[Elecraft] USB to Serial Issues

[Bill K9YEQ]

I have built a 12v dual core atom processor PC that is very small profile.
With a solid state drive (ssd) it is very acceptable as well.

Bill
K9YEQ


-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 8:54 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] USB to Serial Issues

  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.
>
>
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