How to use the command minicom (with examples)

Minicom is a program used to communicate with the serial interface of a device. It provides a terminal emulation interface for serial communication, allowing users to send and receive data through a serial port. This article will illustrate how to use the minicom command with different use cases.

Use case 1: Open a given serial port

Code:

sudo minicom --device /dev/ttyUSB0

Motivation: The motivation behind opening a given serial port is to establish a connection with a device connected to that specific port. This is useful when you want to communicate with devices like microcontrollers, modems, or routers through their serial interfaces.

Explanation:

• sudo: This command is used to execute the following command with administrative privileges.
• minicom: This is the actual command that starts the minicom program.
• --device /dev/ttyUSB0: This argument specifies the device path of the serial port you want to open. In this case, /dev/ttyUSB0 is the path of the serial port.

Example output: If the serial port /dev/ttyUSB0 is successfully opened, you will see the serial terminal interface of minicom with a prompt asking you to enter commands or send data.

Use case 2: Open a given serial port with a given baud rate

Code:

sudo minicom --device /dev/ttyUSB0 --baudrate 115200

Motivation: When communicating through a serial port, it is important to set the correct baud rate. The baud rate determines the speed at which data is transmitted and received. By specifying the baud rate, you can ensure proper communication with the device connected to the serial port.

Explanation:

• --baudrate 115200: This argument is used to set the baud rate of the serial port. In this case, the baud rate is set to 115200.

Example output: If the serial port /dev/ttyUSB0 is successfully opened with the baud rate set to 115200, you will see the minicom interface with the specified baud rate, ready for communication.

Use case 3: Enter the configuration menu before communicating with a given serial port

Code:

sudo minicom --device /dev/ttyUSB0 --setup

Motivation: Sometimes, before you can start communicating with a serial port, you need to configure certain settings, such as the serial port parameters (baud rate, data bits, parity, etc.). Entering the configuration menu allows you to customize these settings according to the requirements of the device connected to the serial port.

Explanation:

• --setup: This argument is used to enter the configuration menu of minicom. It allows you to modify the settings of the serial port before starting the communication.

Example output: If the serial port /dev/ttyUSB0 is successfully opened and the configuration menu is entered, you will see a menu with various options to configure the serial port settings. From there, you can customize the parameters according to your needs.

Conclusion:

The minicom command is a versatile tool for communicating with devices through their serial interfaces. By using the provided use cases, you can effectively establish connections, set baud rates, and configure serial port parameters, enabling smooth communication with serial devices.