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Issues Using RS232 to Communicate With the Tektronix TDS1000/TDS2000 Series Oscilloscopes

Primary Software: Instrument Drivers/IVI>>IVI Driver Templates
Primary Software Version: 2.0
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: N/A
Hardware: Serial

Problem: Problems using baud rates higher than 9600

Solution: The following Windows O/S configurations may resolve communication issues when using RS232 to communicate with the Tektronix TDS1000/TDS2000 series Oscilloscopes:

Configuration settings using Windows 98/2000/XP:
  1. Select a baud rate of 9600 or below (300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800 or 9600).
  2. Select hardware handshaking for flow control (called Hard Flagging on these scopes).
  3. Set the transmit buffer on the controller (your PC) to 1 byte.

    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
    2. Right-click on System and select Open from the right-click menu.
    3. If there is a tab for Device Manager on the System Properties window select it. Or, select the Hardware tab and click on the Device Manager button.
    4. Scroll down the list of devices in the Device Manager window and click the plus symbol in front of Ports (COM & LPT).
    5. Right-click on the port your instrument is connected to (Communications Port (COM1) or Communications Port (COM2) for example) and select Properties from the right-click menu.
    6. Select the Port Settings tab and click on the Advanced button.
    7. On the Advanced Settings for COM1 (or COM2) use the slide control to set the transmit buffer to Low (1) and click on the OK button.
    8. Continue to click on OK to close out all windows including System Properties window. On some versions of Windows, close the Device Manager Window by clicking the X in the upper right corner.


Configuration settings using Windows NT 4.0:
  1. Select a baud rate of 9600 or below (300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800 or 9600).
  2. Select hardware handshaking for flow control (called Hard Flagging on these scopes).
  3. Set the transmit buffer on the controller (your PC) to 1 byte.

    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
    2. Right-click on Ports and select Open from the pop up menu.
    3. Click on the port your instrument is connected to (Communications Port (COM1) or Communications Port (COM2) for example) to select it.
    4. Click on the Settings button to open Settings for COM1: (or COM2) window.
    5. Click on the Advanced button to open Advanced Settings for COM1: (or COM2) window.
    6. In the Advanced Settings for COM1 (or COM2) window look for a check box labeled FIFO Enabled. If the box is checked, click on it to remove the checkmark.
    7. Click on the OK button and continue to click on OK to close out all settings windows. When only the Ports window is open, click on Close.


Configuration settings using Windows ME:
  1. Select a baud rate of 9600 or below (300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800 or 9600).
  2. Select hardware handshaking for flow control (called Hard Flagging on these scopes).
  3. Set the transmit buffer on the controller (your PC) to 1 byte.

    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
    2. Right-click on System and select Open from the right-click menu.
    3. If there is a tab for Device Manager on the System Properties window select it. Or, select the Hardware tab and click on the Device Manager... button.
    4. Scroll down the list of devices in the Device Manager window and click the plus symbol in front of Ports (COM & LPT).
    5. Click on the port your instrument is connected to (Communications Port (COM1) or Communications Port (COM2) for example) and then click on the Properties button at the bottom of the window.
    6. Select the Port Settings tab and click on the Advanced button.
    7. On the Advanced Port Settings for COM1 (or COM2) select Low from the Transmit Buffer drop down menu and click the OK button.
    8. Continue to click on OK to close out all windows including System Properties window.


Configuration settings using Windows 95:
  1. Select a baud rate of 9600 or below (300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800 or 9600).
  2. Select hardware handshaking for flow control (called Hard Flagging on these scopes).
  3. Set the transmit buffer on the controller (your PC) to 1 byte.

    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
    2. Right-click on System and select Open from the right-click menu.
    3. If there is a tab for Device Manager on the System Properties window select it. Or, select the Hardware tab and click on the Device Manager... button.
    4. Scroll down the list of devices in the Device Manager window and click the plus symbol in front of Ports (COM & LPT).
    5. Click on the port your instrument is connected to (Communications Port (COM1) or Communications Port (COM2) for example) and then click on the Properties button at the bottom of the window.
    6. Select the Port Settings tab and click on the Advanced button.
    7. On the Advanced Settings for COM1 (or COM2) use the slide control to set the transmit buffer to Low (1) and click on the OK button.
    8. Continue to click on OK to close out all windows including System Properties window. On some versions of Windows, close the Device Manager Window by clicking the X in the upper right corner.


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Report Date: 08/22/2002
Last Updated: 06/02/2004
Document ID: 2OLC5KBJ

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