Controlling a device that only interacts via Hyperterminal using python

I am trying to write a basic driver to control a device that only interacts with hyperterminal. All the inputs expect HT formated data and all of the returns include copious equal signs, newlines, and spaces in order to get the formatting correct for human visualization. I am pretty sure that the returns are generating trouble, as I am throwing exceptions a lot, but I am not sure how else I can handle it. Does anyone know of a better way to do this?

Device manual: http://us.startech.com/media/products/PCM815SHNA/Manuals/PCM815SHNA.pdf

import visa
import re


class iopower8(visa.SerialInstrument):
    #initialization
    def __init__(self,loc):
        visa.SerialInstrument.__init__(self,loc)
        self.term_chars = '\r' #set terminal characters
        self.write('\r\r') #start faux 'Hyperterminal'

    def on(self, bank, out):
        self.ask("on " + str(bank) + " " + str(out))
        for i in range (1,3):#read buffer into void to prevent issues
            try:
                self.read_raw()
            except(visa_exceptions.VisaIOError):
                self.buffer_clear()
                break
        return self.status(bank, out)

    def off(self, bank, out):
        self.ask("of " + str(bank) + " " + str(out))
        for i in range (1,3):#read buffer into void to prevent issues
            try:
                self.read_raw()
            except(visa_exceptions.VisaIOError):
                self.buffer_clear()
                break
        return self.status(bank, out)

    def status(self, bank, port): #enter bank and port # you want to check
        self.ask("st " + str(bank))
        result = 'Error' #send error message regardless
        for i in range (1,13):#all 12 lines need to be read out of the buffer to prevent issues later
            try:
                stuff = self.read()#read the line to a holding srting, and dump in void if wriong line to clear buffer
                if stuff.strip() == ('='*44):
                    break
            except(visa_exceptions.VisaIOError):
                break
        for i in range(1,9):
            try:
                stuff = self.read()#read the line to a holding string, and dump in void if wriong line to clear buffer.
                if i == port: #this offset will get you to the line with the relevant port's status
                    result = re.match('(.*?)(ON|OFF)', stuff) #regex to the find the on/off status
                    #convert to boolean
                    if result.group(2) == 'ON':
                        result = True
                    elif result.group(2) =='OFF':
                        result = False
                    else:
                        result = 'ERROR'
            except(visa_exceptions.VisaIOError):
                self.buffer_clear()
                break
        return result

    def buffer_clear(self): #in case of buffer jamming
        while True:
            try:
                self.read_raw()
            except(visa_exceptio开发者_如何学JAVAns.VisaIOError):
                break

    def all_on(self, bank):
        self.ask("on " + str(bank) + " 0")
        for i in range (1,3):#read buffer into void to prevent issues
            try:
                hold = self.read_raw()
            except(visa_exceptions.VisaIOError):
                self.buffer_clear()
                break

    def all_off(self, bank):
        self.ask("of " + str(bank) + " 0")
        for i in range (1,3):#read buffer into void to prevent issues
            try:
                self.read_raw()
            except(visa_exceptions.VisaIOError):
                self.buffer_clear()
                break

There's nothing special about HiperTerminal. The end of line character is usually '\r\n' or '\n' alone.