RS232 (serial) to USB conversion? Getting Navtex to talk to laptop

I was about to buy a Navtex unit, but eventually ordered the new Navtex 'Pro' system instead. This consists of a unit that only downloads and saves the data. It has no screen. It's supplied with software to run on a PC/Laptop instead. That way, all the data can be manipulated and/or printed.
 
Thanks all for your comments. It looks like I might try and find one of these adaptors and dload the prolific driver in the short term. If that fails then I'll have to wait until someone from the UK comes over to visit me. Mail-order just doesn't work here in Turkey. By the time the package turns up USB won't exist any more!

BTW, it's a McMurdo ICS NAV6.
 
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One sure way of getting RS232 into the laptop is to use a PCMCIA (card slot) adapter instead.
These can be bought in either single or twin serial port flavours.
They are so much better than serial usb convertors.
Just do an internet search for PCMCIA to Serial adaptor and buy one mail order.

Having said that, most prolific based usb adapters will work if you just want to convert data "into" the laptop.
Problems arise with them usually when you want to drive an external device such as an autopilot using USB to NMEA conversion.
This is because RS232 needs a 5volt swing and some of the cheaper adaptors only manage about 3.3volts.
especially for some older autopilots et.al. this is just not enough.

The best adaptor to go for for these applications is a Keyspan (american) unit.
Just do an internet search for Keyspan.

Hope that helps.

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Agree with the PCMIA route ... but if like me - no free slot !! And nowadays USB is so much cheaper than PCMIA .... and most sets have 3 or 4 sockets ... so natural people will go for them ...
 
Well, I tramped all over Bodrum and visited the smart PC shops and none could help. Then I popped into one of the internet cafes that had a small PC shop and he was a great help. He gave me a serial cable to chop up and has ordered me an adaptor. It should arrive soon so I'll let you know how I get on.

He did suggest the PCMIA card but this was rather expensive so I'll try this one first.

Once again, thanks to all for your help.
 
This may not be relevant in your situation, but I believe that USB is much more susceptible to interference from HF radio than is serial. My limited experience supports this and is one reason that I will be changing my serial->USB converters to serial->PCMCIA for running winlink.
 
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