[Elecraft] Problems with erratic USB/serial connection

[Michael Walker]

Stan

Nice find.  The 4 porter is the way to go for that price.  I've used those,
moxa's and lantronix devices for as well.  Nothing Prolific anymore.

For my remote base, I have a $100 used 4 port Lantronix serial over ip
device that has been rock solid for 3 years now.  Even though it is in the
same building, the ability to not have serial issues on a remote base is so
key.

As you found out, you can search on Amazon (both US and Canada) for FTDI
and find a number of great devices.  StarTech is another good vender.

Mike va3mw



On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 7:38 AM, Slava Baytalskiy <slavka at nullserv.com>wrote:

> 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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