Running a DOS Program with RS232 COM1

[Graham Brooker]

I want to run a Panasonic DOS program used to store configuration data into
my KXTD208E ISDN PBX on my new Win XP laptop. The s/w normally runs on a
Win98 PC which has the usual COM1 port.

I bought a Belkin F5U103 USB to Serial adaptor and downloaded their more
recent WinXP drivers. I set up the new port to be COM1 with the correct
parameters for my s/w. I set the properties of my Panasonic s/w to run in
Win98 compatibility mode.

Belkin told me it may not work with WinXP running a DOS program but it was
worth a go. Panasonic told me they got it going in WinXP but very slow when
using COM1 - they were not very helpful and did not want to talk for long
about an old product. I started to get a Win error message saying it could
not access the COM1 port but later this message disappeared. The s/w cannot
communicate with the COM1 port. I have tried using it as COM2 and
configuring my application to match. I have also tried a NULL MODEM adaptor
to cross over the serial connections.

Nothing seems to work. Am I wasting my time as WinXP is just not going to
support it, although the DOS s/w runs on screen? Should I keep my old Win98
PC just to run this bit of kit - I had to do this for another application
requiring COM1 but I was hoping to get rid of stuff.

I am aware I can buy a PCMI serial interface COM1 card for my laptop but is
this going to have the same problems?

Any comments?

Graham

 

[RobertVA]

I want to run a Panasonic DOS program used to store configuration data into
my KXTD208E ISDN PBX on my new Win XP laptop. The s/w normally runs on a
Win98 PC which has the usual COM1 port.

I bought a Belkin F5U103 USB to Serial adaptor and downloaded their more
recent WinXP drivers. I set up the new port to be COM1 with the correct
parameters for my s/w. I set the properties of my Panasonic s/w to run in
Win98 compatibility mode.

Belkin told me it may not work with WinXP running a DOS program but it was
worth a go. Panasonic told me they got it going in WinXP but very slow when
using COM1 - they were not very helpful and did not want to talk for long
about an old product. I started to get a Win error message saying it could
not access the COM1 port but later this message disappeared. The s/w cannot
communicate with the COM1 port. I have tried using it as COM2 and
configuring my application to match. I have also tried a NULL MODEM adaptor
to cross over the serial connections.

Nothing seems to work. Am I wasting my time as WinXP is just not going to
support it, although the DOS s/w runs on screen? Should I keep my old Win98
PC just to run this bit of kit - I had to do this for another application
requiring COM1 but I was hoping to get rid of stuff.

I am aware I can buy a PCMI serial interface COM1 card for my laptop but is
this going to have the same problems?

Any comments?

Graham

Probably not what you want to hear, but you should consider getting new
PBX hardware from a manufacturer that is willing to support it with a
USB interface under Windows XP. If you are fortunate enough to find such
a beast make sure you remind the manufacturer of the existing equipment
how much you apreaciate their lack of continued support.

 

[V Green]

I want to run a Panasonic DOS program used to store configuration data into
my KXTD208E ISDN PBX on my new Win XP laptop. The s/w normally runs on a
Win98 PC which has the usual COM1 port.

I bought a Belkin F5U103 USB to Serial adaptor and downloaded their more
recent WinXP drivers. I set up the new port to be COM1 with the correct
parameters for my s/w. I set the properties of my Panasonic s/w to run in
Win98 compatibility mode.

Belkin told me it may not work with WinXP running a DOS program but it was
worth a go. Panasonic told me they got it going in WinXP but very slow when
using COM1 - they were not very helpful and did not want to talk for long
about an old product. I started to get a Win error message saying it could
not access the COM1 port but later this message disappeared. The s/w cannot
communicate with the COM1 port. I have tried using it as COM2 and
configuring my application to match. I have also tried a NULL MODEM adaptor
to cross over the serial connections.

Nothing seems to work. Am I wasting my time as WinXP is just not going to
support it, although the DOS s/w runs on screen? Should I keep my old Win98
PC just to run this bit of kit - I had to do this for another application
requiring COM1 but I was hoping to get rid of stuff.

Your approach of keeping a 98SE machine available
to talk to the PBX is probably the easiest one.

I have had similar problems with USB/Serial converters -
they would work fine with some particular hardware/sofware
combinations but give fits with others. Some adapters don't seem
to handle RS-232 signal levels correctly.

Have you played with the speed options for the USB/serial
port? You may have to set it VERY low - 2400 or so - this
sounds like what the factory folks were getting at.

Also, trying a different brand of USB/Serial may work. There
are apparently a few different kinds of chipsets used, and not all
perform equally.

 

[Graham Brooker]

Have you played with the speed options for the USB/serial
port? You may have to set it VERY low - 2400 or so - this
sounds like what the factory folks were getting at.

Also, trying a different brand of USB/Serial may work. There
are apparently a few different kinds of chipsets used, and not all
perform equally.

Thanks for your suggestions. I have just tried running a slower baud rate
but still no good. I have emailed Panasonic to ask exactly what equipment
they used to get it working, otherwise I shall have to keep my old Win98 PC.

Graham