How to configure your PC to generate and receive ASCII data

INTRODUCTION

'Terminal' by Hilgraeve,  is a handy application which comes as standard with most Windows-based PCs.

You can use it to generate and view ASCII serial data, to test serial data input/output devices, or to simulate equipment which generates or accepts serial data.

The permutation of possibilities is vast, so I've prepared this quick-guide to get you up and running with the minimum of delay.

The configuration I've chosen here is ideal for our remote displays, in particular the S17XX, INTUITIVE-S and SER-06.

We aren't affiliated to Hargreaves in any way, we're just users, like you. We can't accept any liability for errors, and offer you this guide as a freebie, with no strings attached.

If you have any problems or want to offer suggestions to improve this guide, please drop me a line -

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If you want to configure Terminal, read on ...

Go to START >> PROGRAMS >>  ACCESSORIES >> HyperTerminal
after which, you should see a window with some, but not all of the icons below.

Aim for the Hypertrm icon...



...and click on it.

You should now see a 'New Connection' window.

Enter a snappy name, like LondonElectronics, so you can save your settings and call them up in the future.



Click OK when done.

You should now see the box below.

In the 'Connect using:' field, choose the COM port you will use to connect to the meter. Here, I've chosen COM1.



Click OK when done..

Now set your communication parameters. Here I've gone for the default settings which suit our London INTUITIVE-S , SER-06 and S17XX series.



Press OK when done ...

Now select FILE >> PROPERTIES, to allow you to set other parameters...



You'll see....



Click on the 'Settings' tab near the top ...

Now you'll see....



Choose the options shown above, and then click the ASCII Setup button to bring up ....



Select the choices you see here, and press OK
Now set the terminal settings as shown.



That's about it.

You are now ready to send/receive data with Terminal.
(Before you shut down, remember to save your settings or you'll need to go thru all this again next time ! ).

By the way, I have a 9 pin D connector plugged into the COM port, which I use for all simple RS232 ASCII comm.s tests.

I use the scheme below ....



If you're going to connect to one of our remote displays, you only need use pins 3 and 5.

I hope this has helped you.

Regards,


Graham Laming