USB serial adaptors...

[Jimmy20V]

Has ANYBODY found one of these that works for NMEA devices? I am in "the trade" so also have an interest as some of my older networking devices refuse to talk to me too.

I have the Belkin F5U103 and that doesnt work under 2k or XP....

Suggestions?


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[seashaw]

Hi

I had this problem with my old laptop before I got my new system. I was told it is not the converters that are at fault, but it is the software or drivers that are poorly programmed. In the end I went for nmea usb multiplexer which solved all my problems.

Mark

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[Jimmy20V]

Thanks for that, not sure I really wanna spend £200 tho!
Think I'll stick to the slower Laptop for now till somebody sorts it out. I agree it almost certianly is the drivers, as logic says that if it works for some data, it should be able to work for all....
But who ever said this business was logical?

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[HenryB]

I have found the Belkin unsatisfactory in another application. Eventually purchased a unit from Maplins and this was successful. The Maplin part number is ZP43W and costs about £30.


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[colvic]

The manufacturers should now be supplying USB cables with everything they sell, but most items still come with a serial connection. Old technology which we are paying through the nose for.


Phil

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[Guest]

have a HP XE3 laptop with a usb to serial to connect my garmin 12 running xp home, works ok with maptech AS LONG as you DONT start up with the gps switched on and connected. this is a known issue as touched upon by colin in pbo this month (AUGUST). also i downloaded from maptech some dlls and it is as stable as a rock.
i sell usb to serial converters £20 + P+ P AT COST
stu

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[Apetts]

I have F5U003 which works fine, with maptech, under windows 98SE. It will not work with old DOS software and will not run my mobile phone which uses a software modem.

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[fluffc]

Likewise, I am in the trade - all be it the Audio Visual trade. This is a big problem -trying to use Serial devices on computers that don't have serial ports. The problem is is that each manufacturer's USB-Serial adaptors work slightly differently. You just have to keep hunting around for one that works. I am aware that later versions of windows have more problems than earlier ones. Unfortunately the problem is driven by consumers not using their serial ports so the laptop manufacturer's have gotten rid of them from their laptops. But it leaves us professionals in a hole. We NEED serial ports.

Currenly the only solution that will work is to get a desktop pc and slap in a Serial card to it. But I'm sure that eventually these will be gold dust. The cost of convertors is only going to go upwards, as fewer and fewer people use serial protocols.

Sorry I can't help - but every condolance. I bought a laptop last Autumn at PC World - it was the ONLY one on sale with a serial port...

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[seashaw]

Now I've got a desktop system, I find a laptop with a serial port

http://www.marinercomputers.co.uk/other.htm

(go to the mariner escape)

Mark

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[vyv_cox]

I use a PCMCIA with two series ports attached. Originally used for Weatherfax with Windows 95, now using Toshiba laptop with Me. No problems transferring from old to new laptop. The PCMCIA was difficult to find but well worth having.

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