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USB serial adapter Windows 8 — Parallax Forums

USB serial adapter Windows 8

BAndersonBAnderson Posts: 9
edited 2013-06-25 15:23 in General Discussion
Im looking for a good usb serial RS232 adapter that will work with Windows 8 64-bit. It should be one of those with a full housing and USB/Serial cables attached, not only a PCB with connectors. I already tried one of those cheap Chinese ones from ebay, after a lot of headache installing the drivers it partially worked for about a week, then it died. Any suggestions or ideas of what to look for?

Comments

  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,451
    edited 2013-06-22 18:06
    Digi Edgeport.

    They're expensive but they work. It was the IT guy for a Fortune 100 company responsible for hundreds of critical installations who recommended them to me. Haven't tried them in Win8, but they were very thorough about compatibility in the XP to 7 transition, when a lot of cheaper stuff stopped working.
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2013-06-22 22:19
    After quite a few experiments and multiple purchases, it seems (at least for programming the propeller) that it is the FTDI chipset that makes a difference. eg http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/USB-to-FTDI-FT232RL-FT232BL-RS232-Serial-DB9-Converter-Cable-Windows-7-64-4-GPS-/160834069033?pt=AU_CablesConnectors&hash=item2572752229 and that is $20 which is a lot more than the $3 ones that look almost identical.

    Actually, the $3 ones work fine for communication to a propeller chip (and any other chip). The problem is programming and it is due to the timing of the reset line (which is an unorthodox use of the RS232 protocol and the DTR pin, so unsurprising that there are problems). There probably is a software fix but no-one has access to the software source code.

    Search on ebay for USB and FTDI.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-06-23 01:39
    While I would much prefer to save a few dollars or be able to shop locally for a USB to Programming the Propeller solution.. there is a lot of junk out and about in the world.

    It is indeed all about having a good RST line. So, I have relied on buying this particular interface directly from Parallax. Doing so can actually saves a lot of frustration and may even be cheaper in the long run than buying items that don' perform.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2013-06-23 09:17
    These work great on W8x64 and has a nice long cord. The molded end of the 9 pin connector is very light, but a bit on the bulky side 2"x1.3"x.5". http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812191067
  • BAndersonBAnderson Posts: 9
    edited 2013-06-23 10:30
    Thanks a lot for the comments. I checked the Digi Edgeport as localroger mentioned above, it seems to be a really good converter, however it is rather bulky and expensive, $91 for the 1-port version! ..Must be gold-plated :-)
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-06-23 12:02
    Sadly the marketplace has abuses at both ends.

    A. Low-price hazard.. poor functionality
    B. High-price hazard.. empty wallet

    There are a lot of good mid-range solutions that are labeled as having FTDI chips and fully RS-232 functionality. But you have to read the box.. maybe even go on-line to get documents before you buy.
  • jmgjmg Posts: 15,173
    edited 2013-06-23 14:01
    BAnderson wrote: »
    Im looking for a good usb serial RS232 adapter that will work with Windows 8 64-bit. It should be one of those with a full housing and USB/Serial cables attached, not only a PCB with connectors. I already tried one of those cheap Chinese ones from ebay, after a lot of headache installing the drivers it partially worked for about a week, then it died. Any suggestions or ideas of what to look for?

    Why not stick with FTDI ?

    http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Cables/USBRS232.htm

    I see Mouser have 685 in stock of Chipi-X10 1: $15.00

    If you have at least one cable that is 'known good' then you can experiment with others, if you are buying so many that the time is worth it. ( note the Chipi-X10 also gets cheaper in volume, 100: $11.50 )
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,451
    edited 2013-06-23 15:34
    Yeah BAnderson Edgeports aren't cheap, although you can usually find them from an Amazon affiliate in the $70 range. But all of the other converters I was regularly using failed under win7. The cheap $12 cables from Amazon would transmit but not receive. The Belkin unit one of my coworkers had failed more insidiously; it would mostly work, but it wouldn't obey the command to change baud rate after it was opened, which hosed a download protocol one of our instruments uses. The Edgeports just work -- but then, it's nice to be in industry where I get to spend other peoples' money LOL.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-06-23 21:30
    Not much to add. Parallax's own fine FTDI PCB version (not what you wasked about) worked perfectly with my Win8 32 bit OS (not what you asked about). My other favorite USB/serial adapter, an ATEN, doesn't work on Win8.
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,451
    edited 2013-06-24 13:59
    I would seriously advise trying out the CHIPI-X10 for $15. It should work the same as the bare PCB version, which Erco says works with Win8. I might pick a couple up myself for evaluation.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-06-24 15:30
    erco wrote: »
    Not much to add. Parallax's own fine FTDI PCB version (not what you wasked about) worked perfectly with my Win8 32 bit OS (not what you asked about). My other favorite USB/serial adapter, an ATEN, doesn't work on Win8.

