Maybe I should point out that I only bought this Win98 box to control my empeg so I could be doing something really stupid. I only ever see Macs in the industry I work in. I'm learning but not that quick!

Aha. I assumed I was speaking to someone who knew DOS/Windows.

Okay, try this.

1) Plug the Empeg in via the serial cable. Make sure you know whether it's plugged into COM1 or COM2.

1a) Optional: It might be a good idea to make sure the serial connection is working first by using Emplode to do a small synch via the serial cable: Go into the Emplode options menu and select COM1 or COM2 (whichever the Empeg is plugged into), then exit and restart Emplode. If it downloads the playlists at that point, then the serial cable is working.

2) Exit the Emplode software.

3) Run the Hyperterminal program (HYPERTRM.EXE) that came with Windows. It should be under start/programs/accessories/communications or something like that. If it's not there, it might not have been installed when Windows was set up. Go to start/settings/control panel/add-remove programs/windows setup/communications/details, and get Hyperterminal installed. You'll need the original Windows 98 CD when it prompts you for it.

4) Once you run HYPERTRM.EXE, it'll prompt you for a name for this new connection. Call it "Empeg" or something.

5) The next box asks you for the dialing information. The bottom box says "Connect using:". Switch it to "Direct to COM1" or "Direct to COM2", as appropriate.

6) The next box will ask you for your port settings. Select 115200 bits per second, 8 data bits, Parity: None, Stop bits 1, Flow control: None, then press OK.

7) You should be able to type those commands into the terminal window now. For example N(return) and P(return) should get you Next and Previous.

8) If you use the Developer version of the Empeg firmware, I'm pretty sure it responds back with extra information through the serial connection (although I haven't tried that yet).



-- Tony Fabris -- Empeg #144 --
Caution: Do not look into laser with remaining good eye.