[Barrykgerdes]

Hi

Most of the older peripheral control programs only connect via the COM ports (RS232) and many of them will only address COM 1,2 and sometimes 3,4 but none of the higher numbers.

Modern computers, particularly lap tops do not have a fitted COM port but use a USB port in lieu although the port address is still reserved.

To provide a COM port facility it is now standard to use a USB/RS232 converter. There are many available but some seem to work better than others.

When these converters install they normally pick the first available port after COM2. This in most cases will be COM3. However if you plug the device into another USB port another COM port will be allocated. This re alloctation can also take place if that USB port is used for another function as well. I believe this is what causes what appears to be the malfunction in most cases . If the peripheral program is already allocated to a specific port.

When I use a USB/RS232 adaptor I now always inspect the device O/S hardware manager and edit the COM port to COM 1 or COM 2, Either or both should be available. Doing this should take care of the programs that only connect to or look for COM 1 or COM 2. Then make sure your peripheral control program is connected to this port. They don't all search.

Barry