COM port looping/echoing

[Guest]

I have two Windows applications that both require the same NMEA (serial)
input from two separate COM ports (2&4). They work fine indivdually, but
second reports COM ports 2 & 4 already in use if I try to run them together.
Is it possible to configure XP Prof. to allow both to use the same sources
simultaneously? If not is it possible to configure data to be echoed/looped
internally to other available, but not neccessarily physical COM ports?

 

[Guest]

I have two Windows applications that both require the same NMEA (serial)
input from two separate COM ports (2&4). They work fine indivdually, but
second reports COM ports 2 & 4 already in use if I try to run them together.
Is it possible to configure XP Prof. to allow both to use the same sources
simultaneously? If not is it possible to configure data to be echoed/looped
internally to other available, but not neccessarily physical COM ports?

I forgot to add that both applications require NMEA data input only; i.e.
there are no handshaking issues.

If not configureable under OS can anyone recommend a Windows application
that will solve problem.

Finally I know I could resolve this by running extra cables paralled up from
NMEA sources, but would like to avoid this as running out of physical COM
ports.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

Please take these questions to the windowsxp.configuration_manage and
windowsxp.hardware newsgroups.