DIYer Seeks Free Professional Advice With X255 Access Control Networking

["Bob La Londe" <none@xxxxxxxxxx>]

So, after getting out of the industry I find myself setting up and improving
the control system on my shop.  I am still a fan of Napco and I am
implementing some access control solutions to an x255 in my shop.  Setup,
cards, readers, keypads, etc.  I have all that covered.

My issues is that every single NL-MOD I ever installed when I was in the
business eventually started acting flakey and had to be replaced.  It would
take a few years, but a customer would complain that they couldn't update
cards or schedules or some other thing over the network.  I'd go power cycle
the NL-MOD and order a new one.  The NL-MOD would work for a while after
being power cycled, but each time it would work for a shorter time before
needing to be power cycled again.  A new unit would cure the problem for
atleast a couple years.  Even at dealer price they are kind of pricey.

Now my thought is simply to eliminate that network connection and implement
a direct serial connection.  I've got a couple different working computers
within a reasonably short distance of the X255.  The problem is none of them
have serial ports.  I do still have a couple old slowly deteriorating
laptops that have serial ports and even have Napco software installed, but
they really don't have much life left in them.  I'd actually like to shred
them and dispose of the carcasses, but for now they are locked in the safe.

So what's the answer?  Anybody know if Napco has improved the NL-MOD design
or if its still got a short life span?  Is there a solution to legacy serial
communications on newer 64bit systems?  I've got a couple USB to RS232
adapters, but even on 32bit systems they were not 100%.  They took a bit of
fiddling from time to time.

I'd like to stick with Napco if only because I have no real incentive to
learn a whole new line now that I am out of the business.  Its not like I
would be installing more of them.

Bob La Londe
The EXCON-tractor