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

[Don Wilhelm]

I have to agree with Joe.

If you must use a USB to serial converter for serious all purpose use, 
get an Edgeport product.
There is a difference between a 'converter' and an 'adapter'.  Most USB 
to serial devices available in the consumer market are 'adapters' - the 
Edgeport was directed at the commercial market where many different 
terminal devices need to be supported.  It advertizes itself as a 
'converter' rather than an adapter.  I have a 4 port model and it has 
never failed to perform as expected, although I prefer to use real 
serial ports if possible.

Whether the serial card is plugged into an ISA bus, a PCI bus, or 
whatever kind of PC bus architecture, that bus is just a means of 
getting addressing and data to the card.  It is not an "add-on".

USB to serial adapters may work fine for many applications, but some 
have trouble with the slower data rate of the K2 (4800 bps). Usually the 
FTDI adapters will work, but some have problems at lower data rates.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/5/2016 5:54 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
>
> 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.