diff --git a/plugins/firEmergency/firEmergency.py b/plugins/firEmergency/firEmergency.py
index ef46938..a70d86e 100644
--- a/plugins/firEmergency/firEmergency.py
+++ b/plugins/firEmergency/firEmergency.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ def run(typ,freq,data):
 					logging.debug("ZVEI to firEmergency")
 					try:
 							firXML = "<event>\n<address>"+data["zvei"]+"</address>\n<message>"+data["zvei"]+" alarmiert.</message>\n</event>\n"
-							firSocket.send(firXML.encode('utf-8'))
+							firSocket.send(firXML)
 					except:
 							logging.error("%s to firEmergency failed", typ)
 							logging.debug("%s to firEmergency failed", typ, exc_info=True)
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def run(typ,freq,data):
 					logging.debug("POC to firEmergency")
 					try:
 							firXML = "<event>\n<address>"+data["ric"]+"</address>\n<message>"+data["msg"]+"</message>\n</event>\n"
-							firSocket.send(firXML.encode('utf-8'))
+							firSocket.send(firXML)
 					except:
 							logging.error("%s to firEmergency failed", typ)
 							logging.debug("%s to firEmergency failed", typ, exc_info=True)
diff --git a/testdata/testdata.txt b/testdata/testdata.txt
index acd6c88..6f121c7 100644
--- a/testdata/testdata.txt
+++ b/testdata/testdata.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Testdata for the BOSWatch Test Mode function
+# Testdata for the BOSWatch Test Mode function
 # Data in Multimon-NG Raw Format
 # Data is alternately passed to the decoder to simulate an used Radio-Frequency
 
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 #
 
 # bitrate
-POCSAG512: Address: 1000512  Function: 1  Alpha:   BOSWatch-Test: okay
+POCSAG512: Address: 1000512  Function: 1  Alpha:   BOSWatch-Test ÖÄÜß: okay
 POCSAG1200: Address: 1001200  Function: 1  Alpha:   BOSWatch-Test: okay
 POCSAG2400: Address: 1002400  Function: 1  Alpha:   BOSWatch-Test: okay
 
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ POCSAG512: Address: 1000001  Function: 1  Alpha:   BOSWatch-Test: okay
 POCSAG512: Address: 1000002  Function: 2  Alpha:   BOSWatch-Test: okay
 POCSAG512: Address: 1000003  Function: 3  Alpha:   BOSWatch-Test: okay
 
+# german special sign
+POCSAG512: Address: 1200001  Function: 1  Alpha:   BOSWatch-Test ÖÄÜß: okay
+POCSAG512: Address: 1200001  Function: 1  Alpha:   BOSWatch-Test öäü: okay
+
 # witch csv
 POCSAG512: Address: 1234567  Function: 1  Alpha:   BOSWatch-Test: with csv