Copyright: Test Terminal Help V1.45 ©1999 Comtrol Corporation
Citation: Test Terminal (wcom32) Help V1.45 ©1999 Comtrol Corporation. All Rights Reserved.


Contents
Test Terminal Help Contents

Overview

Using Test Terminal

Additional Tests

Modem Control Signals

Technical Support

Copyrights and Trademarks

 Shortcut to Test Terminal program


Overview

The Test Terminal program (wcom32.exe) is a terminal program that you can use to test COM ports and connected peripherals under Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, and Windows 2000. You can use Test Terminal to open a port, send characters and commands to the port, and toggle the output control signals. If you have a peripheral device connected to the port and know the device’s command set, you can also send commands to the device. For example, if you have a modem connected to the port, you can use AT commands to query the modem and dial out to host systems.

Note:	Test Terminal will not work on ports used by RAS if Remote Access Service is running or if any other application is using the port. If you are using RAS, you must use the Remote Access Admin (NT 4.0) or Routing and Remote Access (Windows 2000) option on the Administrative Tools menu to stop RAS before opening a port with Test Terminal.


Test Terminal and RAS

Test Terminal will not work on ports used by RAS if Remote Access Service is running or if any other application is using the port. If you are using RAS under Windows NT 4.0, you must use the Remote Access Admin option on the NT Administrative Tools menu to stop RAS before opening a port with Test Terminal.

If you are using RAS under Windows 2000, you must use the Routing and Remote Access option on the Administrative Tools menu to stop RAS, before opening a port with Test Terminal.


Using Test Terminal

To run Test Terminal, select Test Terminal from the Comtrol program group, or click this button:

The program window displays. Follow these steps:

1.	Select Open Port from the Port menu. A list of available COM ports is displayed.

2.	Select the COM port you want to test.  If the COM port does not exist or if it is currently being used by another program, a Create File Error is displayed.  If the COM port is available, a terminal window is displayed.

3.	Note the <loop> button in the terminal window. If this option is activated, it is green and uppercase (LOOP), the COM port internal loopback feature is activated, and the data is returned by the COM port hardware. If this option is deactivated, it is gray and lowercase (loop), the internal loopback is deactivated, and the data is being sent out the COM port.

4.	If testing a serial port, place a loopback plug on the port you are testing. Make sure the <loop> button is off.

5.	If testing a Comtrol integrated modem product, do not use a loopback plug. Comtrol integrated modem products feature internal loopbacks. Make sure the <loop> button is off.

6.	From the Port menu, select Send Test Data. The program will send out a repeating pattern of data to verify that it is working. If the port is working correctly, the test data should be echoed back to the screen. If the port is not working correctly, or if you are testing a serial port and have not connected the loopback plug correctly, no data or garbled data is echoed to the screen.

7.	If testing a serial port and no characters appear, try putting the loopback plug on some adjacent ports. It may be that you have the ports mixed up.

8.	To stop this test, select Send Test Data again.

If further testing is required, select Loopback Test from the Port menu. If the port is working correctly, the system should return the message, Passed. If the port is not working correctly, or if you are testing a serial port and have the loopback plug on the wrong port, the system will return the message, Failed.


Additional Tests

If you have a modem connected to the port, you can use AT commands to query the modem. For example, enter at&v to display the modem configuration. If a phone line is connected to the modem, you can dial out to another system.

If you have more than one modem and phone line, connect two modems to two phone lines, then use one modem to dial the other.

If you are using serial ports you can connect a null-modem cable between two ports, use Test Terminal to open both ports simultaneously, and send typed characters from one port to the other.

If you have direct access to a host system, you can use Test Terminal to emulate an ANSI terminal session.


Modem Control Signals

The terminal window displays the modem input and output signals as gray or green lights at the top of the screen.

The first four signals are inputs: CTS, DSR, CD, and RI. They are green if on, or gray if off. The text on the light also changes from uppercase (CTS) to lowercase (cts).

NOTE:	The hardware ring indicator (RI) input signal is available on the RocketPort Plus only. Under Windows 2000, a software ring indicator can be configured to work with any RocketPort product. For more information, see the Port Setup properties help on the RocketPort Device Manager screen.

The next two signals are outputs: RTS and DTR. If you left-click on one of the output lights, the program toggles the signal on or off. If you have a loopback plug connected to the port, the corresponding signal is sent to the input and the input lights should toggle accordingly. For example, with the loopback plug in place, clicking RTS should toggle CTS, and clicking DTR should toggle DSR and CD.

The rightmost light is the <loop> indicator. If this is on, the COM port internal loopback feature is activated and any information or code entered in the terminal window loops back through the COM port circuitry. If this is off, the COM port internal loopback is deactivated, and any information or code entered in the terminal window is sent out the port.

NOTE:	If you are testing a Comtrol integrated modem product, and if <loop> is off, any entries you make are passed through the serial port to the Comtrol modem. If <loop> is on, commands are looped through the serial port hardware and never make it to the modem.


Technical Support

Comtrol manuals and other documents are available in electronic form on the Comtrol web site. Software updates can be downloaded at no charge from the Comtrol ftp site. Always check the web and ftp sites to make sure that you have the current software and documentation.

Comtrol has a staff of support technicians available to help you. U.S. telephone support is available during Central time business hours, Monday through Friday (holidays excluded).

Corporate Corporate Headquarters

Internet URL: http://www.comtrol.com

email: support@comtrol.com

FTP site: ftp://ftp.comtrol.com

FAX: (651) 631-8117

Phone: (651) 631-7654

Comtrol Europe

Internet URL: http://www.comtrol.co.uk

email: support@comtrol.co.uk

FAX: +44 (0) 1 869-323-211

Phone: +44 (0) 1 869-323-220


Copyrights and Trademarks

All software and contents 1995 - 1999 Comtrol Corporation.

All Rights Reserved.

Comtrol Corporation makes no representations or warranties with regard to the contents of this documentation or to the suitability of the Comtrol products for any particular purpose. Specifications subject to change without notice. Some software or features may not be available at the time of publication. Contact your reseller for current product information.

Trademarks

Comtrol, RocketModem, and InterChangeVS are trademarks of Comtrol Corporation.

RocketPort is a registered trademark of Comtrol Corporation.

Microsoft, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, and Windows 2000 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.