[Elecraft] The no-serial port conundrum

[Jim Dunstan]

At 12:09 AM 3/21/2010 -0700, you wrote:


You will have to purchase a USB to RS232 adapter ... which are commonly 
available.  It will come with a CD with drivers etc...  However, if you 
have an operating system XP and up you will not need to install a driver 
... As soon as you plug it in there is a 99% chance it will automatically 
detect the device, identify it correctly, and install it.  It will then 
simply say your adapter is ready for use. The drivers are generally 
supplied for older OS's such as Win98.

However, you will be using some kind of software that will be using the 
RS232 port and it will have to be told which Comport to use (the one your 
computer assigned to the adapter).  To determine the Comport # you will go 
to your computer 'Device Manager' where you will see listed the 'Ports 
(Com)'.  Click on it and you will see the name of your adapter and the 
Comport # assigned to it.  For example it might say 'Prolific Com4' ... 
which is the name of the adapter and the RS232 port # assigned to it.  Note 
the number and use it when setting up you digital or control software that 
will be using the comport.  (Prolific just happens to be a particular brand 
of adapter).

Jim,

VE3CI