thanks Pirate, but I must say that it appears that using the comm port just got a bit more difficult. I have a few questions---
VB Code:
  1. m_CommPort.Open(m_ModemPort, 115200, 8, Rs232.DataParity.Parity_None, Rs232.DataStopBit.StopBit_1, 4096)
this is how you open the comm port. Can I define the behavior of the port during an init segment of code and omit the arguements?
VB Code:
  1. m_CommPort.Write(Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(Me.txtUserCommand.Text & Chr(13)))
Do I alway need to specify the encoding? or can I set it to default ASCII?
VB Code:
  1. m_CommPort.Write(Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes("AT" & Chr(13)))

  2.             ' Sleep long enough for the modem to respond and the timer to fire.

  3.             System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(200) '<===

  4.             Application.DoEvents()

  5.             m_CommPort.Close()
what is the purpose of the Thread.Sleep statement?

finally--- Is it really that bad to stick with MSCOMM32.OCX?
thanks
kevin