Command-line serial port logger..??

tj!2k4 · 09-22-2005, 09:11 PM

I'm looking for a strictly command-line based app to log (nmea string) data from a specified serial port to a file, but can't seem to find a freeware app that'll do this.

Everything is either GUI-driven, or costs $100. wtf. Is it really that involved??

If I had any programming skills I'd write it myself..

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks..

MatrixPC · 09-23-2005, 02:02 AM

Why don't you try xport?
it may not be command line but free.

guino · 09-23-2005, 02:11 AM

I've used Hyperterminal to log NMEA data so I could use it later for testing GPS navigation in RR.. if you use xport with it you can log and use the GPS at the same time.. it will be hard to find strictly command-line based software for that (although relatively easy to make one)...

tj!2k4 · 09-23-2005, 08:32 AM

I'm using already using xport3 to split the serial port.

The reason I'm looking for a command line app is so i can run it as an automated event, where no user interaction is required, and runs more or less transparently..

Enforcer · 09-23-2005, 08:59 AM

try this in a batch file

Code:

MODE COM1: baud=4800 parity=N data=8 stop=1
TYPE command > COM1
COPY COM1 text.txt

Only problem you might have is stopping it as it will continue till it receives an end of file code CTRL-Z

PURDooM · 09-23-2005, 09:02 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Enforcer

try this in a batch file

Code:

MODE COM1: baud=4800 parity=N data=8 stop=1
TYPE command > COM1
COPY COM1 text.txt

Only problem you might have is stopping it as it will continue till it receives an end of file code CTRL-Z

The line TYPE command > COM1 looks wrong to me... thats going to try to pipe the contents of file command (if the file even exsists) into com1. Are you sure you didnt want the command echo?

tj!2k4 · 09-23-2005, 09:20 AM

hmm, an interesting approach..

here's what happens when i try to run it as a batch..

Quote:

C:\>MODE COM1: baud=4800 parity=N data=8 stop=1

Status for device COM1:
-----------------------
Baud: 4800
Parity: None
Data Bits: 8
Stop Bits: 1
Timeout: ON
XON/XOFF: OFF
CTS handshaking: OFF
DSR handshaking: OFF
DSR sensitivity: OFF
DTR circuit: ON
RTS circuit: ON

C:\>TYPE command 1>COM1
The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\>COPY COM1 text.txt
1 file(s) copied.

Another thing about the second line, is that when run in the .bat, it automatically inserts a "1" after "type command"

Enforcer · 09-23-2005, 09:58 AM

actually I'm not sure what the second line is doing there.

Sorry

Enforcer · 09-23-2005, 10:07 AM

OK option 2

get yourself a copy of QBASIC (preferably the version that let's you make an EXE (this was given away free with a lot of the earlier versions of DOS)

Code:

OPEN "com1:9600,n,8,1,CD0,CS0,DS0,RS" FOR INPUT AS #1
OPEN "textfile.txt" for output as #2
WHILE INKEY$ <> " "
INPUT #1, a$
PRINT #2, a$
WEND
CLOSE #2
CLOSE #1
END

Press <space> for it to end

tj!2k4 · 09-23-2005, 11:38 AM

Thanks for the suggestions, enforcer. I'll give that a shot when I get back home.

If that doesn't do what I need it to, I'll investigate if I can do this in Perl. I'm not 100% certain whether Perl can interface with serial ports or not, but I'm fairly certain that it's possible.

tj!2k4 · 09-23-2005, 11:53 AM

To answer my own question, it is possible to do this with Perl. That's why I love Perl. lol

Although, this specific script is tailored for logging from a serial port on a Unix box, the author states that it can be ported to Win32: http://aplawrence.com/Unix/logger.html

Once I get this done I should be able to create .exe version of it.

PURDooM · 09-23-2005, 11:56 AM

Qbasic is going to be a processor hog on any windows NT based systems. (2000, XP)