I often use HyperTerminal in Windows XP. The problem is that it just supports COM and telnet. I know COM Port is very old-fashioned, but I can't replace it with USB because there is no such program for USB.
Is USB bad for connecting computers? Or I just mistaked something?
1 Answer
First, you should use PuTTY instead of Hyperterminal as it's better in pretty much every way.
A terminal will commonly work with the following methods of communication:
- Telnet using TCP/IP
- SSH using TCP/IP
- Serial port using RS-232
The first two require the device you are trying to reach has an IP and supports the protocol in question. The second requires the device be connected to your system via a COM port on Windows.
Now if you are expecting to do a RS-232 style terminal connection over USB, it must be a USB serial port. You can buy RS-232 to USB converters. Some devices have a USB port that implements a RS-232 to USB converter internally. On Windows, for any kind of hardware like this, you'll likely need to install a manufacturer-provided driver - this is probably why you are having trouble. Then, in devmgmt.msc, under Ports, you'll see an extra COM port. You can use this to talk to your device through PuTTY (or Hyperterminal, if you insist.)
