Networking Computers through a Serial Cable. Need Some Help!

[ChooChooBot]

I'm a huge Mech Commander fan. I'm Looking into having some battles with friends and family. The only thing is that the game can only be connected locally by a serial cable. I'm running the game on two laptops I got for free. The laptops are a Dell Latitude CPt, and they are currently running Windows XP. I have tried to network them using the network preferences but they are having a hard time finding each other. My LAN Cable works great but, Mech Commander does not run on that technology. Any help would be appreciated.

[Hobie-wan]

'Networking' through a serial cable isn't networking so all the net stuff in the windows control panel isn't going to help you. If the game supports the serial setup it will have its own protocol stuff to talk through it. Check in device manager to see what com port number has been assigned as the game will probably ask for that. Then hook up the cable and then see if the games can see to connect to each other.

[CRTGAMER]

Had to look it up. The serial connection made me think of older DOS games such as Mech Warrior. How about Mech Commander 2, it supports LAN.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MechCommander_2

[ChooChooBot]

I'm trying to set this up for the original Mech Commander. Number 2 is a great game but the original is the best imo.

[isiolia]

You aren't, as mentioned, really doing networking. You also need a specific style of serial cable (or adapter) called a null modem cable - kind of like an ethernet crossover cable, it has a couple pins swapped.

My brothers and I would occasionally move one of our computers into another's room for a day to play NetMech, Warcraft 2, Quake, etc over null modem back in the day. It's good fun, though limited in that you can only have two people play.

The wiki article indicates that dosbox supports a virtual null modem connection, which might make for an easier setup.

[ChooChooBot]

You aren't, as mentioned, really doing networking. You also need a specific style of serial cable (or adapter) called a null modem cable - kind of like an ethernet crossover cable, it has a couple pins swapped.

My brothers and I would occasionally move one of our computers into another's room for a day to play NetMech, Warcraft 2, Quake, etc over null modem back in the day. It's good fun, though limited in that you can only have two people play.

The wiki article indicates that dosbox supports a virtual null modem connection, which might make for an easier setup.

Ahhhh. I think I have a standard serial cable not a null modem cable. Thats probably why I could not make the connection. Thanks for the help everyone! Now I just have to hunt down a cable.

[ChooChooBot]

After further inspection I believe my cable is a null modem cable. When I go to the modem section under multiplayer acess I can choose between Actiontec 56k Modem, and communications cable. I tried each but they both require me to dial numbers. What number would I put in?

[Hobie-wan]

You know I almost put down you'd need a null modem serial cable, then I got distracted.

I would think all you'd need to specify the COM port that the serial is set to by Windows.

[ChooChooBot]

You know I almost put down you'd need a null modem serial cable, then I got distracted.

I would think all you'd need to specify the COM port that the serial is set to by Windows.

What did you mean by your last sentence? I'm somewhat confused. With a null modem am I going with a modem connection or a serial? Sorry If I sound like a noob I have never hooked anything up by a serial cable.

[Hobie-wan]

Go look in device manager under the 'Ports' section. Click on the plus to expand it. The serial communications ports will be listed as COM#. I imagine the game on each machine will need do know what com port you want to use. Since they are laptops you will probably only have one listed, but will still have to indicate this to the game.