Unreadable Text Using Hyper Terminial on 2503 Router

[admin_2]

I recently did a password recovery on a 2503 Router that was given to me. All went well until I rebooted the router. Now it comes up totally unitelligable. I get Stars, and boxes, and even Spades for text. Even for the boot up messages, the same junk text. I am completely new to Cisco Routers and was given this one to learn from. I only hope that I didn't somehow damage the software in the recovery process. Any help with this would be greaty appreciated!

David Sechler

Cisco Newbie

[nicolaswatson]

Sounds like a speed issue. Can you paste some of it on a message? Is Your telnet session set at 9600 N 8 2 with no hardware on? Try changing speeds!

[scottmac]

That would be 9600, None, 8, and ONE (not two). Just a typo, fer sher ....

(and no handshake - hardware or software....)

It sounds more like HyperTerm "slipped a bit" (HyperTerm basic, especially on WIN9x, really bites the big one, IMHO). You probably re-booted the router, but with HyperTerm "confused" it'd still look goofy.

Check out some other term packages (CRT from VanDyke is my favorite), or even HyperTerm Pro, maybe "PuTTY" ... anything but HyperTerm Basic.

Good Luck

Scott

[nicolaswatson]

not a typo..... background - I always used tu use N 8 1, howerver was advised through the Cisco Academy to use N 8 2.....after much arguing as to why, I was convinced to use N 8 2, as N 8 1 caused problems with IOS dumps and captures under some situations (I do not have my journal with me to be more specific - sorry). I have not had any issues with N 8 2. The Cisco site

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/products/hw/routers/ps233/products_tech_note09186a0080094465.shtml refers to N 8 1. This site may assist with this problem.

[scottmac]

I've never heard of doing that before. Historically, if the other device is looking for 1 ten-bit word (start, data, one stop), and you feed it 11 bits, it produces junk output. Perhaps things have changed over the last 25 years or so.

Except for pure text / ascii devices, I've never heard of using anything other than 8N1.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying I've never heard about it (and I've been "in the biz" for a while now).

JM.02

Scott

[nicolaswatson]

This link will assist:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/products/hw/iad/ps492/products_installation_and_configuration_guide_chapter09186a008007e141.html#xtocid118659

see "connecting the console terminal". Like I said earlier, I was a non believer when I started. I have seen 9600 N81 fail many times on 25xx, 26xx, 36xx etc. I always use 9600N82 these days. If it fails me, I will revert.

Nic.