What Is the Best Hardware to Analyze Serial Port Activity?

For engineers, RS232 packet sniffing hardware delivers a great option to diagnose and repair network problems. This hardware empowers engineers to analyze the functionality of any COM port application and identify communication errors of serial port devices and applications.

Monitoring serial port activity, however, remains an ongoing challenge for engineers. Fortunately, state-of-the-art hardware is available that allows engineers to analyze serial port activity quickly and easily.

At Stratus Engineering, we offer a variety of best-in-class hardware to help you monitor serial ports. That way, you’ll be able to capture data instantly and benefit from a top-of-the-line solution that recognizes how to track serial port activity effectively.

Here’s a closer look at two of our top hardware options for serial port activity analysis.

1. EZ-Tap™ Pro

Want to find out how to monitor serial port activity without delay? Choose EZ-Tap Pro, which serves as an RS232 sniffer that overcomes the latency and time-tagging problems commonly associated with many dual COM port monitoring solutions.

With exact hardware microsecond time-tagging of all RS232 data and handshaking events, EZ-Tap Pro offers perhaps the best way to track serial port activity. This hardware also captures and time-tags state changes on all six RS232 handshaking lines, features driver software that is compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/10 and offers other distinct features that make it a viable long-term option for engineers.

EZ-Tap Pro delivers exceptional value, and this hardware is available at a fraction of the cost of many conventional COM port monitoring offerings. Plus, EZ-Tap Pro remains a small, convenient choice for those who demand high-quality hardware to monitor serial ports.

2. Versa Tap™

Versa-Tap boasts outstanding data-logging and analyzer capabilities that make it a favorite for many engineers.

This hardware delivers numerous features that ensure you’ll have no trouble capturing data, including:

• A screw-terminal communication interface connection that guarantees you can install the hardware immediately.
• Consistent support for baud rates up to 2,500,000 bits/second.
• No bulky cabling.
• Immediate USB access from any Microsoft Windows host computer.
• Comprehensive driver software for MS Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/10 (both x32 and x64).

Versa-Tap even supports synchronous HDLC analysis and delivers exact hardware microsecond time-tagging of all data transfers and handshaking events. Therefore, Versa-Tap offers a powerful hardware solution that enables you to reap the rewards of first-rate electronics and extraordinary data-logging and analyzer capabilities day after day.

It also is important to note that both EZ-Tap Pro and Versa-Tap use the same device driver. As such, we provide engineers with the EZ-Tap Pro/Versa-Tap application programming interface (API) that further enhances the value of these hardware offerings.

This API allows you to develop custom software that interfaces directly with EZ-Tap Pro or Versa-Tap. It interfaces directly with the hardware for low-latency access and delivers precise microsecond time-tagging for all data and handshaking events, providing a superb serial port monitoring tool for engineers.

When it comes to analyzing your serial port activity, both EZ-Tap Pro and Versa-Tap offer amazing support. And with the Stratus Engineering team at your disposal, you’ll be able to maximize the value of your RS232 packet sniffing hardware, too.

To learn more about our EZ-Tap Pro and Versa-Tap offerings, please contact us today at (858) 663-1841.