diff --git a/samples/ipc/client.cpp b/samples/ipc/client.cpp
index 8c184d4d0b..4cabdc42cb 100644
--- a/samples/ipc/client.cpp
+++ b/samples/ipc/client.cpp
@@ -84,19 +84,24 @@ bool MyApp::OnInit()
 
     // Create a new client
     my_client = new MyClient;
-    the_connection = (MyConnection *)my_client->MakeConnection(hostName, server, "IPC TEST");
 
-    while ( !the_connection )
+    // suppress the log messages from MakeConnection()
     {
-        if ( wxMessageBox("Failed to make connection to server.\nRetry?",
-                          "Client Demo Error",
-                          wxICON_ERROR | wxYES_NO | wxCANCEL ) != wxYES )
-        {
-            // no server
-            return FALSE;
-        }
-
+        wxLogNull nolog;
         the_connection = (MyConnection *)my_client->MakeConnection(hostName, server, "IPC TEST");
+
+        while ( !the_connection )
+        {
+            if ( wxMessageBox("Failed to make connection to server.\nRetry?",
+                              "Client Demo Error",
+                              wxICON_ERROR | wxYES_NO | wxCANCEL ) != wxYES )
+            {
+                // no server
+                return FALSE;
+            }
+
+            the_connection = (MyConnection *)my_client->MakeConnection(hostName, server, "IPC TEST");
+        }
     }
 
     if (!the_connection->StartAdvise("Item"))
diff --git a/samples/sockets/client.cpp b/samples/sockets/client.cpp
index 5f68600702..58c140087c 100644
--- a/samples/sockets/client.cpp
+++ b/samples/sockets/client.cpp
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ void MyFrame::OnTest1(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
   m_text->AppendText(_("\n=== Test 1 begins ===\n"));
 
   // Tell the server which test we are running
-  char c = 0xBE;
+  int c = 0xBE;
   m_sock->Write(&c, 1);
 
   // Send some data and read it back. We know the size of the
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ void MyFrame::OnTest2(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
   m_text->AppendText(_("\n=== Test 2 begins ===\n"));
 
   // Tell the server which test we are running
-  char c = 0xCE;
+  int c = 0xCE;
   m_sock->Write(&c, 1);
 
   // Here we use ReadMsg and WriteMsg to send messages with
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ void MyFrame::OnTest3(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
   m_text->AppendText(_("\n=== Test 3 begins ===\n"));
 
   // Tell the server which test we are running
-  char c = 0xDE;
+  int c = 0xDE;
   m_sock->Write(&c, 1);
 
   // This test also is similar to the first one but it sends a