concerns about data transfering rate

I wrote an application in VB6 that will upload data from SQL to a hardware using MSComm, each set of data will contain around 23 character and each time i am sending approximately 500 sets of data to the MSComm. The serial cable im using as the bridge between the computer and hardware is a RS-232. I have tried sending each data set 1 by 1, meaning MSComm.Output = "23 chars of string" but the hardware will get error in receiving, I have solved that by sending each character 1 by 1, the hardware can receive the data correctly for the first 50-70 then the data will be messed up again. Finally I have used a small delay in between the sending of each character and my hardware can acknowledge all data with no error. However the downside of this is the speed of transaction (due to the delay in between the sending of each character).

My question is:
1. Is it the hardware side of problem that it cannot receive data correctly when I send them out in 1 string or with no delay in between each sending character?
2. Is there any suggestion on to how i can improve the efficiency of the data transfer?

Please do not post multiple threads for the same question (original thread here).

Note that the "Application Deployment" forum is for questions about installing/distributing your software - you had the correct forum before.

This thread is now closed.