APPLICATION NOTE NO. 58

Sea-Bird DOS-Based Terminal Programs and Microsoft Windows 95/98
May 2004

Application note in pdf format

This Application Note describes the system settings for running a Sea-Bird, DOS-based Terminal Program (such as Term19 or Term25) on a PC with a Microsoft Windows 95 or 98 operating system.

Some users have experienced difficulties communicating with their instruments via a Sea-Bird, DOS-based Terminal Program, if the Terminal Program is on a PC running Microsoft Windows 95 or 98. Problems are more likely to occur on lap-top computers. These problems include:

• Unreliable communications
• Dropping of characters when uploading data from a CTD with internal memory

If you experience difficulties:

• Most instruments: Switch to our Windows-based terminal program, SEATERM.
  SBE 26 or 26plus SEAGAUGE: Switch to our Windows-based terminal program SeatermW (part of the SEASOFT for Waves - Win32 suite).
  Note that the Windows-based software is available for free download on our FTP site (go to FTP Site for download details).
  OR
• Follow the instructions below to modify system settings to run the DOS-based terminal program.

NOTE: Paths given in the directions below are for Windows 98 systems. However, the settings are valid for Windows 95 as well.

1. MS-DOS properties may need to be changed. 
   Right-click on the MS-DOS icon and click on Properties to set the following:

• Screen/Usage – Window
• Misc/Idle Sensitivity – Low
• Misc/Foreground – turn Allow Screen Saver off

2. COM port settings may need to be changed. Left-click on Start and follow this path: Settings/Control Panel/System/Device Manager/Ports/COM1 or COM2, as appropriate/Port Settings/Advanced. Set the buffers as follows:

• Receive buffer – near low
• Transmit buffer - high

3. For laptop computers, power properties may need to be changed. Left-click on Start and follow this path: Settings/Control Panel/Power.

• Turn off ‘Allow Windows to manage power use on this computer’.

NOTE: Use AC power or a fully charged battery pack when uploading data.

4. If you are using the same COM port to interface with both a Windows-based program and Sea-Bird’s DOS-based program, the typical system setup will not allow the release of the COM port from either program until you close the program. To provide hot-swapping capability between the programs:

1. Left click on Start and select Run.
2. In the dialog box, type sysedit.
3. The System Configuration Editor appears. Click on the system.ini window.
4. Add the following to the [386Enh] section of the system.ini file (create a 386Enh section if it does not exist):

ComnAutoAssign=0
where n is the COM port number 
(for example, Com1AutoAssign=0)

Last modified: 06 Apr 2007

Sea-Bird Home     Phone: 425-643-9866     Fax: 425-643-9954     E-mail: seabird@seabird.com