>I have a device that sends streaming serial data in an ascii format.
>The overall string is seperated by a carriage return and the fields in
>that string are seperated by a space.  I'm creating an application to
>receive the data and sort it out.  The problem I'm having is with the
>routine that receives the data.  Another routine I've got that
>searches for serial ports then goes to this routine to see if what is
>available at that port is the expected string type.  What is happening
>is that the initial data received from the input buffer appears to be
>garbage.  Then after awhile the data looks fine.  Unfortunately the
>data I have saved as the string is the one that contains the garbage.
>What have I got hosed here.  I'm icluding a copy of the routine.
>Thanks in advance.

>mike

>Private Function ModemCommand(APEXSearch) As Integer
>Dim strDataIn as String
>strDataIn = ""

>ModemCommand = 2 'initialize setting for error to FindComPort Routine
>MSComm1.Settings = "38400,N,8,1"
>MSComm1.InputLen = 0
>MSComm1.InputMode = comInputModeText 'only want Ascii

>'Try a brief pause to allow data to be received if on Comm 1
>Sleep (500)
>strDataIn = MSComm1.Input
>   'Search string for unique identifiers to the string
>   If (InStr(strDataIn, Chr(13))) And (InStr(strDataIn, strFirm)) Then
> ModemCommand = 0 'no error, correct string
>   Else
> ModemCommand = 1 'look to next port
>   EndIf
>End Function