Re: No Serial Ports on Notebooks

[shb*NO*SPAM*@comporium.net (Si Ballenger)]

On Mon, 02 Jul 2007 19:52:33 -0600, Randy Mass
<randy@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Hello All,
>
>I don't imagine that I'm the first to realize that most new notebooks
>arrive lacking a standard rs232 port.
>
>I've tried usb to rs232 converters with very limited amounts of success
>(they definately don't like legacy software, if they sniiff DOS walking
>across the street three blocks away they just have a fit).
>
>Some manufacturers will provide a notebook with serial ports but you
>usually have to buy a model that's far above (in price) their mainstream
>models.
>
>I've done a little research and I believe a pcmcia card with a serial
>port should function like a normal serial port. Most seem to advertise a
>16550 serial chip on the pci bus, just like if it was onboard.
>
>Anyone else run into this and already slain a dragon that I'm now facing??
>
>Thanks
>Randy

The only ~inexpensive USB rs232 serial adapter that I've actually
found to work well is made by StarTech. I've tried the cheap
ebay/surplus ones and they were unusable junk. There are
knockoffs that look like the StarTech, so buy from a dealer that
sells the StarTech or has a good return policy.

http://www.startech.com/Product/ItemDetail.aspx?productid=ICUSB232&c=US
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-RS232-Serial-Adapter-ICUSB232/dp/B000067SNB