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Problems using paralell port — Parallax Forums

Problems using paralell port

sykessykes Posts: 2
edited 2006-03-20 22:34 in Robotics
Hi

I'm fairly new to Basic Stamp and new to this forum so my·apologies if this issue has been answered previously although I did look through the last 5 pages of posts and did not see anything. I have been programming my BS2 through my USB port no problem.

I recently purchased a 'Toddler' kit which only has a serial port. I have set up an older P2 machine with a serial port which I have been using. However, for convenience I would really like to us my laptop which does not have a serial port. I did find an old paralell to serial adapter and tried that but the board does not pick it up. It asks me to add serial port entries to the list. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a way to enter the printer port. Is there a work around for this? - without buying the $50 USB - Serial cable.

Thanks

Comments

  • Bruce BatesBruce Bates Posts: 3,045
    edited 2006-03-17 22:00
    Sykes -

    You will need an adapter for your laptop, but you don't need to spend $50.00 for it. There is an USB to serial adapter that Parallax sells (guaranteed to work) for $ 29.00 US (link below). Unfortunately, I see that it's backordered until 3/31/2006.

    The reason why I said "guaranteed to work" is that there are other USB to serial adapters on the market, sold by others, which do not completely support all the RS-232 lines in their emulation, and thus will not work for progrramming Parallax products.

    Here is the link to the Parallax USB2SER Adapter:
    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=28024

    Regards,

    Bruce Bates

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  • CJCJ Posts: 470
    edited 2006-03-17 22:41
    wouldn't the proper adapter be this

    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=800-00030

    this one actually adds a serial port

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    Who says you have to have knowledge to use it?

    I've killed a fly with my bare mind.
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2006-03-18 00:11
    You have to use a USB to Serial converter -- there is no programming via the parallel port. Please use the adapter CJ points to so that you don't have any troubles; we know that one works (the other is not intended for programming BASIC Stamp modules).

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
  • sykessykes Posts: 2
    edited 2006-03-18 14:03
    Okay, thanks folks. I'll order the adapter.

    Bill Sykes
  • SciTech02SciTech02 Posts: 154
    edited 2006-03-19 19:52
    I had the same problem, what I did was I went to my local electronic store and bought a serial to USB adapter·for only $19.99 and it works fine.·· -SciTech02.
  • allanlane5allanlane5 Posts: 3,815
    edited 2006-03-19 20:30
    Cool!

    What's the brand and model number of the $20.00 Serial to USB adapter that works great?
  • SciTech02SciTech02 Posts: 154
    edited 2006-03-20 22:06
    It's by a company called "Cables Unlimited".· It's called "USB 2.0 TO SERIAL ADAPTER".· I think the model number is "USB-2920".· If that's not it, type in the company name on google or yahoo whatever you use, and you should find some info on it. smile.gif· Oh, and it says it works on RS-232 interface.······· -SciTech02.

    Post Edited (SciTech02) : 3/20/2006 10:11:08 PM GMT
  • allanlane5allanlane5 Posts: 3,815
    edited 2006-03-20 22:34
    Very good. Though they ALL say they work "on the RS-232 interface". It's a pretty flexible definition, actually.

    But thanks for documenting one that works at the right price.
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