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

[Doug Person]

A 4-port card is NOT a native RS-232 port. PCI is just another bus add 
on.  There no difference between running 1 or 4 USB to RS-232 
converters.  You can buy a 4 port FTDI converter that runs off a single 
USB port from Amazon that will run everything you could ever want.  I 
run 80's vintage lab equipment off them and they don't know the difference.

Also, don't get Windows 7 or 8.  Windows 10 is the only choice for 
Windows.  7 and 8 are obsolete and support will get lighter and lighter 
and then vanish completely.

Doug -- K0DXV

On 1/5/2016 12:24 PM, Cliff Frescura wrote:
> 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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