[Elecraft] My Proposed K3 Configuration so far...

[Bill]

Grant Youngman wrote:
> It is curious why so many people have no problems at all with the Prolific-based KUSB, and others have constant issues.
>
> I've used a bunch of equivalent adapters for a long time -- on an Orion, GPS stabilized time base, and other things.  Once I changed PCs, I could no longer get them to work properly, even with what were the "current" drivers, old drivers,  whatever. The OS's were the same, the update levels were the same, only the PC platform itself was different.  Couldn't get them to work at all on a Mac (although others have wthout a problem).  So I went to new brand with a different chipset (keyspan) and they work, but I'm still surprised everytime the DO work :-)
>
> Fortunately, if one one doesn't work reliably, it doesn't break the bank to try something else.
>
> Grant/NQ5T
>
>
> On Nov 20, 2009, at 7:12 AM, Lionel Lhermitte wrote:
>
>   
>> Hi all,
>> Few minutes ago, I just ordered a full K3 kit ....with "KUSB" option.....so
>> not very happy to hear that !
>> Regards,
>> Lionel, F6FCD, France
>>
>>     
>
>
>   
There is a ton of USB support code in a PC's BIOS.   Support to 
recognize keyboards, mice, external hard drives, floppy drives, thumb 
drives, etc.  

I have an external hard drive that caused one of my PCs (plain vanilla 
HP machine) to cogitate for almost 5 minutes on every boot, eventually 
coming to life.  Unplugged it and got a normal boot.   Different PC 
(plan vanilla COMPAQ - duh, HP too!) boots fine with the external drive.

That said, I have a handful of USB to serial gizmos, both Prolific and 
FTDI based that work OK on all of my PCs - HP, COMPAQ and a number of 
'homebrew' types with various manufacturer MBs.  

I suspect the root of the evil is in the PC BIOS.

73, Bill  N2BC