#5408

Using
HyperTerminal
to Program
Freewave
Radios
April 7, 2005

Setting up the Transceiver using HyperTerminal

Note: The terms Modem and Transceiver are used interchangeably in this manual and in the text of the Setup menu.
While the words have different meanings, the two terms should be treated as one and the same when referring to
FreeWave products.
Note: Included on the User Manual CD is the optional “EZConfig” transceiver setup program and instructions. This
program eliminates the need to use HyperTerminal to program the transceivers.
Once the transceiver is powered and connected with the programming cable to the programming computer, it can be
programmed for use through HyperTerminal or EZConfig.
The following describes how to set HyperTerminal to program the transceivers.

Accessing HyperTerminal’s Setup Menu

Note: The following screen shots are taken from a computer using Windows XP. The display may vary slightly if using
different operating systems.
1. Click on the Start button. A cascading menu appears. Select Programs, Accessories, Communications and then
HyperTerminal. A window appears similar to the following:

FreeWave Technologies, 1880 S. Flatiron Ct., Boulder, CO 80301

Phone: (303) 444-3862, Fax: (303) 786-9948, www.freewave.com
LANxxxxAA Rev A
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Freewave Radios
2. Double-click on the Hypertrm.exe icon. The following window appears.

3. In the Name text box, type in a descriptive name. Select an icon from the Icon selection box.

4. Click on the OK button. The following “Connect To” dialog box appears:

5. Select the connection type to be used from the Connect using drop-down menu. In most cases the connection type
will be either Direct to Com1 or Direct to Com2.

6. Click on the OK button. The Properties dialog box appears for the selected connection type.

FreeWave Technologies, 1880 S. Flatiron Ct., Boulder, CO 80301

Phone: (303) 444-3862, Fax: (303) 786-9948, www.freewave.com
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Using HyperTerminal to Program
Freewave Radios

The following are the port settings which must be set for a proper connection:

Port Setting Menu Option to Select

Bits per second 19200
Data bits 8
Parity None
Stop bits 1
Flow control None

7. After selecting the appropriate menu items for each setting, click on the OK button. The following HyperTerminal
dialog box appears:

FreeWave Technologies, 1880 S. Flatiron Ct., Boulder, CO 80301

Phone: (303) 444-3862, Fax: (303) 786-9948, www.freewave.com
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Using HyperTerminal to Program
Freewave Radios

8. To connect HyperTerminal to the transceiver, press the Setup button on the back of the FreeWave transceiver. If
connected to the diagnostics port, type U (Capital ‘U’) to invoke the Setup menu.

Setup Setup
Button Button

Model FGR-115WC Model FGR-115RC

(Waterproof) (Rugged)

To invoke the Setup menu in board level radios:

1) Short pins 2 & 4 (Brown to Black) on the white 10 pin header next to the LEDs.

2) If using a Programming Cable (P/N ASC3610Dx), press the Setup button.

3) If using the gray ribbon Diagnostic Cable (P/N AC2009DC), or the black Diagnostic Cable (P/N AC0409DC), press
Shift-U (capital U) to invoke the Setup menu.

FreeWave Technologies, 1880 S. Flatiron Ct., Boulder, CO 80301

Phone: (303) 444-3862, Fax: (303) 786-9948, www.freewave.com
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Using HyperTerminal to Program
Freewave Radios
When Setup is invoked, the FreeWave Setup Main Menu will display in the HyperTerminal dialog box. All three
LED’s on the transceiver will light green


and stay green as long as the transceiver is in the Setup mode.

9. Save the HyperTerminal connection settings by selecting Save from the File menu.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Whenever a change is made to the HyperTerminal settings in an open terminal session, the
connection must be disconnected then reconnected before the settings will take effect.

Connecting and Disconnecting from HyperTerminal

The HyperTerminal dialog box displays several icons in the toolbar. To reconnect to HyperTerminal, click on the Disconnect

icon, and then click on the Call icon to reconnect. If the settings have not been saved they must be reselected when
HyperTerminal reconnects to the transceiver.

FreeWave Technologies, 1880 S. Flatiron Ct., Boulder, CO 80301

Phone: (303) 444-3862, Fax: (303) 786-9948, www.freewave.com
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Using HyperTerminal to Program
Freewave Radios

Troubleshooting HyperTerminal
The following are some common issues encountered while using HyperTerminal.
1. Nothing appears on the screen after pressing the Setup button on the transceiver.
This usually indicates one of two things; either the wrong Com port is selected or a null modem RS-232 cable is
being used. Follow the steps below to change the Com ports.
1. Click on the Disconnect button.
2. Select Properties from the File menu.
3. Click on the Connect To tab and verify that the correct Com port is selected.
4. Click on the OK button to close the Properties dialog box.
5. Click on the Call button.
6. Return the transceiver to Setup mode. The Setup menu screen should appear.
2. Gibberish appears on the screen after pressing the Setup button.
This usually indicates a Baud Rate problem. Follow the steps below to change the Baud Rate.
The problem may also be that the transceiver under test is a TTL version and NOT RS-232. Gibberish
BEFORE the Setup button is pressed indicates Diagnostics is enabled in a Master.
1. Click on the Disconnect button.
2. Select Properties from the File menu.
3. Click on the Configure button.
4. Change the Baud Rate to 19200 and click on the OK button.
5. Click on the OK button to close the Properties dialog box.
6. Click on the Call button.
7. Return the transceiver to Setup mode. The Setup menu screen should appear.
3. The Setup menu appears on the screen, but nothing happens when keys on the keyboard are pressed.
This usually indicates a three-wire connection, Rx, Tx & Gnd. Follow the steps below if the connection uses a
three-wire connection.
1. Click on the Disconnect button.
2. Select Properties from the File menu.
3. Click on the Configure button.
4. Change the Flow Control to None and click on the OK button.
5. Click on the OK button to close the Properties dialog box.
6. Click on the Call button.
7. Return the transceiver to Setup mode. The Setup menu screen should appear.
4. A connection exists, data is being received through HyperTerminal, and some data is correct, but the
remaining data is in unrecognizable characters.
This usually indicates a parity mismatch. To resolve this issue, ensure that the parity of the transceiver and
the parity of HyperTerminal are set the same. HyperTerminal’s parity settings are under Properties and the
FreeWave parity is found under the Baud Rate in the Setup mode.
1. Click on the Disconnect button.
2. Select Properties from the File menu.
3. Click on the Configure button.
4. Change the Parity to None and click on the OK button.
5. Click on the OK button to close the Properties dialog box.
6. Click on the Call button.
Return the transceiver to Setup mode. The Setup menu screen should appear.

For additional troubleshooting for HyperTerminal, call FreeWave Technical Support at (303) 444 3862.

FreeWave Technologies, 1880 S. Flatiron Ct., Boulder, CO 80301

Phone: (303) 444-3862, Fax: (303) 786-9948, www.freewave.com
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