I posted this question on Stackoverflow as it is more a json / server transmission problem. No replies and seeing as it is using jqgrid I will try here

Summary:

I can save / load the grid layout using in memory variables but when uploading and downloading via the server the grid will not load. There must be a syntax error in the transmission but the jsonstring that is returned looks identical to the source.

Reference:

jqGrid Export / Import OK local, but not to / from Server