COMM Extender

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for the 32 bit version of
Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10

Areas of application and Customers Trial Version 32 Bit

Version 3.01 Price List Call Me Back Translate

Legacy 16 bit DOS and Windows Serial Communication program under Windows (32 bit)

16-Bit Serial Communication Software accessing serial ports under Windows

COMM Extender enables 16-Bit Serial Communication Software (DOS or Win16) that read serial ports to run in Windows 32 bit environment.

A software application written for DOS or Windows 3.x and Windows 95/98 was mainly 16 Bit. This type of software needs special support to control the hardware of the serial ports under Windows 32 bit. The COMM Extender does provide this special support quietly in the background.

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 file (.INI) with the computers serial ports found and any 16-Bit serial communication software can be executed and use available serial ports immediately.

• Nearly every serial port visible in Windows is accessible.
• COMM Extender runs completely in background. No visual user interface.
• COMM Extender does not consume any resources if no 16-Bit application is currently up and running.

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.

COMM Extender perceives standard onboard serial ports like COM1 and COM2, but also serial ports on a multiport card (PCI-Bus, PCIe-Bus etc.) as serial ports on USB adapter or Ethernet Port Server (i.e. COMM Server). Data Communication Applications running protocols requiring short response times should prefer onboard or PCI / PCIe cards. USB or Ethernet adapters generate delays (latency). For very short response times try when needed the MP2-PCIe-RS232.

Sample configuration (.ini)
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.)

Can I 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 through their native 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 16 bit DOS or Windows 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 ?
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 your 16-Bit application, our technicians can analyse and debug your 16 bit DOS or Windows 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 ?

• COMM Extender provides a time saving and cost effective solution
• COMM Extender increases data throughput in most cases
• COMM Extender extends the life of your DOS legacy applications

System requirements
A 32 bit version of Windows e.g. Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, Windows NT.

In order to test your 16 bit application with COMM Extender, a time limited version is available.

Software packages   (Price list)

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

[PORT1]
BASE=3F8
IRQ=4
WIN32COM=2

[PORT1]
BASE=3F8
IRQ=4
WIN32COM=3

[PORT1]
BASE=3F8
IRQ=4
WIN32COM=5

[PORT2]
BASE=2F8
IRQ=3
WIN32COM=6

[PORT1]

[PORT8]
BASE=100
WIN32COM=16

[PORT1]
BASE=3F8
IRQ=4
WIN32COM=1
DTR=0
RTS=0

[PORT1]
BASE=3F8
IRQ=4
WIN32COM=1
DTR=0
CONSTANT_DTR=1

[PORT1]
BASE=3F8
IRQ=4
WIN32COM=1
RS485=1