Base Receiver EVO – USB Serial Communication & USB Send All Mode

Data Terminal Ready

MobileCollect EVO Bases utilize the Data Terminal Ready (DTR) control signal to verify that the virtual COM Port on the host computer is ready. The DTR signal is used in RS-232 serial communications to indicate that the Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) is ready to receive data. With serial communications over USB, where a virtual COM Port is created, DTR can be set to enabled within the host program’s software configuration parameters.

It is important to note that the MobileCollect EVO Bases only utilize the Data Terminal Ready signal on USB Serial communications and not on the RS-232 DB9 serial port found on the RS-232 Base EVO. The DB9 serial port on the RS-232 Base EVO will output data with or without DTR, pin 4, raised to positive voltage indicating the DTE or host computer is ready for data. 

USB Send All Mode

With the understanding that some software may not have the DTR signal enabled for USB serial communications, the USB Send All Mode enables the EVO Base Receivers to communicate with any software program. The USB Send All Mode does not check for a DTR signal on the COM Port. This mode is enabled or disabled via a serial command sent from ComTestSerial. 

Command Description: Enable/Disable the USB serial port verification (Com Port assigned and active) with EVO Base Receivers.

Command: <#USBn

• n = N Normal Mode. Check to verify USB serial port is active before sending data. Default.
• n = A Send All Mode. Always send data regardless of USB Serial Port status.

serial.sys Driver

MobileCollect EVO Bases utilize the native Windows serial.sys driver to handle the serial communications via a virtual COM Port. The serial.sys driver comes pre-installed on Windows machines and there are no additional drivers needed for the device to communicate, simply plug it in and it will establish a connection via a virtual COM Port. 

Baud Rate

MobileCollect EVO Bases are not reliant on specific COM Port communication parameters and will match the communication parameters defined by the COM Port parameters on the DTE or host computer.

Changing USB Serial Data Output Mode in ComTestSerial

1. Open ComTestSerial. ComTestSerial can be downloaded here. ComTestSerial is also installed with the Xpress and Extended Setup Programs and can be accessed from the program via the “Utilities” Menu.
2. Next, open the “Serial Port” Menu to view all the available COM Ports that ComTestSerial has detected.
3. The “Select & Configure Serial Port” menu lists the available serial ports that ComTestSerial detected. EVO Series Bases will have the “Registry Description” format “\Device\USBSERXXX”. Select the appropriate COM Port for the EVO Base Receiver. In this guide, the target Base is on COM11. Note: The COM Port can be verified to be connected to the target base by sending data from a transmitter to the Base. If the right COM Port is selected, gage data will appear in the main window of ComTestSerial.
4. Type in the USB Send All Mode serial command, “<#USBA”, into the lower “Local commands” Window. The command is case sensitive. Hit the “Send” Button to send the command to the Base Receiver. The Base Receiver will reply with a message in yellow text indicating the Base is now in Send All Mode.
5. To revert the Base Receiver to Normal Mode, enter “<#USBN” into the lower “Local commands” Window. The command is case sensitive. Hit the “Send” Button to send the command to the Base Receiver. The Base Receiver will reply with a message in yellow text indicating the Base is now in Normal Mode.