Unless you Close the COM port in your QBasic program, you won't be ale to use both at the time, the loader will prompt you a PORT ACCESS error.
The only way you can do it is to use a COM Port sniffer like HHD Software bellow
http://www.hhdsoftware.com/Family/serial-monitor.html
I guess it could be done in VB using the MSComm error but i never tested it as now... maybe i'm out 
As you're using the PIC USART you don't have to worry about the True/Inverted and all other terms. It will work AS IS using the MAX 232. The main Problem i see, is that you must disable the DTR pin in your QBasic program as this pin is used to RESET the PIC when using the Bootloader. If this pin is not disabled, your PIC will be always on RESET and nothing will happen. Never use QBasic as now so i can't confirm that this pin is not already disabled when you open the COM port.
You must configure the USART prior to using it, look in the HSERIN/HSEROUT section of your PBP manual, there's some specific define's to add to your Program header.
HTH
Steve
It's not a bug, it's a random feature.
There's no problem, only learning opportunities.
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