[Soekris] How to hard-reset net4801 into a defined state (serial port hosed)

[Sam]

Situation:

net4801 # 1: m0n0wall is programmed and ready to be tested but:

- serial interface is hosed. There is garbage coming out on the serial 
client (Hyperterminal) on almost all reasonable speeds: 4800, 9600, 
19200, 38400, 57600, 115200, all with 8-N-1 and <none> handshakes, so 
data are coming in in some way.

net4801 manual states:

"The connected ANSI/VT100 terminal or terminal emulator should be set 
for 19200 baud, 8 databits, no
parity, 1 stop bit, no flow control."

M0n0wall doc states:

"On a Soekris box or WRAP board, make sure the console speed is set to 
9600 bps in the BIOS (set ConSpeed=9600 for Soekris boxes)."


None of the speeds work with clear characters - hit reset switch, power 
cycled, tried a few other parity settings.

Expected: some kind of m0n0wall menu interface and BIOS prompt 
opportunity on boot/reboot.

net4801 # 2:

found a BIOS prompt on 115200 8-N-1 <none>. After reboot (power cycle) 
it was gone from there and found again on 57600. Then the command "set 
ConSpeed=9600" was entered, where it hung.
After reboot (power cycle) there was no longer any data coming on the 
line - not even any garbage on any of the reasonable speeds mentioned above.

Expected: BIOS prompt on reboot/powerup.

Bios V. on # 2 is 1.2.4 20040312, probably the same on # 1.


Any suggestion how to resolve this issue is highly appreciated. Maybe 
there is some kind of method like connecting two pins to reset the 
serial parameters.

I would think that this is a support issue but I have not found a link 
on the soekris web site.

Sam