[Ham-Mac] has anyone tried... Mac/Doze file transfers?

[Steve Hellyer]

Hi Jack,

The Keyspan (now triplite) drivers in Mac OS X do not block use of  
serial ports in a VM.  I use Parallels (v4) to access an older Keyspan  
4 port serial adaptor.  You do have to install the Keyspan drivers in  
Windows. Same as you have to on a PC.

<Attached is screen shot of Parallels VM running HamRadioDeluxe  
controlling my Kenwood radio via Keyspan adaptor>

I agree with you FTDI has some great drivers.  Wasn't the case a few  
years ago when I wanted a 4 port adapter to control a number of  
devices. They have picked thing up to match growth in Mac OS X market  
share. :-)

If you have an ICOM you may want to have a look at this as it uses  
FTDI drivers and make thing a little cleaner as you can go direct to  
CI-V interface. http://www.blackcatsystems.com/usbciv/

Also agree since the purchase of Keyspan by TripLite the serial  
adaptors have not seen the attention like when Keyspan marketed them.   
(I wonder why they purchased Keyspan given there lack of marketing  
there new adaptors????)

It's important to note that if a USB device has been "captured" by the  
VM then Mac OS can't use it and vice versa. So if I am running the VM  
I can't run MacLoggerDX and have it also use same USB serial adaptor.

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We have lots more choices now but the Keyspan drivers were developed  
first for Mac OS X and then they added Windows.
They are very good drivers.  Question is will they remain that way?  
Wondering because 10.6 (snow-leopard), due this September, will be a  
full 64 bit OS which mean we will want 64-bit version of the drivers.  
10.5 is a hybrid 64/32 OS which has a 64 bit memory model but uses 32  
driver model (printers, scanner, etc..)

Developers have snow-leopard now so there is good time to recompile  
for full 64 bit.  Snow Leopard will also be Intel only so it should  
also be easier to develop, compile and test drivers one type of CPU.  
Will be interesting to see what TripLite, FTDI, and Prolific have ready.

Cheers & 73
Steve - VA3SPH

On 1-Jul-09, at 9:53 PM, Jack Brindle wrote:

> One of the few problems I have found is the use of Keyspan serial
> ports. Keyspan has a utility that runs on the Mac that blocks the use
> of the driver by the VM client. The solution is to use a serial port
> made by someone else. As someone else noted there are USB serial
> adapters that will do the job quite nicely. My favorite are those
> using the FTDI chips - the drivers are the best around. Keyspan serial
> adapters used to be my favorite, but since their purchase by TrippLite
> things seem to have gone down hill. Finding anything about the devices
> on the web site is very difficult. I recently bought an FTDI adapter
> from Mouser for $18 - it works exceptionally well on both the Mac and
> Windows side.
>
> - Jack B, W6FB