Setting Up

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Serial IR Tower

Follow these instructions if you have a serial IR tower. This type of tower only works on PCs (IBM PC compatible computers), since iMac computers do not have a serial port. It will work with any version of RoboLab, and it is good for older PCs that don't have a USB port.

  1. Open the back of the tower and insert a 9-volt battery. Be sure the + and - signs on the battery line up with the + and - signs inside the tower and that the battery is firmly seated.
  2. Find the serial cable. It is about 6 feet long, gray, and has a D-shaped connector on each end with 9 holes.
  3. Plug one end of the serial cable into the IR tower, and the other end into a serial port on the back of your computer. The serial port is the one with 9 pins matching the serial cable. If there is more than one 9 pin port, any one will work.

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