First of all hello to all, I'm new to the board and new to CNC, looks like a nice place to hang out. ;)

I've got a Boss 5 with a serial connector for the PC. Seller called it a tape emulator, I've heard them called BTR (behind the reader). I'm trying to input a small g-code program using Hyper Terminal in win2k. I've got the port set to 300 baud, 8 data bits, 2 stop bits, non parity and Xon/Xoff enabled. I've tried various other port configurations and still no luck. The seller told me to do as follows:

flip reset inside tape drive panel,
turn knob to setup
turn edit/rdi to edit and depress
at this point my screen displays:
Boss 5.0
>Input
Next I'm suppossed to load the file from text
After the file has been received the edit light should got out, it doesn't
Next I'm to move the mode switch from setup to auto
Start spindle
Start Cycle.

The spindle starts but the table doesn't move and the edit light doesn't go out, however the run light does come on. The machine ran this very same program when I picked it up so I know I'm doing something wrong. Unfortunately the seller has a whole bunch of mills and doesn't remember all the specifics of this machine, he is trying to find some notes for port settings etc. I can jog the table and spindle in setup mode. Any ideas?

Have you tried a hardware handshake? I'd be surprised if something that....dated...would be sophisticated enough to use Xon/Xoff. Just a guess, I have no clue, really.

Yep, tried that. I'm searching the web for a com port monitor program to make sure the data is getting to the mill. I know I'm getting data back since it's reports back Boss 5.0 >Input.

I made a mistake in my original post. I'm actually inputing to the ERS board using an RS232 cable provided with the machine if this makes any difference. Does anyone know of a CNC specific terminal program I could use rather than Windoze Hyper Terminal?

SUCCESS!

CRTL-Z did it! woohoo! I found out on another board to try pressing CRTL-Z after I send the code, this took the machine out of edit mode and allowed me to run the program. :D

I safeguarded the machine but stacking 4 pieces of hardwood on the table, cutting the top one only about 0.125" down. I ran the sample code that the seller gave me and while wood isn't the best to machine (frayed edges) it did look just like the piece they machined. Now to remember how to zero the machine each time. I'd like to have the zero be right at the center of the table travel for X and Y, is there an easy way to do this?