Device Manager

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Go to Start Menu, click on "Devices & Printers" to enter into the Device Manager

Add a device

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Click the "Add a device" button to queue the computer to search for Bluetooth devices.

Add Kestrel

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Find the Kestrel model number and serial number that matches your Kestrel, and double-click on the icon to select it.

Enter Pairing Code

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Click on the option labeled, "Enter the device's pairing code."

Pairing Code

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Enter your Kestrel's pairing code in the box provided. This is the PIN in the Bluetooth menu of your Kestrel &emdash; simply use the down button to scroll to the Info, then press the center button (-) to enter into the Info menu. The PIN is at the bottom of this info block, it should be a 4 digit number. Click "Next" to complete the pairing process

K4500 Properties

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Once the device has been added to your computer, right clicking it and selecting "Properties" will allow the Properties window to pop up. Click on the Hardware tab (shown here) to determine which Com port has been assigned to the device.

Terminal Emulator

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If the Kestrel Communicator Software appears to not accept the appropriate Com port specified in the Hardware tab of the device properties, the disconnect between the Kestrel and Software can be determined with the help of a terminal emulator program. In this case we are using HyperTerminal &emdash; a program which came included in all Windows versions below Vista. If you have the appropriate Windows version, click on the Start Menu, then go to the Accessories folder, then to the Communications folder, and HyperTerminal should be in there. Do not open HyperTerminal until you have followed steps 8 and 9.

Computer Manage

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HyperTerminal connections require some information regarding how the information is exchanged between the Kestrel and PC. This information can be found from the Com Port properties. To get this information, right click on My Computer (or Computer for newer Windows OSs), and click on Manage.

Com ports 20

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On the left side towards toe bottom of System Tools, click on Device Manager. Find the Ports (COM & LPT) folder, click once to expand it, and then right click on the appropriate Com Port that corresponds to your Kestrel (from Step 6). Click on the Port Settings tab, it should reflect the same information shown here. If not, this should be changed to the appropriate settings now.

Default Telnet Program

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Now the terminal emulator program may be started. If this is the first time it is used, it will ask if it should be made the default Telnet program, simply click no to proceed to the next window.

Session Name

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You may type a name (and select an icon) for this session.

HyperTerminal Com Selection

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This window requires only the area code and what port should be used for the connection. The Com Port found from either Steps 6 or 9 should be selected, then hit OK.

HyperTerminal Blank Session

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If a true connection was made between the terminal emulator and the Kestrel, a ">" with a blinking underscore "_" should appear. Additionally, in the Bluetooth menu on the Kestrel, where it reads "Ready" should change to "Connected". This connection will allow access to the Kestrel's data (both stored and real-time) through the use of a few simple commands.

HyperTerminal Commands

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As shown here, the O (not zero) command followed by a carriage return will provide a single string of real-time data with no units attached; the P command will return a real-time string (updated at 1 Hz) of the same measurements; the S command will return a full string of all the measurements, including units. Lastly, the B command will perform a "data dump" and copy all the data from the Kestrel to the HyperTerminal window. This data can be cut and pasted into a word document (to be saved as a .txt file) and then imported to Excel as a comma delimited document.