[GreenKeys] USB to 45 baud adapter

[Paul Wills (CKT&T)]

I believe there are other programs that people can recommend but, 
personally, I am using Heavy Metal.  It has a lot of extra features in 
addition to doing the Baudot conversion.

The problem is that the original version by Bill Buzbee used a GUI that 
hasn't been supported for years.  It was all written in Perl but Bill 
did package an executable version that should work although it's quite 
dated as far as news and weather feeds.

http://www.buzbee.net/heavymetal/Intro.htm

There is an updated version put out by Javier Albinarrate that works.

http://www.albinarrate.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51:heavymetal

It would certainly be useful if other people mentioned their favorite 
interface software.

PDW


On 3/12/2024 9:58 AM, steve bennett wrote:
> How do you handle the conversion between ASCII and 5 bits?
> Even tho you slowed the baud rate you can't just sent 8 bits can you?
>
> -Steve
>
> On Monday, March 11, 2024 at 01:45:50 PM EDT, Paul Wills (CKT&T) 
> <pdwills at cedarknolltelephone.com> wrote:
>
>
> Greetings,
>
> As Windows 10 is rapidly reaching end of support, I started thinking
> about how I would replace my desktop. Unfortunately, nothing comes with
> a serial port and if anything does, it's probably not the same UART as
> found in an older PC.
>
> I knew about the Silicon Laboratories CP2102 and actually bought a
> couple of their development kits.  The CP2102 allows a user to set an
> "alias" baud rate that can go as low as 45 baud. Unfortunately, the
> development kits are a bit costly at more than $40 per unit.
>
> I did a lot of Google searching and tried a few USB to serial adapters
> made for the hobby market.  Unfortunately, most of the "CP2102" UARTs
> appear to be Chinese knock-offs that mostly act like the Silabs units
> but they don't support 45 baud.
>
> Eventually, I came across Pololu Robotics who actually carries a USB to
> TTL adapter with the "real" Silabs* chip.  At $15 each, I bought four of
> them just to make sure I had a couple spares as the CP2102 is being
> discontinued and replaced with the CP2102N which does not support 45
> baud.  They worked so well, I might buy a few more.
>
> https://www.pololu.com/product/391
>
> One needs the CP210xBaudRateAliasConfig.exe program to change the baud
> rate.  Silabs also has a configuration program that is supposed to
> change the baud rate but I couldn't get it to work. They don't currently
> make CP210xBaudRateAliasConfig available but I can provide it for those
> who need it.
>
> Right now, there are 119 in stock.  I wouldn't bet that they would make
> any more.
>
> I have nothing to with Pololu Robotics other than being a satisfied
> customer.
>
> PDW
>
> *I think they were actually insulted when I mentioned the knock-off
> chips because they proudly said that their converters are made in the
> USA with parts sourced from the proper manufacturers.
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> GreenKeys mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/greenkeys
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:GreenKeys at mailman.qth.net
>
> >>> Jordan Spencer Cunningham's GreenKeys Search Tool: 
> https://teletype.net/gksearch
> >>> 2002-to-present greenkeys archive: 
> http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/greenkeys/
> >>> 1998-to-2001 greenkeys archive: 
> http://mailman.qth.net/archive/greenkeys/greenkeys.html
> >>> Randy Guttery's 2001-to-2009 GreenKeys Search Tool: 
> http://comcents.com/tty/greenkeyssearch.html
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to raleigh_ranger at yahoo.com