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

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

On 1/5/2016 5:32 PM, Doug Person via Elecraft wrote:
> A 4-port card is NOT a native RS-232 port. PCI is just another bus
> add on.

*Absolutely incorrect*.  A USB to serial converter *of any kind* -
other than the Edgeport products - can not do 45.45, 50, 75 or 100
baud RTTY.  All of the multi-port RS-232 PCI and PCIe cards handle
that task with no problem (although Windows will set 45.45 baud to
45 baud because the API is integer based).

PCI and PCIe based serial and parallel port cards are true memory
addressed ports like motherboard or (obsolete) ISA bus ports - not
USB devices that suffer from latency and driver buffer issues.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV


On 1/5/2016 5:32 PM, Doug Person via Elecraft wrote:
> 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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