sending gcode to a bandit controller on a wells index CNC milling machine

There's at most one other person on the planet that needs this information, but since I spent hours (and hours (hours (...))) looking for it, here it is.

Currently I only know how to send using "hyperterminal" on windows. When it starts tell it to connect to the serial port (If you don't know what this is: you pull down the hyperterminal menu which will say something like com3, com4 or other --- just try these until it works).

You set:

• data bits: 7
• parity: even
• stop bits 1
• flow control: hardware
  

Then under "properties" set:

• windows keys
• autodetect
• send line ends
• wrap lines
  

To send a program to the bandit:

• put in ext mode
• press "CE" and then "start"
• In hyperterminal "send ascii file."
  

Here's a trivial program to move on the X axis one inch:

N001&0
X-1.0
M2

The "N001&0" seem required at the beginning. And "M2" states its at the end of the program.

After it loads

• put the bandit in run "continuous mode"
• hit reset (to put the machine to the beginning of the program)
• hit start.
  

It should move one inch. If it doesn't and the red error light keeps going on when you try to the program, sure you've pushed the "axis enable" button.

I am using a laptop. Since modern laptops no longer ship with serial ports (at least mine doesn't) I'm using a USB-to-Serial converter from Frys. The first one I bought was broken, which really jacked up the whole process.

If anyone can figure out how to send using linux that would be great! I've tried cu, minicom, and a random com.c program from the net. Something doesn't seem right. The bandit red light of death goes on (so it received something) but it's definitely not the right thing.