Problem interfacing ADXL202 and Accustar Clinometer with 16F876A

[Beatrix]

I tried it again with the ground wire in place and no more receive wire using both Microcode Studio and HyperTerminal, and it still doesn't work. Is there anything I should be doing with the other pins on the RS232 connector? Any ideas?

[NavMicroSystems]

Beatrix,

have you tried the simple test described here

Have you set the Baudrate on the PC-side correctly
and is "Handshake" set to none?

Could you post a schematic and your code (cut down to the RS232 part)

For a one-way communication (PIC --> PC) you definitely need only two wires:
PIC-GND to PC-GND and PTC-TX to PC-RX

Probably your PCs COM-Port doesn't work with TTL-Levels.
If so you would need to add a MAX232-type of Level shifter.

[Beatrix]

For that test, would I need to use an RS232 keyboard? I didn't run it since I'm pretty sure the port works since I'm also using it to program my PICs. The baudrate and handshake is set on the PC as well.

I'll probably have to try it with another computer to see if the one I'm using is not compatible and needs the MAX IC. That's going to be a problem since the board had been fabricated and adding the MAX would require me to do a bit of a workaround (which is why I'm trying to get it going without the MAX). Initially, I was planning on using a PS/2 connection to transmit the data to the computer, but I was unable to find enough information on it to the point that I could understand how it works, so I decided to switch to RS232.

[NavMicroSystems]

For that test, would I need to use an RS232 keyboard?

All you need is a simple piece of wire betwenn Rx and Tx on the PCs RS232

I didn't run it since I'm pretty sure the port works since I'm also using it to program my PICs. The baudrate and handshake is set on the PC as well.

Well that case I would assume the PCs RS232 isfunctional, but not compatible with the PICs Levels.

Anyway
If you want to make sure your Product works with any PC-COM-Port you should add a Levelshifter.

The PICs (0/+5V) Levels are ways off the specs of a standard COM-Port (+/- 12V)

And bear in mind: the MAX232 does not only shift the levels, it also inverts the logic.