UART only returns the same character

I am trying to create a program that contains UART using the PIC18f25j50 device. I have attached my creation so far which is a simple program that outputs a single character repeatedly to the console of a PC. The problem is the console displays a different character (þ~) to the selected one. This character stays the same despite the character that is selected changing (e.g “M” -> “þ~”, “g” -> “þ~”).

My thinking is that it something to do with the clock or the baud rate but I can’t see any error. I have a 8MHz crystal connected and the fuses are set so that there is no PLL. The baud rate equation is correct given that I desire the peripheral to be asynchronous, 8-bit and low speed (P.327 of the linked datasheet).

Would anyone have any idea where the mistake is or have ideas to try to fix this?

#include <xc.h>

#pragma config WDTEN = OFF  // Watchdog Timer (Disabled - Controlled by SWDTEN bit)
#pragma config PLLDIV = 2       // PLL Prescaler Selection bits (Divide by 2 (8 MHz oscillator input))
#pragma config STVREN = ON      // Stack Overflow/Underflow Reset  (Enabled)
#pragma config XINST = OFF      // Extended Instruction Set (Disabled)
#pragma config CPUDIV = OSC1    // CPU System Clock Postscaler (No CPU system clock divide)
#pragma config CP0 = OFF        // Code Protect (Program memory is not code-protected)
#pragma config OSC = HS      // HS
#pragma config T1DIG = ON       // T1OSCEN Enforcement (Secondary Oscillator clock source may be selected)
#pragma config LPT1OSC = OFF    // Low-Power Timer1 Oscillator (High-power operation)
#pragma config FCMEN = OFF      // Fail-Safe Clock Monitor (Disabled)
#pragma config IESO = OFF       // Internal External Oscillator Switch Over Mode (Disabled)
#pragma config WDTPS = 1        // Watchdog Postscaler (1:1)
#pragma config DSWDTOSC = INTOSCREF// DSWDT Clock Select (DSWDT uses INTRC)
#pragma config RTCOSC = T1OSCREF// RTCC Clock Select (RTCC uses T1OSC/T1CKI)
#pragma config DSBOREN = OFF    // Deep Sleep BOR (Disabled)
#pragma config DSWDTEN = OFF    // Deep Sleep Watchdog Timer (Disabled)
#pragma config DSWDTPS = G2     // Deep Sleep Watchdog Postscaler (1:2,147,483,648 (25.7 days))

void tx_data(unsigned char);

#define FREQ 8000000    // Frequency = 8MHz
#define baud 9600
#define spbrg_value (((FREQ/64)/baud)-1)  

void main()
{
    TRISCbits.TRISC6 = 0; // TX pin set as output
    TRISCbits.TRISC7 = 1;   // RX pin set as input

    TXSTAbits.TX9=0;
    RCSTAbits.RX9=0;
    TXSTAbits.SYNC=0;
    TXSTAbits.BRGH=0;
    BAUDCONbits.BRG16=0;
    SPBRG=spbrg_value;     // Fill the SPBRG register to set the Baud Rate
    RCSTAbits.SPEN=1;      // To activate Serial port (TX and RX pins)
    TXSTAbits.TXEN=1;      // To enable transmission
    RCSTAbits.CREN=1;      // To enable continuous reception
while(1)
{
    tx_data('m');        // Transmit the same data back to PC
}


}

void tx_data(unsigned char data1)
{
    TXREG=data1;                      
    while(TXSTAbits.TRMT==0);            
}