I tried a USB to RS232 adapter made by Belkin a couple of months ago. Sorry, I don't have the model # handy. It seemed to work okay for both rig control (using the specified cable for the K2) as well as for CW keying (using the keying adapter I had previously built into a DB9 connector shell). I was quite surprised this was the case as I expected at least one of the combinations to not work correctly. My IBM laptop only has one RS232 port and one USB port on the back panel as well as another pair of USB2.0 ports that were added with a PCMCIA card. I did very little testing with both of these modes/configurations, though, so I'm not sure if more extensive testing would have shown other problems. I think the hardest thing about the rig control was to get the "virtual RS232" set up with a COM Port ID# in the range that the rig control program would accept, I think COM1 - COM4. COM1 was already in use with the RS232 port on the back of the laptop and it defaulted to COM5 for the "virtual" port with the USB-RS232 adapter. Once I had it redefined as either COM2 or COM4 I think it then worked okay. I do know that not all USB to RS232 adapters are created equal, so I wouldn't be anxious to buy and off brand to save a few dollars. Even with the Belkin product I was a bit nervous because the case was one of those plastic cases that you can see through (Wow, look at the electronic parts inside of this Dongle!), so I was worried about it being susceptible to my Tx or likewis if it would be spewing noise that my Rx wouldn't like. As it was just running QRP and later 100W I didn't see any problems from the Tx side and didn't really notice any on the Rx side. Again, I didn't do extensive testing though, and higher power may be a problem, or as they say "Individual Results May Vary". I bought mine at Staples where there was a 100% return policy if not 100% satisfied.
Mark, NK8Q However, I know >nothing about USB/rs232 adapters/software. > >Dan / WG4S / K2 #2345 > > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
