Noob needing expert help Mscomm

[cbm128d]

cuting a long sort short, i decied to learn how to program 2 weeks ago so i could create a little app to monitor sensor data. so go easy on me im realy green when i comes to programming.

my problem.

i have successfully created an app to monitor sensor data thats transmitted in hex data, but while monitoring and processing the info it maxes out my CPU load and eventualy locks the app up.

the incoming data is a constant sream of hex info after the intitial request is sent. the format its sending in is

0xff (start flag) 0x** (number of data bytes to follow) and no endflag
eg
ff 06 a1 bf 04 6c d3 88

transmission settings on the port are 9600, 8,N,1


mscomm's inputlen = 8
rthreshold = 64
* i have tryed just having the input len the same as the rtheshold
snipit of my receiving routine called from the on_mscomm sub

Sub streamhandler()
Dim intMSB As Integer
Dim intoutput As Byte
Dim tempin As String
Dim dumpstring As String
Dim arydatain() As Byte
intoutput = 2 ' start position of data in array
ReDim arydatain(framelen + 1)
For g = 1 To 4 ' 4 passes over the meters processing 4 and dumping 4
tempin = MSComm1.Input
For i = 1 To framelen
arydatain(i - 1) = Asc(Mid(tempin, i, 1)) 'build array of input values in Dec
Next i
If arydatain(0) = 255 Then
If MSComm1.InputLen <> framelen Then 'return the length to normal
MSComm1.InputLen = framelen
End If
' RPM meter data and calculation
intMSB = (arydatain(intoutput) * 16)
intoutput = intoutput + 1
mtrRPM.HandValue = 12.5 * (intMSB + arydatain(intoutput))
mtrRPM.RefreshDynamic
intoutput = intoutput + 1
'speed meter data and calculation
mtrSpeed.HandValue = arydatain(intoutput) * 2
mtrSpeed.RefreshDynamic
intoutput = intoutput + 1
' Timing meter data and calculation
mtrTiming.HandValue = 110 - arydatain(intoutput)
mtrTiming.RefreshDynamic
intoutput = intoutput + 1
dumpstring = MSComm1.Input 'dump every second input,
'Throtle possition sensor
mtrTPS.HandValue = arydatain(intoutput) * 0.02
mtrTPS.RefreshDynamic
intoutput = intoutput + 1
' coolant temp
mtrTemp.HandValue = arydatain(intoutput) - 50
mtrTemp.RefreshDynamic
intoutput = intoutput + 1
' fuel temp
mtrFtemp.HandValue = arydatain(intoutput) * 0.02
mtrFtemp.RefreshDynamic
intoutput = intoutput + 1
' batt volts
mtrBatt.HandValue = arydatain(intoutput) * 0.08
mtrBatt.RefreshDynamic

intoutput = 2 'reset output counter/deligator for next pass
intMSB = 0 'clear msb of data for next pass
ElseIf arydatain(0) <> 255 And MSComm1.InputLen = framelen Then 'lame atempt to resync
tbDiag.Text = tbDiag.Text & "SYNC LOST HEADER WRONG" & vbNewLine
MSComm1.InputLen = framelen + 1
End If
Next g

End Sub

Anyhelp on how to display this incoming data with a S%$T load lower CPU usage would awsome! thanks in advance

[RHelliwell]

You need to insert DoEvents() after the loops (or wherever you feel necessary) to process any outstanding process instructions.

Sub streamhandler()
Dim intMSB As Integer
Dim intoutput As Byte
Dim tempin As String
Dim dumpstring As String
Dim arydatain() As Byte
intoutput = 2 ' start position of data in array
ReDim arydatain(framelen + 1)
For g = 1 To 4 ' 4 passes over the meters processing 4 and dumping 4
tempin = MSComm1.Input
For i = 1 To framelen
arydatain(i - 1) = Asc(Mid(tempin, i, 1)) 'build array of input values in Dec
Next i
DoEvents()
If arydatain(0) = 255 Then
If MSComm1.InputLen <> framelen Then 'return the length to normal 
MSComm1.InputLen = framelen
End If
' RPM meter data and calculation
intMSB = (arydatain(intoutput) * 16)
intoutput = intoutput + 1
mtrRPM.HandValue = 12.5 * (intMSB + arydatain(intoutput))
mtrRPM.RefreshDynamic
intoutput = intoutput + 1
'speed meter data and calculation
mtrSpeed.HandValue = arydatain(intoutput) * 2
mtrSpeed.RefreshDynamic
intoutput = intoutput + 1
' Timing meter data and calculation
mtrTiming.HandValue = 110 - arydatain(intoutput)
mtrTiming.RefreshDynamic
intoutput = intoutput + 1
dumpstring = MSComm1.Input 'dump every second input, 
'Throtle possition sensor
mtrTPS.HandValue = arydatain(intoutput) * 0.02
mtrTPS.RefreshDynamic
intoutput = intoutput + 1
' coolant temp
mtrTemp.HandValue = arydatain(intoutput) - 50
mtrTemp.RefreshDynamic
intoutput = intoutput + 1
' fuel temp
mtrFtemp.HandValue = arydatain(intoutput) * 0.02
mtrFtemp.RefreshDynamic
intoutput = intoutput + 1
' batt volts
mtrBatt.HandValue = arydatain(intoutput) * 0.08
mtrBatt.RefreshDynamic

intoutput = 2 'reset output counter/deligator for next pass
intMSB = 0 'clear msb of data for next pass
ElseIf arydatain(0) <> 255 And MSComm1.InputLen = framelen Then 'lame atempt to resync
tbDiag.Text = tbDiag.Text & "SYNC LOST HEADER WRONG" & vbNewLine
MSComm1.InputLen = framelen + 1
End If
Next g
DoEvents()

End Sub

[RHelliwell]

Perhaps also some sleep command in there to slow things down a little? To use these:

Private Declare Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)

in General declarations

then

sleep(1000) '1000 = 1 second