Topic awaiting preservation: Serial connection

Here's what I've got...
Trimble Geodimeter Control Unit (surveying equipment)
PC running WinXP Pro
Serial cable that conveniently connects the two
And instruction manual that says connect them and transfer data between the two

My problem is that I've never had to connect something through a serial port, at least not on a Windows machine.

I'm able to connect the control unit to the serial port, and send data from it to the computer, and it doesn't give any errors, however, I'm kinda lost as to where it ended up. If I had to take a guess, I'd think that setting up the connection would be somewhat similar to setting up a null modem between two computers, but I've never done that either, just read about it, and even then I don't remember anything about actually 'how' to do it, they just say connect the two and go. Somehow I think there's a little more to it...

Anyways, does anyone have any info on how to set this up, or have any links they could point me to?

Many thanks,
PKSII

-- Unoriginal Cell 693 --

What terminal did you use to connect the two? Or how did you transfer data between them? usually, if you used a terminal program, like HyperTerminal, you'll find an incoming data directory into which all your downlaods will be copied when they download.

One of these might help.

http://www.kime.net/directcc/index.html
http://www.lpt.com/Support/DCC-SetUp/dcc-setup.htm

If nothing else, the phone numbers at the bottom would be a good place to call and ask about software required and a simple "can you send me a manual please?"


http://www.geotech-co.com/Controllers/technical%20notes&specificationsgeo.pdf

I'm using HyperTerminal. And I found the incoming data options... I can do a text capture to receive data from the control unit. Must have been more tired than I thought yesterday afternoon because I looked right by that.

However, I'm still unable to send info to the CU (either a text file or generic file, the only choices I've found so far). The problem I see is that whenever I send data from the CU, I don't receive it as a file, but have to do a text capture (it times out if I try and receive a file).

Since it doesn't specify a file type in the manual that comes with the CU, just to extract info from Auto CAD, and in the docs with Auto CAD it goes over how to extract coordinate points to a generic file (with no options to speak of that I've found), it would seem like it should be pretty straight forward. But each of the ways I've tried so far, the CU times out and there's no sign of data being transfered from the PC.

[edit: Yep, I dug far enough around the office and found the number of their office here in Des Moines, and if a lightbulb doesn't come on while I'm out this afternoon, I'll give them a call.

Thanks you two, (er, three... Only had 1 cup of coffee this morning)
PKSII

-- Unoriginal Cell 693 --

(Edited by Lord_Fukutoku on 05-12-2004 16:21)

Whoo, got it... Called the guy that sold it to us (well, "us"... It was well before I got here), and it turns out they had a app that transfered files between the two. The cd was conveniently at the bottom of a shoe box on top of the gun safe... I'm not sure why I didn't look there first

But many thanks for the comment y'all
PKSII