The problem with some of those 'converters' is they can't supply enough power sometimes. Try getting a usb hub (with an ac adapter) that has a serial port on it, you should get great sucess. I had a simular problem with my usb keyboard, mouse, web cam and scanner. All are powered from the USB buss and the usb hub I got without an ac adapter wouldn't supply enough power. I would loose all 4 things when I tried to scan something. UGH! ----- Original Message ----- To: "Multiple recipients of list CHIPDIR-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 11:21 AM
> > Perhaps it's better to use an USB to serial converter? > > I should have anticipated that question. Shame on me!! > > Of course!, it would be better if the converter worked correctly, but it > doesn't. > > I have one here and have tried many times to get it function correctly. Its > a BAFO BF-810, a really cute little dongle on the end of an A-B cable. > > The thing will work well so long as you are doing nothing but passing > straight ASCII characters over the interface. But as soon as you begin > "pushing the envelope of serial port functions" such as depending on serial > "Break" sequences to work correctly, forget it. That limitation coupled > with Bill Gate'$ stupid W2K drivers cause the USB-serial converter to a) > lock up the serial port when breaks are sent, and b) if you finally write > enough software modifications to clear the error status and flush the > buffers before proceeding you discover that the converter mangles the > characters that follow the break sequence. > > Unfortunately, I have to work for a living and time spent fixing defective > hardware and Micro-crap $oftware is money out of my pocket. Surely, you > don't think I would be dumb enough to waste my one remaining PCI slot plus > the time and expense of buying and installing a "real" serial port unless it > was my last resort??? > > I would love to hear from someone who knows of a "real" USB to serial > converter that "really" works. I will even tell them where to get the > software to test it with. > > Bob Smith > > > > --- Avoid computer viruses, Practice safe hex --- > > -- Specializing in small, cost effective > embedded control systems -- > > > Robert L. (Bob) Smith > Smith Machine Works, Inc. > 9900 Lumlay Road > Richmond, VA 23236 804/745-1065 > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > ----- Original Message ----- > To: "Multiple recipients of list CHIPDIR-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 11:50 AM > > > > At 2003-01-31 06:34 -0800, Robert Smith wrote: > > >I may be the only person on these lists that was unaware of the alternate > > >form factors for PCI cards known as LPPCI (Low Profile PCI), but I doubt > it. > > > > > >LPPCI is a low height variation of the standard form factor PCI cards. > The > > >basic mechanical distinction can be seen at -- > > > > > > http://www.spinserver.com/lppci.html > > > > > >I recently purchased a PCI serial card for my cute little Gateway > Essential > > >PC (which came complete without serial ports). Not even Gateway's > support > > >site makes a clear distinction. They only describe the expansion slots > as > > >PCI 2.2 compatible. Hiss, Boo! > > > > > >I share this information in hopes that someone can avoid a nasty surprise > > >when purchasing PCI components. > > > > Perhaps it's better to use an USB to serial converter? > > > > As far as I can tell, the philosophy is that all > > external I/O should be done over USB as much as > > possible. Of course USB 1.x wasn't fast enough > > to handle digital video and connections to > > external harddisks and professional scanners > > and camer's, so you would have to use Firewire > > for that, but now there is faster standard of > > USB 2.0 (?). > > > > I'm not an expert, and I think it took way too > > long before external USB devices were actually > > introduced, but wouldn't it be nice if the > > following mess of connections could all be > > replaced by USB: > > > > - serial > > - parallel > > - keyboard > > - PS/2 mouse > > - MIDI > > - joystick > > - output to speakers (with the DAC in the speakers) > > - input from micro phone (with the ADC in the micro phone) > > > > And whenever you need to connect an old device you > > use a converter. > > > > Greetings, > > Jaap > > > > -- > > Author: Jaap van Ganswijk > > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com > > San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message > > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in > > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB CHIPDIR-L > > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may > > also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). > > > > > > -- > Author: Robert Smith > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com > San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB CHIPDIR-L > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may > also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). > -- Author: Jeremy Proffitt INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services --------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB CHIPDIR-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
