COMM Extender enables 16-Bit Serial Communication Software (DOS or Win16) that read serial ports to run in Windows environment.
With COMM Extender it's now easy to run old and new DOS serial communication software in modern Windows environment. With ease you connect to standard onboard serial ports like COM1 and COM2, serial ports on a multiport card (PCI-Bus, PCIe-Bus etc.), serial ports on USB adapter or Ethernet Port Server (COMM Server).
Extend the life of your DOS Serial Communication Application with minimal investment. No programming needed. Just install COMM-Extender under Windows and get it back to life.
After installation, COMM Extender creates a default configuration with the computers serial ports found and any 16-Bit serial communication software can be executed immediately. This default configuration can be easily changed.
Sample configuration:
Using Windows COM2 with a 16 bit DOS program that uses direct hardware access to port address 2F8 and interrupt 3 (IRQ3).
[PORT1]
BASE=2F8
IRQ=3
WIN32COM=2
COMM Extender supports eight (8) ports simultaneously (PORT1 to PORT8). Custom implementations supporting more ports are possible on request. The used Windows Number "WIN32COM" can be any one between 1 and 255.
COMM Port Redirection
The COMM Extender software also supports Port Redirection to any Windows COMM Port. It's easy to setup a configuration to redirect for example DOS COM1 (3F8, IRQ4) physically to the Windows COM5. Thus the 16 bit application will use as usual port address 3F8 and interrupt 4 (IRQ4) but the data will be physically routed through Windows COM5.
[PORT1]
BASE=3F8
IRQ=4
WIN32COM=5
The Windows COMM port can be any serial device visible in Windows control panel as serial COMx (internal COM1/COM2, serial PCI card, USB to Serial, Ethernet to Serial, PortServer etc.)
Rewrite a 16-Bit software ?
It is surely an option but not always possible and affordable. Missing source code or documentation often makes it impossible to rewrite. The COMM Extender software may provide the perfect solution here, reliable, fast and cost effective.
Use DOS Software with a USB-to-Serial converter ?
Yes! Use the Port Redirection feature of COMM-Extender. The installer will usually configure any serial ports found and that includes Virtual COMM Ports, for example USB-to-Serial adapter / converter or Ethernet-to-Serial (Port-Server, COMM-Server) too. The same procedure for Ethernet-to-Serial converter. COMM Extender enables the 16 Bit DOS software to access USB serial devices or Ethernet serial devices the easy way.
Can I use it with my POS Cash Terminal ?
Yes! It's a perfect solution. Try it out with your cash POS software (Point of Sale Software).
Can I use it with my DOS PLC application?
Normaly Yes! The PLC application is often running even faster. Try it out!
Need to support higher baud rates with your DOS software?
You can easily configure baud rates higher than 115200 bps with COMM Extender (as far as your serial hardware supports). You can also fix the baud rate no matter your DOS software sets.
Failed to get a legacy MS-DOS application running under Windows 2000, Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 ?
COMM Extender usually resolves that issues with DOS serial communication software. Try COMM Extender with your software.
What does the "Fee for Testing the DOS Software" offer ?
In case the COMM-Extender Test-Version does not work as expected with the 16-Bit application, our technicians can analyse and debug the DOS software using special tools in order to locate compatibility issues and try to eliminate the cause for the problem. For this service a small flat fee is charged. For problems related to the serial communications the success rate is very high.
What other benefits when using COMM Extender ?
System requirements
Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2003 Server, Windows XP, Vista, Windows 2008 Server or Windows 7.
In order to test your 16 bit application with COMM Extender, a time limited version is available.
Software packages (Price list)
| Product | Amount of License* |
| COMM-Extender/1 | 1 |
| COMM-Extender/3 | 3 |
| COMM-Extender/5 | 5 |
| COMM-Extender/10 | 10 |
FAQ
Q: Problems running DOS software under Windows ?
A: If your software is performing serial I/O then COMM Extender might be the solution. Try the time limited Trial-Version offered to see if the problem goes away with COMM Extender.
Q: The DOS software is using 3F8 and interrupt 4 (IRQ4). Windows offers COM1 and COM2 but the serial port COM1 ist used by a software dongle. COM2 is available. Can the DOS software use COM2 instead ?
A: Yes, the following configuration will do it.
[PORT1]
BASE=3F8
IRQ=4
WIN32COM=2
Q: The Notebook used offers an internal Modem listed as COM3. Is it usable with the DOS software ?
A: Yes, just add, if not already done, a configuration that can be used by the DOS software. The following example is using 3F8 and IRQ4 for COM3.
[PORT1]
BASE=3F8
IRQ=4
WIN32COM=3
Q: The DOS software can use 3F8/IRQ4 and 2F8/IRQ3. Windows offers COM5 to COM8 on a PCI card. How to control COM5 to COM6 with the DOS software ?
A: As far as the DOS software can control both ports simultaneously, the following configuration can be set.
[PORT1]
BASE=3F8
IRQ=4
WIN32COM=5
[PORT2]
BASE=2F8
IRQ=3
WIN32COM=6
WIN32COM accordingly.
Q: A DOS software does not access directly the serial port but calls into BIOS/DOS. Is it supported ?
A: Yes. COMM Extender also offers a DOS driver that handles BIOS calls.
Q: Was does the name "PORT1" stand for ?
A: The standard COMM Extender can control up to eight serial ports concurrently. Each serial port under control is listed under sections called PORT1 to PORT8. Each section lists the parameter used for this particular connection.
[PORT1]
Q: What values must appear in the configuration file (SUPERCOM.INI) ?
A: COMM-Extender expects at least the serial port address (BASE) and the Windows COMM Number in order to address a serial port.
[PORT8]
BASE=100
WIN32COM=16
Q: Ist it possible to enter the value for the parameter "BASE" in decimal ?
A: No, COMM-Extender expects the Port-Address ("BASE") to be a hexadecimal value. Other parameters may be decimal.
