triggering TMS machine via serial port (com1)

[Paul Gr]

Hi Bianca,

Could you specify which pins of the COM port are used for triggering... This 
is very important because the LPT port functions very different compared to 
LPT ports. You could use any of the handshake output lines (like DTR and 
RTS), but then you would have to use a different port address instead (3FC). 
Address 3F8 is the register which is used for serial communication (Rx/Tx 
lines). This can be used, but only when you know what you are doing because 
transmission on the Tx line will be a serial bit pattern. The baudrate will 
determine the clock speed of this pattern. There is also another thing to 
realize before tying up COM ports to anything else: output voltages of COM 
port pins can be anywhere between -18 and +18 Volt. Not all hardware is 
designed to handle such voltages


On the following web page the RTS and DTR output lines are used for a 
different purpose (power supply), but the information might help a bit:
http://www.psy.vu.nl/download/menu/xml/eprime_howto_port_com.xml

best,
Paul



>From: "B de Haan" <bianca.de-haan at klinikum.uni-tuebingen.de>
>To: <eprime at mail.talkbank.org>
>Subject: triggering TMS machine via serial port (com1)
>Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 16:10:38 +0100
>
>Hi all,
>
>
>
>I would like to trigger a TMS machine (Magstim SuperRapid) in E-prime via
>the serial port and somehow nothing I try works. Is there anyone out there
>who has successfully managed this?
>
>
>
>I have tried:
>
>
>
>1) Similarly to the logic when triggering the LPT1 port, adding a bit of
>inline script after the stimulus:
>
>WritePort &H03F8, 255
>
>WritePort &H03F8, 255
>
>WritePort &H03F8, 255
>
>WritePort &H03F8, 0
>
>Adding the port as device never used to be necessary when I used the
>parallel port, but I tried it in all possible permutations of with/without
>adding a port device and with/without adding a serial device
>
>
>
>2) I tried the solution mentioned in the post on
>http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609E
><http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609E&L=EPRIME&P=R2&I=-3>
>&L=EPRIME&P=R2&I=-3
>
>
>
>3) I tried using all the SerialWrite methods (Serial.WriteByte,
>Serial.WriteInteger, Serial.WriteLong, Serial.WriteString), although I must
>confess I was not always sure how to use these commands to set the serial
>port to HIGH. This again I tried with all possible permutations of
>with/without adding a port device and with/without adding a serial device.
>
>
>
>So, can anyone help me? I never had any problems with the Magstim Rapids,
>since they are triggered via the parallel port, but somehow I cannot manage
>to get a trigger through the serial port. Is there anyone out there using
>the new Magstim SuperRapids together with E-prime (or anyone else who might
>have an idea as to what I am doing wrong)?
>
>
>
>Any help would be greatly appreciated,
>
>
>
>Bianca de Haan
>

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