[Elecraft] USB to Serial Issues

[Don Wilhelm]

  Dave,

Yes, I believe a dedicated hamshack computer is in order in this day and 
age.

I will only disagree with you on one point - the choice of a laptop 
instead of one of the low profile desktops.  Desktops are more reliable 
and are repairable if they go "belly up".  Besides, I hate the laptop 
keyboards - they drive me insane.  If I use a laptop with an external 
keyboard and mouse, I might as well use a desktop computer.

At this price point, there are a lot of refurbished and off-lease 
computers out there (both laptop and desktop)  that can serve as a 
dedicated hamshack computer.  I have found the IBM (Lenovo) off-lease 
computers to be a good value and have been quite reliable.  I have 3 of 
them in use on my home network and there are 5 more that I support on my 
church network.  They just keep "chugging along" and seldom give 
problems.  Most are available with at least one (often 2) serial ports 
and Windows XP Pro.
For those who are Linux oriented, some can be available at 2/3 the price 
without OS.

Look around the web - Google is your friend - whichever you choose, 
laptop or desktop, a computer dedicated to the hamshack is not an 
enormous expense, and if you have a home network already, it just makes 
sense (to me anyway).

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/19/2010 9:24 PM, David Yarnes wrote:
> I've noticed a number of post (hundreds maybe?) about folks having one
> problem or the other with serial to USB converters.  I've had good luck with
> mine, a Belkin, but others have complained often about Belkin, and other
> types as well.  I think the main problem is the computer itself, but that's
> a pure guess.
>
> In any event, for this and other reasons, I started keeping an eye open for
> a laptop with a serial port.  It's not that I was having problems, but I
> couldn't help holding my breath every time I did an update to my K3.
> Actually, on one or two laptops I have had, there was a problem.
>
> Anyway, recently I spotted a "deal" on Buy.com for a Dell laptop
> (refurbished) which actually did have a serial port.  To be honest with you,
> I haven't seen a laptop with a serial port for eons!  This is a Dell D630,
> and it was less than $300 as refurbished.  I've had good luck with
> refurbished products, so I decided to give it a try.
>
>