For me, reading from the serial port, I usually have to convert the data in into the desired format. The instrument I am reading from in the example is a torque controller that is manually operated. I monitor the port continuously and when data comes in I read it. It comes in as astring and I convert it based on the manufacturer'sspec as to what each ASCII character coming in represents. I had to get a hex to ASCII conversion table from the internet -- just search for it -- to understand some of the numbers coming in. (If the torque read high, an extra character was sent, a hex 48, which in ASCII is a capital H) so I had to handle that message differently. The big thing is to understand what the instrument is putting out and hyperterminal is a way of doing that. I am trying to include pictures.... we'll see if it works!