Using Qucik Basic to control an 34401A meer

[S/W Rookie]

I am trying to write a test program which will use an Agilent/ hp 34401A multimeter to measure resistances and voltages. I wish to communicate with the meter using the RS-232 port. I tried to use a form of the one called out in the 34401A User's Manual, but got a time out error.

The code example I wrote, which times out is;

OPEN "com1:9600,n,8,1,rs,cd,lf" FOR RANDOM AS #1 LEN = 1000

I have the correct null modem cable and I know my COM1 works on my DOS PC. What am I missing?