    Hey looky here, they just released a 32/64 bit Win8 driver last Friday! http://www.aten.com/products/productItem.php?model_no=UC232A

    Will try & advise after I get a new hard drive & reload Win8. Seagate drives suck.
  • GenetixGenetix Posts: 1,754
    edited 2013-06-24 15:48
    erco wrote: »
    Hey looky here, they just released a 32/64 bit Win8 driver last Friday! http://www.aten.com/products/productItem.php?model_no=UC232A

    Will try & advise after I get a new hard drive & reload Win8. Seagate drives suck.

    I've seen mostly Western Digital drives die, Erco.

    At a company I worked for they used Keyspan USB to serial port adapters but I see they only support up to Win 7 and they are not cheap.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-06-24 15:54
    I forgot, have a brand new Win8 Toshiba laptop at home. I could check the ATEN serial adapter on that ASAP. I have one or two extra units left over from teaching a Stamp class, $15 + ship if you're interested. A few years old, but new in box. Nice unit, fully enclosed, not an exposed PCB. Pic on that website link. Good reviews from other happy campers at http://www.amazon.com/ATEN-Serial-Adapter-Drivers-UC232A/product-reviews/B00005117F/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
  • BAndersonBAnderson Posts: 9
    edited 2013-06-24 20:28
    Thanks for the suggestions everybody. By the help of your suggestions and these serial adapter recommendations I think I can conclude that the chip has to be a FTDI. Apparently the serial driver is also of importance.
    The CHIPI-X10 has a FTDI and is very reasonable priced but the cable is only 10cm long according to the datasheet.

    Erco do you know what brand name the chip in the ATEN is?
  • jmgjmg Posts: 15,173
    edited 2013-06-24 20:48
    As there is a new Win8 laptop here, (AMD, 64 bit Win) I tried a few candidates...

    SiLabs CP2105 - worked after driver install.
    SiLabs CP2102 - worked after driver install.
    FTDI - FT231X - worked, did not seem to need driver install
    FTDI - FT232R - worked, did not seem to need driver install
    FTDI - UM232H - worked, did not seem to need driver install
    Mostly, they just took the next available COMx, so I was up to COM7 at the end.

    So it seems the mainstream suppliers have no problems ?
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-06-25 02:43
    BAnderson wrote: »
    Erco do you know what brand name the chip in the ATEN is?

    Wasn't easy to find, it's a Prolific PL2303 HXA chip that (boo hoo) won't work with Win8, per http://prolificusa.com/pl-2303hx-drivers

    Windows 8 is NOT supported in PL-2303HXA and PL-2303X EOL chip versions.
    Run PL2303 CheckChipVersion tool program in Windows XP/Vista/7 to check chip version.
    Windows 98 and Windows ME driver support is discontinued and is no longer provided.
    Prolific recommends to buy PL-2303HXD (HX Rev D) or PL2303TA chip.
  • jmgjmg Posts: 15,173
    edited 2013-06-25 11:34
    One curious detail I did notice on Win8, was I could drill down to see Serial Ports and Parallel ports, but nothing ever popped up there - even tho I was seeing echo chars fine on a connected terminal...
    Has anyone found USB-Serial COMx / ID info appear under Win8 ?
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2013-06-25 11:58
    jmg wrote: »
    One curious detail I did notice on Win8, was I could drill down to see Serial Ports and Parallel ports, but nothing ever popped up there - even tho I was seeing echo chars fine on a connected terminal...
    Has anyone found USB-Serial COMx / ID info appear under Win8 ?

    USB Serial ports are usually found under USB in windows.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-06-25 12:02
    I have used an old Windows serial terminal application that I love, but since it is called Terminal or another generic namel it is hard to locate on the Web. It will report the activity of all the control lines that are supposed to be supported in RS232 standard and even let you over-ride their state to verify.

    Fortunately, I think Wikipedia still lists it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terminal_emulators

    You might look through the list for something while I try to find the one I am referring to.

    And more info...
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_terminal_emulators
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-06-25 12:41
    I found it! It appears to have finally changed its name to Real Term. there is a very real hazard of a good item being overlooked if it has too generic a name for search engines.

    This is sublime. Scroll down until you see the screen shot and that really tells all.

    http://realterm.sourceforge.net/
  • jmgjmg Posts: 15,173
    edited 2013-06-25 15:23
    jazzed wrote: »
    USB Serial ports are usually found under USB in windows.

    In windows XP, my VCP Serial-USB devices show as they add/remove under Device Manager Ports(COM & LPT), with a Short Description(COMn) line

    I rechecked Win8, and now a test VCP shows under Device Manager Ports(COM & LPT), with a Short Description(COMn) line. Strange.
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