PREREQUISITES
Make sure QC-Gage is installed and your gage is plugged into the Serial or USB port in the computer. If you are using a MUX box, make sure all wires are connected. If this is a wireless setup make sure that the receiver is plugged in.
Also, make sure you know which COM port you are using and the COM port settings for your gage. This is typically found in the instruction manual that came with your gage. Specifically, you will need to know the Baud rate, Parity, Bits Per Byte, Stop Bits, and Flow Control. If you don't know this, try the following as these are the most common settings:
Baud: 9600
Parity: None
Bits/Byte: 8
Stop Bits: 1
Flow Control: Software OR None
INTRODUCTION
Occasionally you may need to capture output from a gage in order to troubleshoot an existing connection or to define a new gage interface. Regardless of the reason you need to capture data, Windows provides tools that allow you to connect to a serial port via RS232.
STEPS
- Have the gage manual handy for DIP switch and COM port settings.
- Connect the gage to the computer and note what COM port the gage is using.
- Start HyperTerminal (Start Menu > Programs > Accessories > Communications > HyperTerminal)
NOTE: Windows Vista and Windows 7 no longer provide Hyperterminal. See the MORE INFORMATION section below to proceed if you have one of these operating systems.
- Type a name (type anything - it doesn't matter) for your HyperTerminal session.
- Select Connect Using and pick COM1 or other COM port from the list.
- Configure the COM port to match the settings for your particular gage.
- Click the OK button to connect to the gage.
- Take a few measurements with the gage. You should see data (readable characters) appear on the screen.
- Click the Edit > Select All menu to select all of the readings in the HyperTerminal window, then select Edit - Copy to put those readings into the Clipboard.
- Paste the results along with the name and model of the gage and the COM port settings into a text file attach that file to a support ticket. We will write a gage definition file for you and email it back.
NOTE: Please tell us which result(s) you are trying to capture. Gage outputs can sometimes send multiple numbers at once.
MORE INFORMATION
If you have Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8, Hyperterminal no longer comes installed. To set it up, simply download the Zip file attached to this article. Unzip the file into any directory on your computer (C:\Windows\ is recommended). The zip file contains two files; hypertrm.exe and hypertrm.dll. Double click (run) Hypertrm.exe and you can proceed with step 4.