[Elecraft] Continuing Serial (RS232, DP9) to USB Adapter cable

[gehringc at charter.net]

My K2 USB saga continues.   I truly appreciate the feedback and comments from the Elecraft Reflector.   My dilemma started when my older full size desktop computer finally died.  With my older system I had an imbedded serial port on the mother board.  I use only cables that are wired specifically for my K2, (always have & always will).   The cables work and the KIO2 work, I used them with my old system and confirmed that they still work by hooking things up to my XYL’s computer.

I have tired several different Serial (RS 232, DB-9)-USB adapter cables plugged directly into the USB connection from the motherboard, no USB hub or USB PCI cards.  Granted the Serial USB adapter cables came with a variety of other devices, hence my original question about drivers or construction.   It would appear that the quality of construction varies from cable to cable.  I had assumed that the design and system protocol for Serial to USB adapter would be the same; that evidently may not be the case.

I am currently using a new Desktop computer running Windows XP.  The new desktop system did not come with any Serial ports.   I wanted to try and use the existing USB port.   

I have double and triple checked my Com Port device settings with the windows Device Manager and tried to check connectivity using the K2 PORT menu and the computer Hyper Terminal following the instructions from the KIO2 manual; 4800 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 2 stop bits (and tried 1 stop bit).  

I have tried changing COM ports and different devices drivers.  The closest that I came to success was seeing a tiny blip of un-decipherable data stream on the Hyper terminal window during a K2 PORT test.

I have finally ordered a PCI Serial Controller card ($9) from Newegg.com.  It was either a $9 serial card or another $29 Serial USB Adapter cable to add to my existing supply of cables.  I will probably continue to play with some settings and drivers with my existing array of Serial USB adapter cables simply because I am a confirmed “Tinker’er”

73 K2CG
Chuck Gehring