[Elecraft] suggested PC??? Real RS-232 ports

[Cliff Frescura]

I agree with N1MGO,

I've come full circle on this one and am in the process of removing all of
the USB/RS-232 converters in my setup and reinstalling a 4 port card that I
had in an old XP system (drivers work fine).

Determining what is a quality USB/RS-232 serial adapter is not always clear.
There are potential driver issues as well as suspect RF shielding.  Some of
these devices don't enable you to securely connect to both ends (no screw
connections, so the connector is not securely seated).  They are just
another (additional) point of failure.  Plus you are also now dealing with
limitations of USB (re: polling).

The FTDI chipset and drivers seem the most reliable and if you want to take
apart your newly purchased converter, you can determine if the chipset is
counterfeit.

http://hackaday.com/2014/02/19/ft232rl-real-or-fake/

If you need only 1 RS-232 port I would go with a converter, but once you get
above 2, then I think it is a good choice.


73,

Cliff K3LL



-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Tim
Tucker
Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2016 10:44 AM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] suggested PC???

I haven't had used a "real" (old fashioned) serial port on any PC that
controls radio equipment in probably 10 years.  It's really not necessary if
you purchase quality USB/Serial adapters (no fake chipsets) where needed.
The only PC I have with a old-fashioned serial port is an ancient Toshiba
laptop I keep around that runs DOS so I can program old Motorola radios.

On Tue, Jan 5, 2016 at 10:19 AM, Gordon LaPoint <gordon.lapoint at gmail.com>
wrote:

> You should consider adding real RS232 ports, at least 2 or 4 if you 
> will ever run two radios, and even more if you want to control rotors, 
> amps
> (KPA-500) or other accessories.
>
>>
>>
>
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