COM Port Splitting?

[mibzzer15]

I did a quick forum search for it but did not find much info.

But is there a way to share a single COM port with 2 applications?

What I want to do is run audio recording software for my scanner, but also be able to access it with another program at the same time. (Btw the audio recording program is using com port for logging too.)

Hopefully there is a free application "out there" that can do this. Thank you.

Plus are there any downsides to doing this?

 

[Keith_W7KEW]

No You can not run two devices off one com port. The serial port is an electronic circuit not a software setting. You will have to use two separate seiral ports to control the devices.

 

[mibzzer15]

I am not trying to run 2 devices with 1 com port. What I am trying to do is run 1 scanner, from 1 com port, but use 2 different applications with it at 1 time. Hopefully that is a clearer explanation :/ Thanks!

 

[Keith_W7KEW]

I See. Well what happens is the software has to take control of the COM port and then release it when it has finshed it's task so that another software program could control the COM port to accomplish it's task then release it. It could be done via the software programs, but each writer of the software program would have to write that feature into their software.

 

[mibzzer15]

Ahh I see. Ok well Thank you Keith_W7KEW!

 

[K9WG]

You are at the mercy of the programmer on this one. I have built some applications to access my scanner and made them to release the com port when not in use just for that reason. Only other solution is to use two separate com ports.

 

[mibzzer15]

Since I am using the Uniden USB cord, is it possible to have the scanner plugged into 2 USB ports (with a splitter) and it still work with 2 different programs?

 

[kb0nly]

Actually there is a way to do this... I have been using GPSGate for years to split a single GPS receiver on say com port 1 to 2-3 different applications at the same time, it creates a virtual com port for additional applications and relays the incoming data to each port for each application.

There is plenty of virtual com port duplicator applications out there, take your pick and do a google search. I know one guy that uses an app to split the incoming data on the serial port from his scanner between two different programs as well, i don't know which program he uses as there is a ton out there, would have to ask him.

 

[mibzzer15]

Thank you!

 

[poltergeisty]

Here are a few apps that may help you on your quest.

HW VSP (Virtual Serial Port) - Free Virtual Serial Port to connect any TCP/IP Terminal server to your Windows as a virtual serial port

Freeware

You could install the virtual com port and direct your scanner application to that com port then use serproxy to send the converted serial data to TCP to your local machine. When you download serproxy, make sure to rename the readme file with the extension .txt to read it.

You could also use two virtual com ports for both applications. Just direct the application to the virtual com port numbers then configure serproxy's com port and IP port settings. I hope this makes sense. :lol:

Good luck.

 

[poltergeisty]

This just uses a switch. RS232 Expander

You could also run VMware and direct com port data to the virtual machine.

Download Vmware workstation (It has a trial period) create an installation of windows. Now download Vmware player and run the vm image with it. You now have a free virtual workstation sense VMware player is free.

So what you are doing is setting up application one to run on the host machine and application two will run in Vmware player via the installed virtual com port and serproxy.

 

[poltergeisty]

Here is an easier utility to use rather than serproxy. With net2com you can open multiple instances of the utility. So you can direct traffic to com 1 and com 2

MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service

Found this: Share real serial ports between applications. Split serial port to be used by several apps.

Download Netcom 1.0 Free - Netcom will allow you to talk to COM ports over a TCP/IP connection. - Softpedia

Advanced Virtual COM Port description
Create virtual COM ports connected with virtual null-modem cable, share COM port

Advanced Virtual COM Port is the first application of its kind that includes both local and network virtual COM port functions.

It can share your real COM ports or it can create virtual COM ports and connect them with a virtual null-modem cable locally or through a TCP/IP network or the Internet.

Download Advanced Virtual COM Port 2.4 Free Trial - Create virtual COM ports connected with virtual null-modem cable, share COM port - Softpedia

 

[mibzzer15]

Thank you very much poltergeisty, I will have to look through your list and see what works. Thanks!

 

[poltergeisty]

Check your PM too! :lol:

 

[ElenRey]

split serial port

Try this Serial Port Splitter - Serial Port Splitter - RS232 Splitter - COM port Splitter