Docs/Serial Port

Serial Port

NeuroTerm provides native serial port access with full hardware control.

Connection Settings

Port

Select the COM port for your device. NeuroTerm auto-detects available ports.

Windows: COM1, COM3, COM4...

Baud Rate

Communication speed in bits per second. Must match your device.

9600192003840057600115200230400460800921600

115200 is the most common for modern devices.

Data Format

Configure data bits, parity, and stop bits. The default 8N1 works for most devices.

Data Bits
5678
Parity
NoneOddEven
Stop Bits
11.52

Flow Control

Flow control prevents data loss when one device can't keep up with the other.

None

No flow control. Suitable for most modern devices with adequate buffering.

Hardware (RTS/CTS)

Uses RTS and CTS lines. Faster and more reliable, but requires proper cabling.

Software (XON/XOFF)

Uses in-band control characters. Works with any cable but can't send binary data containing those characters.

Control Signals (DTR/RTS)

Hardware control signals used for device reset, bootloader entry, and more.

DTR (Data Terminal Ready)

Indicates the terminal is ready. Often used to reset Arduino boards on connect.

RTS (Request To Send)

Used for hardware flow control or as a GPIO for bootloader modes (ESP32).

Common Use Cases

  • Arduino: DTR toggles on connect to auto-reset
  • ESP32: DTR+RTS sequence enters bootloader
  • Raspberry Pi: No DTR needed for console access

Troubleshooting

Port not showing

Check Device Manager for driver issues. USB-to-serial adapters may need manufacturer drivers (FTDI, CH340, CP210x).

Garbled output

Baud rate mismatch. Try common rates: 9600, 115200, 57600. Check your device documentation.

Access denied

Another application may have the port open. Close other terminal programs or IDE serial monitors.

Device resets on connect

This is normal for Arduino boards (DTR triggers reset). Disable DTR in settings if you don't want this behavior.