HyperTerminal and C# difference?

I have used serial communications in C# many times before and I have never had any problems. I even tried a complete terminal program that I have always been using with succes. It dosen't work either, but the HyperTerminal does.

Something about the connection to the electronic components is different, but why does the HyperTerminal then work? Then it should also be possible to make it work in C#?

gardavis > I even tried the downloadable file (SerialPortCommunication.zip) from your link (http://www.dreamincode.net/forums/showtopic35775.htm) with the tutorial and it connected to the serial port like my code does. I could enter the command like I can in my own code, but still the electronic components doesn'n do anything at all. In HyperTerminal it works fine. Strange. Do anyone have an idea what the problem could be?

What about handshaking?
Is the electronic device expecting hardware and/or software handshaking?

I would bet it is a setting in C# SerialPort class.  I don't think there is any reason it would work in HyperTerm and not in C#.

I usually set something like this up so that I am setting every setting explicitly:

 if (comm_port != "")
            {
                comRemote_sensor.PortName = comm_port;
                comRemote_sensor.BaudRate = 1200;
                comRemote_sensor.Parity = Parity.None;
                comRemote_sensor.StopBits = StopBits.One;
                comRemote_sensor.DataBits = 8;
                comRemote_sensor.Handshake = Handshake.None;
                comRemote_sensor.Encoding = System.Text.Encoding.Default;
                try
                {
                    comRemote_sensor.Open();
                }
                catch (Exception io_e)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show("Port already open or other error. Exiting.");
                    locError = true;
                }
 
                if (locError)
                {
                    this.Close();
                }
                else
                {
 
//TODO...
}
}
}

                                              

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I have tried to turn it on with this freeware terminal program (http://www.surveyor.com/srvdownload/termv19b.zip), but it still unfortunately dosen't work even though handshaking is on :-(

mac-will > I have tried your code to, and I get no errors at all but nothing happens to the electronic components. I can't understand why HyperTerminal works when freeware programs and my own does'nt?

What is the electronic device? Do you have a datasheet?
I work with embedded device a lot and I am fairly sure Hyper Terminal has no special settings.
Do you need to send the new line character in HT for the device to do something?
Are you definetely using the right port?

I think you are simply missing the CR at the end of the String, though I've never used the C# Serialport Object.  I usually write my serial drivers in C/C++ using CreateFile.

But, if your serial device has a "Terminal" interface, it's waiting for the Carriage return.  It may also want the LF, so \r\n or just \n.

SerialPort s = new SerialPort("COM1", 9600, Parity.None, 8, StopBits.One);
s.Open();
s.Write("$05EA\n");
s.Close();
s.Dispose();

Syntactics >> I have tried with \n and it doesn't make any difference.

mac-will >> Yes I am using the right port. It is a RS485 device for controlling lights. Unfortunately i havent got a manual but i know that it has a master/slave protocol (ASCII based). The PC acts as a master and the device as slave. I use a ICP-CON converter. It's an USB to RS485 converter. The USB is connected to the computers USB port and the RS485 is connected to the electronic device.

The protocol format is:
-A start character, $
-Address of the module, 2 characters
-Data, 0 to more characters
-End character, <CR> (0x0D)

1) Does the s.Open(); command have a return value?  Can you check that the port actually opened.  USB to Serial Devices usually make themselves COM4 or higher.

2) You have closed Hyperterminal so it is not holding the port open?  Old HyperTerminal used to be aweful about keep ing the port open after closing, maybe reboot?

3) the s.Open() command uses string names of the ports; "COM1" not "COM1:" ?

4) Are you giving the API enough time to physically transmit the string and flush the buffer?  You are closing the port two lines after opening it.  Try placing a Sleep() after the Write().

5) Is the a Flush()?

6) I think you will still need the \n, the "spec" says it needs a Carriage Return and Write() doesn't append one.

1) Yes the port is open (se code below).

2) I have tried with another port. The serial command works fine but i get no reaction from the electronics. Have also rebooted.

3) Yes it uses strings "COM1". I have used these serial commands many times with other equipment so I don't think that there is anything wrong with the code. At least not for my other electronic components. And my freeware terminal program doesen't work either. It has always worked like my own C# program. There is something different with this electronic equipment and I am hoping that you can figure out what it is?

4) I have tried with Thread.Sleep(1000) before and after the write.

5) Sorry I didn't understand that question.

6) /n is added to my code but it still dosen't work :-(

try
{
    serialPort.Open();
    textBox1.Text = "Port open!";
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    MessageBox.Show("Error: " + ex);
}

                                              

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I the HyperTerminal i see a configuration called Flow-control and it is set to "none". I havent got any flowcontrol property set in my code. Could it be that?

The microcontroller is a PIC18F14K50, if it is helping you in any way. Is there a special way of sending serial commands to especially this uC?