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Reading data from Serial / USB port
lsdweb - 16/7/12 at 10:48 AM

Hi All

I have a piece of test equipment that can output data via a serial cable. I have a USB adaptor and the right serial cable, but the original software doesn't seem to be available.

Is there any way I can download the data onto my PC into an ASCII / text file (I can probably work with the data by writing a bit of code / Word macro)?

The format of the data is as follows:

Baud Rate 9600
Start Bits 1
Stop Bits 2
Data Bits 8
No parity

Ta in advance

Wyn

Madinventions - 16/7/12 at 11:12 AM

If you're using WinXP you could use HyperTerminal to open a text based COM link to the bit of kit. Hyperterminal disappeared from Win7 so I use a very good free equivalent 'CoolTerm'.

http://freeware.the-meiers.org/

Hope this helps.
Ed.

scudderfish - 16/7/12 at 11:21 AM

In a DOS box something like

cat COM1:9600,8,2,1 >data.txt

should do it. Google that parameters as I can't remember it exactly off the top of my head.

ChrisW - 16/7/12 at 11:54 AM

puTTY will do it too. It's usually used for talking to Linux boxes, but it has an option to work on the serial port too.

Free download and only a few kB: http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html

Chris

lsdweb - 16/7/12 at 12:02 PM

Thanks guys - loads of options!

My bit of test equipment is away for calibration - I'll give your suggestions a try when I get it back.

Ta very much!

Wyn

Slimy38 - 16/7/12 at 12:53 PM

Sorry to poach a subject, but can any of those options work in 'transparent' mode? I have a similar set up but I actually have the software, and I'd like to 'listen in' on the conversation without the software knowing that I am?

ChrisW - 16/7/12 at 05:21 PM

The problem here is going to be which side of the conversation do you want to listen to?

If you had a PC with two serial ports, you could knock up a special cable that looped the data lines through the ports, then run two instances of putty (or whichever program you use) and turn on local echo to make sure the characters get pushed through to the end device. That would probably do what you wanted.

Chris

skov - 16/7/12 at 06:37 PM

OP: My current favourite for talking to serial ports under windows is Tera Term Pro:

http://www.ayera.com/teraterm/


Slimy, VSPE has an option to let you open the same serial port twice with two different options (I've not tried that option, but I guess it might be able to let you snoop?):

http://www.eterlogic.com/Products.VSPE.html