How do I search and remove the odd characters from my serial interface?

[Cam.Law]

I am connecting to a AVL 415 Smoke Meter and can send commands and then read the commands. However, as I read from the machine I see tiny boxes.  The stx is 02 and the etx is 03 in ASCII.  I have done a search and removed subvi to specify just the two numbers I want but no matter what I character I use to specify the boxes, the subvi won't find them.  I upload the data straight to my database and need to at least minimize the characters going in, but preferably be left with just the data.  The command text starts with a reset, enter remote mode, prepare to measure, measure, read the soot concentration, and read the smoke number.  Can some one PLEASE help me delete the boxes!! THANK YOU!!!!  The readout directly from the meter is:
 INSERT INTO `smoke_meter` (run_id, data_id, date_fp, time_fp, soot_concentration, filter_smoke_number)
VALUE (0, 1, '7/24/2006', '4:08:25 PM', ' SRES 0 K0OK SREM
SREM 0 K0OK SASB
SASB 0 K0OK SMES
SMES 0 K0OK AKON
AKON 0 K0RY 1      0     AFSN
AFSN 0 K0RY 1      0     ', ' SRES 0 K0OK SREM
SREM 0 K0OK SASB
SASB 0 K0OK SMES
SMES 0 K0OK AKON
AKON 0 K0RY 1      0     AFSN
AFSN 0 K0RY 1      0     ')

Thanks again!

[unclebump]

Do you have a demo/test program that came with the meter?? You could use portmon to help decode the data as it operates. Do you have a communication manual or something that decodes the measurement commands??

[Kelbert]

Hi, Cam.Law

I am trying to do the same that you, I am with AVL 415 Smoke Meter and AVL 4210 Instrument Controller.

I have tried the AVL.vi but it doesn't answer me anything.

Do you know which command I have to send by serial and which answer I need to see?

Could you help me?

Thanks a lot

Kelbert

[Coq_Rouge]

I can not  see your problem, but anyway this should do the trick. Bur remember it also remove Return and Newline (\r and \n).So it may be to harsh for you. But you are a programmer so you can fix that problem

Message Edited by t06afre on 12-05-2008 08:20 AM

[Kelbert]

It`s working now.

Thank`s a lot

kelbert

[MattBradley]

I have a bunch of odd characters that I have to work with.  I can give you their names if you can remove them.

[Coq_Rouge]

I know a Norwegian. Hi is Odd, like in "my name is Odd" I am sure Odd may be of some assistance regarding your odd problem:smileyvery-happy: 

[bham]

Hi Kelbert,

Which connection do we need to use in order to communicate with PC? Do we need to connect the PC directly to the Smoke meter or AVL Controller.

Thanks

Nick