Putting RX TX LEDs on a shield

I've been messing with some proto shields lately and it irks me that I can't see the RX/TX leds on the main board. I've been searching and found some folks just place led's on the RX/TX pins to ground. I tried this and noticed that the TX led glows dimly all the time and the RX led glows brightly. I tested uploading/running a couple of sketches and it works fine plus they blink.

Seems like there would be more info on such a simple thing but I can't find much.

Thanks.

I tried this and noticed that the TX led glows dimly all the time and the RX led glows brightly

Yes they will, what series resistor are you using?
Wire the LEDs from +5V anode, cathode to resistor, resistor to pin.

Thanks!

I'm using 1K resistors and tested with cathode to resistor to ground and anode to pin. I saw something about the method you describe but was a little freaked about connecting voltage to the pin.

What series resistors should I use?

Well 1K is good if it is bright enough.

Thanks a bunch!

A 1k on the red and a 470 on the green looks good.

I guess with the anode and cathodes changed from my original setup it just changed from monitoring when the pins were high to monitoring when they are low?

Yes that is better because the lines sit high when there is no traffic on them.