Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Lez <lez.briddon@...> wrote:
>
> I have got to the end of the road with this plotter.
> 
> I have made a few test cables, I have bought a rs232 dongle with 
LEDS
> in so I can see whats going on, and I can see the data light flash
> when I hold a key down in hyperterminal.
> 
> Lez
>

The issue you're having MIGHT be Hypertreminal. 
I had a problem the other night with a BasicStamp / Pic > 
PC serial comm. project I'm working on. After hours of 
banging my head on the wall and doing some research, 
it turns out that Hyperterminal asserts (turns on) the RS232 
DTR signal (in my case that was forcing my microC into 
constant reset condition) . I found MY solution in "RealTerm"
(http://realterm.sourceforge.net/) it is a terminal program that lets
you set or clear almost all of the signals. 
You might want to give it a try.