[Elecraft] Possible solution for missing RS-232 port on laptops

[Vernon Mauery]

Whether or not the serial ports on the dock are "real serial ports" is
still up for debate.  It depends on the kind of dock you are using.
The dock may just be a multi-function USB device that includes a
serial port and a video adapter.  But it may also be a pass-through
for many kinds of devices.  If it is the former, you would be better
off (financially) to just get a USB serial adapter.  And how "real" it
is depends on what you will be using it for -- for me, Linux kernel
hacking requires a real serial port if you want to use it as a serial
console.  Or for using it as the input PPS on a GPS disciplined time
server, a USB serial port won't get you the accuracy you think you are
getting.  So beware....

--Vernon

On Tue, May 17, 2011 at 3:50 PM, Ron - PE8E <pe8e.elecraft at xs4all.nl> wrote:
>
> There has been a lot of talk about the absence of "real serial ports" on
> more recent laptops. Here is something I recently discovered and want to
> share with you all. Maybe you can benefit ...
>
> Not to lang ago I received a HP Compaq 6710b laptop. On first sight there
> was no RS-232 output. With the laptop came a dockingstation and on that
> one I found 1 serial, 1 parallel, 1 DVI and 1 SVGA port (and several
> others).