usb v serial port

[michael_99]

I'll be buying a GPS soon, with only USB port, and my laptop too only has USB port. If nav program says connection to SERIAL port, does it make any difference at all .Does the programs really care which one you use. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[bobgosling]

USB is a type of serial port.
RS232 is another ( 25 pin D type ) - which is what always used to be called "The Serial Port"
9 pin D type is yet another ( used to be mainly for joysticks ).

You can buy USB to RS232 converters.

 

[pessimist]

Depends on the age of the program. Most of the more modern ones should be fine. If not a USB to RS232 converter should work, but be aware that some are better than others. Try Nigel Luthers group on Yahoo there is a LOT of useful information of this kind there. You will probably fond someone who uses the same prog as you.

Cheers,

Colin

 

[fireball]

If your GPS is a USB model and your laptop has USB ports then you should just plug the GPS straight in, the driver for the GPS should allocate a COM port to the device (use COM4 or COM5 if poss) and set the software up to address the same port number.

The COM port number (allocated to serial ports) is just a method of addressing a device.

 

[Mariner]

As Fireball says, the GPS will come with a disk that will create a virtual 'com' port on your PC. All you need to do is tell the nav program you are using to look at the correct com port. (Tip, always plug the GPS into the same USB port on you're computer, if you plug it in to a different USB port it will have a different 'com' number.)

Martin

 

[bruce]

USB also has been upgraded to USB 2.0 last year...

 

[fireball]

Most USB2 devices are backwards compatible .... the ones that aren't generally need the greater speed offered by USB2. GPS units shouldn't be one of these ...

 

[michael_99]

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

 

[DeeGee]

[ QUOTE ]
I'll be buying a GPS soon, with only USB port, and my laptop too only has USB port. If nav program says connection to SERIAL port, does it make any difference at all .Does the programs really care which one you use. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]Just one point. You may have to stick a disk in which came with the GPS and has a driver on it. If you do, and your laptop has more than one USB port, always plug it into the same one, or it will probably want you to reinstall the driver all over again. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif