[Elecraft] Test serial-to-USB converter

[Jan Ditzian]

Don,

Thank you for the suggestions.  I do not have another FTDI cable, but it 
seems that this is the way to go, and I can order one from Elecraft 
(since I understand that cheaper alternatives my result in a cable that 
is incompatible with recent drivers).  As for why the serial to serial 
did not work:  I also had a size adapter in there, so that may have been 
at fault.  The most straightforward test would be replacement.  If that 
works, I will contact MDS for a replacement converter as well.

Thank you,

Jan, KX2A


On 7/18/2016 7:05 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> Jan,
>
> The best way to test a USB to serial converter is by substitution with 
> a known good one, or by substitution of a known good working serial 
> device connected to the questionable converter cable.
>
> Yes, a power surge or a lightning event can damage serial interfaces 
> as well as USB interfaces.
>
> Since your USB ports on the computer seem to work, borrow a known good 
> USB to serial converter and try it out - preferably one with an FTDI 
> chipset.
>
> If you have any other devices that use a serial COM port interface, 
> see if they work with your USB to serial adapter - if so, the adapter 
> is probably OK, but remember that in the event of a power surge, 
> multiple failures are possible even though in normal troubleshooting 
> we assume only a single failure.
>
> You can test the USB to serial converter with a 'scope and an RS-232 
> breakout box, but you have to know the proper RS-232 levels to 
> understand what is happening.  A null modem loopback cable can be 
> helpful if you have to proper driving software application for that 
> testing.  I did that during my years of PC modem testing, but that was 
> more than 30 years ago and the software ran under DOS - not helpful now.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 7/18/2016 6:36 PM, Jan Ditzian wrote:
>> I have a K3 that lost communication with my computer. It uses an 
>> Elecraft serial-to-USB converter and cable.  This probably happened 
>> during a known power surge.  I also lost communication to my MDS 
>> rotor, which uses a built-in USB cable, which I believe may also be a 
>> serial-to-USB arrangement.  I checked things out a bit, and I can 
>> tell that my USB ports all seem to work.  I also tried the K3 with 
>> another computer and was unable to communicate with it.  However, I 
>> also tried a direct serial-to-serial cable from the K3 to the first 
>> computer, which has a serial port, and was also unable to 
>> communicate.  I am now unsure of the location of the problem.  I am 
>> willing to go with whatever works.
>>
>
>
>
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