Any Hyperterminal experts out there?

[5065AGuru]

Hi,

I've been using HyperTerminal for MANY years in my lab on a laptop to take data from time interval counters.
Recently while testing a new counter I encountered a weird (at least to me!) display.
When I opened a new connection I had saved, instead of getting the normal window I was used to, I got a black screen window that  did show the data I was receiving but was missing the bar at the top for selections.
There was a row of rectangular "button" selections down the left side of the black window.
After determining that it was caused by that particular saved connection I re-input the parameters for the connection and resaved it. Now I'm back to what I normally see.
My question is what was that screen I was on and why was it there?

Stumped!

Corby

[Lindley]

No idea on your actual problem, but many would suggest using more capable free programs like TeraTerm or PuTTY.

[rsjsouza]

Corby, I vaguely recall having hit a similar weird screen requiring reinstall of the Hyperterminal, but unfortunaley the details escape me.

By then I was already testing other programs and Teraterm's scripting capabilites were the choice.

[nctnico]

Hi,

I've been using HyperTerminal for MANY years in my lab on a laptop to take data from time interval counters.
Recently while testing a new counter I encountered a weird (at least to me!) display.
When I opened a new connection I had saved, instead of getting the normal window I was used to, I got a black screen window that  did show the data I was receiving but was missing the bar at the top for selections.
My question is what was that screen I was on and why was it there?

It could be invoked by an escape sequence from random data. Unfortunately a weak point of hyperterminal is that it can get upset by some escape sequences.

[MathWizard]

I just installed Putty again, after not being able to tell, if command promt in win10, is actually the "terminal" thing. I'm pretty green at this stuff. I don't know "terminal" any amount, but if windows command prompt, was 1 thing (and maybe DOS looking at one point) ...Is Win terminal the same thing, or I should look up terminal again

I tried to use Command Prompt to connect to a BusPirate. So IDK if that should work, but IDK if I could access the COM ports, with some commands? Or if WinTerminal is a whole seperate thing. Google did not resolve that for me, but I'm asking noob questions.

[rsjsouza]

In the context of this thread, "terminal" is a specific program that allows you to communicate with a serial communication port.

Teraterm
Putty
Termite

You can use the Windows Command Prompt to access the COM ports, but it is quite limited. It is mostly used to run commands and other programs.

[SilverSolder]

Hyperterminal may have gone into terminal emulation mode for an ancient system of some kind.

I use it occasionally, as well as Putty.   Can't beat the simplicity of Hyperterminal, and it does what I need 99% of the time...

I'm going to take a look at the others mentioned by @rsjsouza

[rsjsouza]

Each has their own strengths. I normally use Teraterm more often, but putty has better ssh support and Termite allows you to control DTR, RTS pins individually (useful to talk to my UT61E via a simple serial port).

[Tom45]

I used Hyperterminal for many years. At first because it was there. And later just through inertia. But it was a pretty dreadful utility.

Then Microsoft dropped Hyperterminal and I was forced to look elsewhere. I settled on Realterm, way better in features and usability than Hyperterminal.

I kick myself for putting up with Hyperterminal for all those years.