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usb to rs232 cable adapter — Parallax Forums

usb to rs232 cable adapter

waylonwaylon Posts: 1
edited 2006-11-23 20:19 in General Discussion
·I have a BASIC Stamp HomeWork Board. My computor hasn't got a serial port, so i got a usbto rs232 serialport adapter and it dosen't work. I've tried all the trobleshooting. When i run and identify, i get loopback- no, echo-yes. no tech help till monday. help!

Comments

  • T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,223
    edited 2006-11-22 20:17
    USB2serial adapters are hit and miss in my experience. Radio Shack brand doesn't work at all among others. What brand is yours? What OS does it say it supports? The drivers can make a difference. Try looking for an updated driver, if that doesn't help try a different brand. Best Buy has one that works on a PC but not Mac. You have to run the CD that comes with it to put on the correct driver. The Parallax version worked right out of the box.
  • azmax100azmax100 Posts: 173
    edited 2006-11-23 05:32
    hi waylon.

    Have u try different USB slot. cause mine after installing the driver my laptop still cant
    detect the BS2. After switching to the slot at the back it works fine. I dont know why.
    Maybe people at Parallax can explain it.
    You shoul try it and see what happen.
    Your cable should come with the driver. Make sure u choose the correct driver from the cd.

    Take care.

    ·
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2006-11-23 07:52
    Laptop USB-slots often can't deliver much power, and if your adapter is one of the more power-hungry ones...

    But the biggest problem is that not all USB chipsets have all the RS232-signals needed for successful communication with the BS2.
    Adapters using the FTDI chipsets usually works OK, though.
    (Parallax sells some)

    Adapters advertised to work with older serial PalmPilots or Psion PDAs should also work OK.
    (Both needs those 'extra' signals)

    If you can afford it, go for the Parallax one.
    (If you want to use a cheapter shipping than is offered in their online store, just write a comment about it.)

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  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2006-11-23 08:12
    Can someone point the way toward an RS-232 diagnostic device [noparse][[/noparse]like a DB-9 with LEDs] that could tell you exactly what is provided?
    Since all the BasicStamps and their fellow clones require a third RS-232 line, seems like a useful device.
    If there isn't a device, how about a schematic for DIY?

    I wish the new PDA's still had RS-232. The PalmPilot is a wonderful terminal for the BS2s.

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    ···················· Tropical regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2006-11-23 20:19
    originator99 said...
    USB2serial adapters are hit and miss in my experience. Radio Shack brand doesn't work at all among others. What brand is yours? What OS does it say it supports? The drivers can make a difference. Try looking for an updated driver, if that doesn't help try a different brand. Best Buy has one that works on a PC but not Mac. You have to run the CD that comes with it to put on the correct driver. The Parallax version worked right out of the box.
    Hello,
    ·
    ·· While it is true that not all USB to Serial adapters work, we have tested the Radio Shack unit on both Desktops and Laptops.· The only thing that I am aware of as far as problems is that you must have the latest driver from their website, and on laptops you often have to disabled the FIFO buffers in the Advanced Driver Settings.· Of course, we do provide an inexpensive solution.

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    Chris Savage
    Parallax Tech Support
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