[Ham-Computers] RE: USB to Serial Adapter Problem

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

Herb,

There are USB interface chips that won't work properly with some USB
"host" interface chips.  I have experienced USB device problems with
some USB-to-IDE adapters and some USB-to-Serial adapters.  It's possible
that all three of the adapters you have use the same USB-to-Serial
bridge chip - it may even be the exact same adapter with different
vendor ID's (e.g. made by the same manufacturer for different vendors).

Check the reply I posted earlier today about the ATI video adapter
problem.  Use the same steps to make sure any and all USB devices are
removed from the Device Manager (and uninstall all drivers, if available
in "Add/Remove Programs".  Make sure you have the latest chipset drivers
for your motherboard if the USB controller is part of the motherboard
chipset.  Timing issues are a common cause of the issues you're seeing.

Also check with some of the logging program mail-lists (such as Writelog
or CT-User).  There's a wealth of information about USB-to-Serial
adapters as most logging programs interface to radios.  A general
concensus is that the Belkin USB-to-Serial adapter (F5U103?) works well.
FYI, there's also only one USB-to-Serial bridge chip on the market that
correctly supports 5-bit serial modes (BAUDOT) - sorry, don't remember
the product name, but it's probably in the [Writelog] list archives.
I've generally had good luck with IOGear products, but I haven't used
their USB-to-Serial adapter yet.

GL & 73,

  - Aaron, NN6O


-----Original Message-----
From: ham-computers-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:ham-computers-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Herb
Gerhardt
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 8:19 PM
To: Ham-Computers
Subject: [Ham-Computers] USB to Serial Adapter Problem


OK, I have been pulling my hair out and I can't afford to pull out any
more, so I have decided to seek some help from this group.

I have one of the Purple USB to Serial Adapters (MCT Model U232-P9).

  *** snip ***

I then obtained a uTNT TNC which is the a USB connected TNC made in
Greece (www.elcom.gr)

  *** snip ***

Well last week a friend of mine purchased one of the IOGEAR USB to
Serial Adapters from Wal-Mart.

  *** snip ( misc. problems reported) ***


Now the question to the group is:  Has anyone else ran into similar
problems?  If so, how did you resolve the problem?  Like I stated
before, this problem is caused by something internal to my specific
laptop, since these adapters work fine on other laptops.  Something
somewhere is screwed up but I don't have a clue as to where that might
be nor how to fix it.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Herb, KB7UVC
NW APRS Group, West Sound Coordinator
Our WEB Site:  http://www.nwaprs.info