[Elecraft] Problems with erratic USB/serial connection

[Slava Baytalskiy]

Hi all!
After seeing all the potential issues with various USB-to-SERIAL converters i decided to go a different route:
picked up this Gearmo 4-port dongle on Amazon for $48.
It uses an FTDI chipset and a single USB port gives me 4 DB9 RS232 ports.
It also seems to keep the COM port numbering constant.
Oh, and i'm using it on my MacBook Pro, running Windows 7 (32bit) in Parallels.
Works famously so far (been a few months now).
Hooked it up via the LP-Bridge program, and now i can turn the radio off (K3) without HRD crashing.
I'm only using 2 COM ports right now: one for the LP-Bridge/K3 and another for this ERC rotor ad--on card that i just assembled last weekend.
Brought my ancient CDE HAM IV control box into the 21st century.

Anyways, this Gearmo dongle seems like a really good alternative for Macs and PCs that don't have native RS232 ports.
Here's a link to where i got mine from: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ETDC8K/ref=oh_details_o04_s01_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Seems like the price had changed, too. Its now $44.59 with Amazon Prime. Nice!
__________________
Slava (Sal) B, W2RMS
W2RMS at arrl.net

On May 27, 2014, at 7:17 PM, GDanner <gdanner at windstream.net> wrote:

> My ancient Prolific USB to serial converters have been ported from XP to Windows 7 and recently to Windows 8.1.
> They work flawlessly - both versions of Windows installed the proper drivers with no direct intervention from me.
> 
> You might uninstall the USB converter, unplug it, reboot and then plug in the converter and see if Windows installs it correctly.
> I have had success with this "repair" for problem devices in the past; including a back-up drive with Windows 7.
> 73
> George
> AI4VZ
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Walter Underwood
> Elecraft switched to FTDI chips in mid-2010, so the Prolific driver isn't used for more recent cables. This page has drivers for both chips.
> http://www.elecraft.com/K3/k3_software.htm#drvrs
> wunder
> K6WRU
> 
> On May 27, 2014, at 9:11 AM, "Dennis McAlpine" <dbmcalpine at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> I have been using the KUSB USB/serial converter between my K3 and PC for
>> both DXLab and n1mm.  Lately, I have been having trouble with erratic
>> frequency readings, mainly on n1mm but sometimes on DXLab.  On n1mm, this
>> seems to happen mainly when I change bands or after the radio has been in
>> standby without transmitting for a while.  I also have to run the USB at
>> 19200 rather than 38400.  I updated the Prolific driver with no effect.
>> Anyone got a solution to this problem?  Barring that, what are people using
>> for a USB/serial converter now days since I have used the old KUSB for many
>> years now? Thanks.
>> > 73,
>> > Dennis, K2SX 
> 
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