Aerospace Software Ltd.

Objective Real-Time Software on the ADSP21XX

HexCom Ver. 4.0 Serial Communications Protocol Analyzer

1. Introduction

HexCom is a DOS utility, for use with 1 or 2 serial ports as a protocol analyzer and will display data in either Hexadecimal or ASCII format.

HexCom can operate with any 8250 compatible serial card, in RS232, RS422 or RS485 modes of operation. HexCom has the ability to control the drivers of a RS422 or RS485 type serial card, for half duplex operation.

2. Feature Summary

Hexadecimal/ASCII display.
Fully buffered operation, including the screen I/O.
Screen output can be halted without losing data.
Characters are guaranteed to remain in time order as received by the two serial ports, even at the fastest baud rate.
Data is displayed with colour coding and saved to a log file with markers to enable one to see who sent what when on which port.
Full capability of serial port is supported, from 75 to 115 kilobaud, with all possible data format settings.
Reliable, robust operation - 10 years of usage in the aerospace industry.
Program messages onto the function keys for easy transmission.
Multi protocol support.
Full source code included in ANSI C.

3. OPERATION.

Five queues are used and both transmit and receive functions are interrupt driven, for both COM1 and COM2. This enables a slow PC to receive high speed bursts of data.

The keyboard can be switched between the two channels for transmission purposes.

4. SETUP.

All the setup parameters can be entered from the command line. Since there are so many, it is best to create a batch file.

Default: Com1/2, Duplex, Noflow, 9600 Baud, 8 Bit, Even Parity

Example:

C:>hexcom baud1 bits1 stop1 parity1 duplex1 flow1 baud2 bits2 stop2 parity2 duplex2 flow2<ENTER>

5. SETUP DATA.

Baud Rate: 50 75 150 300 600 1200 2400 4800 9600 19200 38400 57600 115000

Bits: 5 6 7 8

Stop: 1 2

Parity: NONE ODD EVEN

Duplex: DUPLEX HALFDUPLEX

Flow: NOFLOW FLOWRTS FLOWXON

6. RS422 ADAPTERS.

If you do not have a dedicated RS422 adapter, but do have a standard RS232 adapter, you can fit a RS232 to RS422 converter and use the HALFDUPLEX and FLOWRTS options to control the line drivers of your adapter via the ~RTS output pin.

On a RS422 or RS485 adapter, there is usually a collection of jumpers, to select half duplex control via either ~RTS or the OUT2 output pin.

7. HALFDUPLEX RS232.

If you specify HALFDUPLEX with a standard RS232 adapter, the transmit driver will be enabled and disabled to allow halfduplex connection of an RS232 link. Although one should never use RS232 in a multiterminal bus, it is a handy feature for debugging, enabling you to connect three computers together, provided that you keep the baud rate low and the line short.

8. LOG FILE.

A log file can be opened, to log all information received and transmitted. In ASCII mode, data is logged as is. In HEX mode, brackets are used to identify the channel.

Escape to DOS with F9 and use an editor to view the log file, ie: F9 c>qe hexcom.log

Type exit to return to Hexcom, ie: c>exit

Hexcom.Log: Each session starts with a new log file, thereafter it is appended to, when logging is switched on and off.

Hex Legend: Com1 Rx - XX, Com1 Tx - (XX), Com2 Rx - [XX], Com2 Tx - {XX}

In ASCII mode, the data is logged as is. No formatting characters are added. In HEX mode, carriage return/linefeed characters are added to make the file printable on an 80 column printer.

If you want to save a log file, escape to DOS using F9 and then rename the logfile to something else, ie: F9 c>ren hexcom.log debug1.log c>exit

Upon exit back to Hexcom, a new logfile can be opened using F4.

9. MESSAGE FILE

You can build messages with the ALT-Fn or F2 key options. These messages can be replayed using the CTRL-Fn keys. The COM port used for transmission can be switched using the F5 key.

Messages that have been built using the ALT-Fn keys, are saved in the file HEXMSG.DAT. If this file exists when the program is launched, the messages will be restored, ready for use.

10. COMMANDS.

F1 - Help

F2 - Build Transmit Messages

F3 - Pause Rx Display

F4 - Append/Close Logfile Hexcom.Log

F5 - Switch Keyboard between Com1 and Com2

F6 - Ascii/Hex Display

F7 - Clear Display

F8 - Setup the Serial Communication Parameters and Display Colours

F9 - Escape to DOS

F10 - Quit HexCom

Alt Fkey - Edit a message

Ctrl Fkey - Send a message

Have Fun!