I am trying to get a PC to send a command to an X-10
device. A FireCracker is plugged to one of the serial
ports and there is a nearby RF receiver. This works
fine through the Firecracker Windows based control
progem.

Problem is that I would like to issue the command
automatically. Say, include it in AUTOEXEC.BAT.
Unfortunately, the X-10's program does not lend
itself to automatic invocation.

I looked at the Firecracker documentation. Turns out
the Firecracker is controlled through the RTS and DTR
control lines, meaning that the program writes to the
UART registers. I have no idea how to do this under
Windows.

Has anyone cracked this problem, or knows of someone
that has?

-- Ron

http://mscm17a.sourceforge.net/

This program seems to fit your needs

I use my firecracker from Linux, so I can't test if out, but it does look like what you want.

Hope that helps.

It's been a while, but please accept my belated thanks.
This program is exactly what I needed. My PC now turns
the router and modem on as it boots up and turnes them
off when it shuts down.

Works perfectly, except for the time my wife was using
her machine when I shut mine down. I'll never hear the
end of that one...

-- Ron