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USB to serial cable with SXkey — Parallax Forums

USB to serial cable with SXkey

HubotHubot Posts: 11
edited 2011-08-07 18:22 in General Discussion
Help needed urgently. I am using a USB to serial cable by Jetion to communicate with my old SXKey from 2000, but the only available port shown is port 8, which is not seen after compilation when I try to run a program. Please Help.

Comments

  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2011-08-07 03:19
    There tends to be a lot of issues with non-Parallax USB-serial convertors, because they don't all correctly implement the required protocol. Your best option is to get a Parallax adapter, which are designed to work correctly with all Parallax serial devices.

    This is the one.
  • HubotHubot Posts: 11
    edited 2011-08-07 12:49
    Thanks for the info. however I am now wondering if the problem could be with my acer laptop since the available port alloted was port 8. I tried using the same Jetion USB to serial cable on a viao laptop and the available com port was port 4. In this case the cable worked. Is it that only ports 1 to 4 are accepted by the SX program ? and why is port 8 the available port on my Acer laptop, can I change this assignment to a port between 1 and 4 as I believe is required by the program ??? Help please.
  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2011-08-07 13:48
    I think that COM8 is a generic virtual port that get assigned to USB devices. Try installing the latest FTDI usb drivers on the Acer and see if that corrects the problem.
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2011-08-07 18:22
    It's true that some computers will not scan more than the first 4 com ports. Do you know which chip is used in your USB to Serial cable? If it's not the FTDI chip, then the FTDI drivers will not help. Another common chip is made by Prolific. I had a cable that used their chip and it was nothing but trouble.

    It should be possible to change the port number assigned to your device by using the Windows "Device Manager". How exactly to do that depends on which version of Windows you are using. Try Googling "change usb com port"

    You basically expand on "ports" in Device Manager, then select your device and click the "Advanced" button. You should find the com port selection there.
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