[Elecraft] The no-serial port conundrum

[David Christ]

If your laptop has an express card/34 slot you can buy a serial card 
for under $30.  Gets rid of the whole USB issue.  I have not had a 
chance to test it yet but should have mine in hand soon.  Similar 
solutions are available for PCMCIA.

http://www.ramelectronics.net/computer-parts/computer-i-o-cards/serial-port-cards/rs-232-serial-port-express-card-io-ecs120/prodIOECS120.html

Unfortunately the run of the mill lower end of the market laptops are 
eliminating everything except USB, video and headphone (and maybe 
Ethernet).  I suspect their reasoning (probably accurate) is that 
with built in Bluetooth and Wireless hardly anyone will want to 
connect non USB devices.

David K0LUM

At 12:09 AM -0700 3/21/10, Garry Shapiro wrote:
>Tom, NW6P has a new K3 and a "modern" laptop with no serial port, so
>using the K3 Utility is problematic. I am sure he can find the hardware
>at Radio Shack or Fry's to effect the physical layer connection from USB
>to DB9, but how does one tell the computer, i.e. define a virtual serial
>port? And is there anything we need to know about the physical connection?
>
>Garry, NI6T
>
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