Programming the serial port

[Nubits]

Hello everybody!
I'm programming in VB6, but now I have a problem with programming the serial port... To tell you the truth, this is my first time using some COM port in my project, so I'll be very happy and thankful if you help me... well, here is the situation:

I have a device, which can give an electric impule (5V (is this the correct value for the serial port?)) in some period of time. For example: 1sec. - impulse, 4sec. - off, 3sec. - impulse, 6sec. - off and so on... My questions are:
1. How can I connect this device to the serial port...
2. What kind of code should I use, to be able to recognize the impulses...for example: a value returns "1", when there is an impulse, and "0" when there is no...

Please give me an idea, what I should do!

Respectfully yours: Nubits

[dglienna]

I don't know how you would do that. The serial port normally reads the port at a high speed (300-9600 times per second) known as the BAUD RATE.

I think you would need a driver, or some other hardware to do it.

[wossname]

Find a specification sheet for the RS232 port (serial) and read all about the pinouts and voltages. You don't want to destroy your mother board by overloading the port.