Hi,
Why cant you compare the characters with the continous data?
It may be easier to use the OnComm event of the MSCOMM control, trigger an event each time a character is received rather than use the "poll" method with the timer.
Instead of looking at the textbox text, which I presume you are using as a way of logging what data has come in? Why dont you do it like this:
Code:
Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
Dim inputBuffer as String
inputBuffer = MSComm1.Input
textbox.text = textbox.text & inputBuffer
if(lcase$(inputBuffer) = "x") then dosomething
End Sub