108Relays -- Hyperterminal Tutorial

HyperTerminal Tutorial

This page demonstrates how to use HyperTerminal to connect to a serial device. This is useful for testing the connectability of a device, especially if that device doesn't implement a full RS232 protocol (eg: the DIY/Kitsrus K145 Temperature Data Logger). We'll use the K145 as an example.

Note: As of Windows Vista, Microsoft no longer includes HyperTerminal in the installation.
MinTerm Lite can be used instead.

1. Connect the K145 to your pc's serial port with a straight-through serial cable.
(See the RS232 Tutorial for explanation of straight-through and null modem)

2. From the Start menu in Windows, go:
Programs | Accessories | Communications | HyperTerminal

3. When HyperTerminal opens, it will display the New Connection wizard

4. Enter "K145" (without the quotes), and click [OK].

5. The next page in the wizard will be "Connect To"

    Select your COM port from the drop list of available connections, then click [OK].
     (If you had a modem installed, it would appear in this list as well.)

6. Next, you'll see the Port Settings page

      Set values as: 2400 - 8 - None - 1 - None, then click [OK].

7. At this point, you're returned to the main HyperTerminal window.
    You should see the K145 start communicating -- it will first send an ID string,
      then start sending temperature data.

8. To disconnect, click the lifted handset image on the Toolbar.
     To re-connect, click the image with the handset at rest.

      The change will show in the status bar at the bottom of the window.

9. You can save your connection information for re-use at a later time:

      When you click Save, you get the Save Dialog:

      Enter a convenient name, and click the [Save] button.

10. To re-open your saved connection info, go: File | Open on the HyperTerminal main menu.

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