Gentec-EO M-LINK - Manual (Page 31)

M- LINK User’s Manual Revision 3.0 25
3.2.3.2 Verify COM Port
To verify the USB installation and find the COM port number click:
Start → Settings → Control Panel → System → Device Manager
Scroll down to Ports (COM & LPT) and SINGLE click that line. One of the options should be
USB-to-Serial (COM#)
Note the COM port number. You need it for the next step.
You may use any serial communications software that you are familiar with. Our instructions are for
HyperTerminal because it is widely available on PCs with Windows

. Click:
Start → Programs → Accessories → Communications → HyperTerminal
To save communication setting, enter a name for the connection. In the drop down menu “Connect
Using ” select the COM port that the USB driver was installed on (Section 3.2.3.2). Click OK.
Enter the following settings into the communications parameter window that appears next.
Bits per second 921600
Data bits 8
Parity None
Stop bits 1
Flow control None
Click OK to begin entering serial commands in the HyperTerminal window.
3.2.3.3 To echo commands
The commands you type do not appear in the HyperTerminal window, unless you set the HyperTerminal
up to do so. Only the response from the M-LINK is displayed. If you prefer to see the commands you are
typing, on the HyperTerminal window, click the File menu and execute the following sequence:
File → Properties → Settings (tab) → ASCII setup → select “Echo typed characters locally” → OK
3.2.3.4 Test the connection
Before typing a command, you must send a carriage return by pressing the enter key. The instrument will
return the baud rate you selected in section 3.2.3.2, or it will return ERR if the Baud rate has already been
set. The communications link is now established.
How the Instrument Chooses its Baud Rate
The M-LINK instrument will use the highest available PC baud rate. PC’s running a language that uses an
alphabet such as English generally will have a maximum baud rate of 921600. PC’s using a symbol
based language such as Japanese run slower baud rates, usually with a maximum of 115200.
To facilitate finding the maximum baud rate, the instrument enters an Autobaud routine when it is
powered on or reset. The Autobaud routine sets the instrument baud rate to 921600 and waits until the