
@@ -36,6 +59,13 @@ class Controller:
     def __repr__(self):
         return "<Controller stripes={} cid={}>".format(len(self.stripes), self.id)
 
+    def set_channel(self, channel, val):
+        self.bus.write_word_data(self.address, LED0_OFF_L + 4 * channel, val*4095)
+        self.bus.write_word_data(self.address, LED0_ON_L + 4 * channel, 0)
+
+    def get_channel(self, channel):
+        return self.bus.read_word_data(self.address, LED0_OFF_L + 4 * channel)
+
 
 class Stripe:
     """
diff --git a/LedD/daemon.py b/LedD/daemon.py
index e92f41d..b856408 100644
--- a/LedD/daemon.py
+++ b/LedD/daemon.py
@@ -90,9 +90,10 @@ class Daemon:
         def handle_read(self):
             data = self.recv(5120)
             if data:
+                print(data)
                 try:
-                    json.dumps(data, sort_keys=True, indent=4, separators=(',', ': '))
-                    json_decoded = json.loads(data)
+                    json_decoded = json.loads(data.decode())
+                    print(json.dumps(json_decoded, sort_keys=True, indent=4, separators=(',', ': ')))
 
                     if "action" in json_decoded:
                         if json_decoded['action'] == "set_color":
@@ -104,10 +105,11 @@ class Daemon:
                         elif json_decoded['action'] == "get_color":
                             # TODO: add stripe color get logic
                             print("recieved action: {}".format(json_decoded['action']))
-                except TypeError:
-                    print("No JSON found!")
-                else:
-                    print("no action found, ignoring")
+                    else:
+                        print("no action found, ignoring")
+                except (TypeError, ValueError):
+                    print("No valid JSON found!")
+
 
     class SocketServer(asyncore.dispatcher):
         def __init__(self, host, port):