A surgical instrument system, comprising: a surgical instrument, comprising: a receiver configured to receive a communication signal; a controller configured to determine whether the entirety of said communication signal has been received by said receiver; and an end effector attachable to said surgical instrument, wherein said end effector comprises a transmitter configured to emit said communication signal which sequentially includes a start bit, a first stored datum regarding a first parameter of said end effector, a second stored datum regarding a second parameter of said end effector, and an end bit, wherein said controller is configured to identify said start bit and said end bit, and wherein said controller is configured to generate an error response if at least one of said start bit and said end bit are not identified; wherein said end effector further comprises a stored checksum value, and wherein said surgical instrument receives said stored checksum value via said receiver; wherein said controller is configured to calculate a checksum value from said first stored datum and said second stored datum and to compare said calculated checksum value to said stored checksum value; and wherein said controller is configured to: operate said surgical instrument in accordance with said first stored datum and said second stored datum if said calculated checksum value equals said stored checksum value; and operate said surgical instrument in accordance with a default operating program for firing the surgical instrument if said calculated checksum value does not equal said stored checksum value. a surgical instrument, comprising: a receiver configured to receive a communication signal; a controller configured to determine whether the entirety of said communication signal has been received by said receiver; and a receiver configured to receive a communication signal; a controller configured to determine whether the entirety of said communication signal has been received by said receiver; and an end effector attachable to said surgical instrument, wherein said end effector comprises a transmitter configured to emit said communication signal which sequentially includes a start bit, a first stored datum regarding a first parameter of said end effector, a second stored datum regarding a second parameter of said end effector, and an end bit, wherein said controller is configured to identify said start bit and said end bit, and wherein said controller is configured to generate an error response if at least one of said start bit and said end bit are not identified; wherein said end effector further comprises a stored checksum value, and wherein said surgical instrument receives said stored checksum value via said receiver; wherein said controller is configured to calculate a checksum value from said first stored datum and said second stored datum and to compare said calculated checksum value to said stored checksum value; and wherein said controller is configured to: operate said surgical instrument in accordance with said first stored datum and said second stored datum if said calculated checksum value equals said stored checksum value; and operate said surgical instrument in accordance with a default operating program for firing the surgical instrument if said calculated checksum value does not equal said stored checksum value. operate said surgical instrument in accordance with said first stored datum and said second stored datum if said calculated checksum value equals said stored checksum value; and operate said surgical instrument in accordance with a default operating program for firing the surgical instrument if said calculated checksum value does not equal said stored checksum value.