Access a COM port in .NET

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To access a COM port in .NET, just use the SerialPort class, which represents a serial port resource. Here’s how to access the COM ports on your computer and list some of its properties

C#

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    // Retrieve a list of serial port names.   
    string[] ports = SerialPort.GetPortNames();

    Console.WriteLine("List of Serial ports on your machine:");

    // Display each port name to the console.   
    foreach (string sPort in ports)
    {
        using (SerialPort port = new SerialPort(sPort))
        {
            Console.WriteLine("BaudRate : " + port.BaudRate);
            Console.WriteLine("ReadTimeout : " + port.ReadTimeout);
            // Send a message to the port
            port.Open();
            port.Write("Hello Port!");
        }
    }
                      
    Console.ReadLine();
}

VB.NET (Converted Code)

Sub Main()
    ' Retrieve a list of serial port names.   
    Dim ports() As String = SerialPort.GetPortNames()

    Console.WriteLine("List of Serial ports on your machine:")

    ' Display each port name to the console.   
    For Each sPort As String In ports
        Using port As New SerialPort(sPort)
            Console.WriteLine("BaudRate : " & port.BaudRate)
            Console.WriteLine("ReadTimeout : " & port.ReadTimeout)
            ' Send a message to the port
            port.Open()
            port.Write("Hello Port!")
        End Using
    Next sPort

    Console.ReadLine()
End Sub

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About The Author

Suprotim Agarwal, Developer Technologies MVP (Microsoft Most Valuable Professional) is the founder and contributor for DevCurry, DotNetCurry and SQLServerCurry. He is the Chief Editor of a Developer Magazine called DNC Magazine. He has also authored two Books - 51 Recipes using jQuery with ASP.NET Controls. and The Absolutely Awesome jQuery CookBook.

Follow him on twitter @suprotimagarwal.