Resolved How to capture the data following via RS232 in ASCII format.

Hi;

We have a slitter scorer machine in which tools are placed via servo motors. Servo motor is controlled with servo drive and each servo drive is sent the values of a set of parameters to set a job. The main control system is DOS based which sends the values of parameters to all drives according to job. The data flowing is as MS DOS_RS232 port >>> RS232 to 485 converter >>> parallel connection to all servo Com ports. I want to monitor the data following from MS DOS to drives for which I have arranged another RS232 to 485 converter and connected a wire from TX+ terminal of 1st Comm module to the TX- terminal of 2nd Comm module. If I enable the hyper terminal, I see the data following but un-understandable format.

The format of data following from MSDOS PC to drives is like "7E-BF-02-04-3C-00" in ASCII format. So to read it I downloaded MS "PortMon" software which is used to monitor data following via RS232 port. I have windows XP and when I run the software, "Not Connected" is shown on the top bar. Please help how to make it "Connect" to capture the data. Or if anyone has any other idea to capture the data following, please assist.

 

I rather doubt it's going to help much knowing what each symbol looks like. What you really need to know is what each symbol, or particular groups of symbols, mean to the servo controller.

(Oh, and I also rather doubt it will be spelled out in readable English such as: "Start ", "Stop ", "Forward ", "Back ", "Left ", "Right ", etc.).

 

If someone guide me about PortMon that how to make it "Connected" it would be enough for me. This time when i run PortMon, "Not Connected" displays at the top write corner.

 

How can I use PORTMON to monitor my serial port?

 

I did try but could not understand the following;
"Select Computer -> Connect Local, since we want to monitor communication between an application installed on our local system and the SERIAL port. "

 

I'm afraid I don't have any wintel computers connected to anything via serial port to try and do a test for you. According to their instructions, "Simply execute the Portmon program file (portmon.exe) and Portmon will immediately start capturing debug output. "

If it's not working, you might try SerialMon or "Serial line sniffer" that Tony linked to above.

 

Portmon does work. Used to use it back when Windows 9x, serial ports and dial-up modems were everywhere. Probably even used it on XP as well. Been to long, and/or I'm to old to remember the details now though.