View Full Version : what usb -> serial adapter should i get?
hello,
i got a new laptop about a month ago and it dosent have a serial port on it. my parents told me that they would buy me a usb to serial adapter if i tell them which one to get. basically i need to know which one to get.
/forest
ps im running windows xp
Lil' Lavery
25-12-2006, 18:06
I'd wait to see if the RC stays the same in 2007 before purchasing an Serial/USB adapter.
JBotAlan
25-12-2006, 18:06
Well, this is discussed in this thread:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45655&highlight=usb+serial+adapter
(I'm a little embarrassed after reading this thread; the thread creator is none other than the programmer I worked with on T3 last year...:o )
I have noticed that it isn't the hardware that matters so much as the driver that comes with it. It's really a shot in the dark.
Ensure there is a good return policy on the one you're going to buy, and go for it. Try it out. Return it if it doesn't work.
I would tell you what I've got, but I am not even sure, there is no brand name or model number anywhere on either of my converters.
Good luck...
JBot
http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=28031
JBotAlan
25-12-2006, 18:19
http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=28031
That one might be a better bet. All the ones I've had are based on a Prolific chipset; I've gotten drivers from their website:
http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/Download-2.asp?ID=17
It's good to see that Prolific doesn't have a monopoly.
JBot
EDIT: Some of the devices I've used with a Prolific chipset have become flaky, so you might try the Parallax first.
I'd wait to see if the RC stays the same in 2007 before purchasing an Serial/USB adapter.
good idea but i would still like to program the old bots.
Ted Boucher
25-12-2006, 20:20
For the holiday season, I bring the gift of wisdom!
Please search before you post!
And all of these links to just some of the other threads I found on the same exact topic....
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42906&highlight=usb+to+serial
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25823
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24606
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22424
I suggest the 6 Ft. (1.8m) USB-to-Serial Port Cable... Model: 26-183 (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2036258&cp=&kw=usb+to+serial&parentPage=search) that is available at all radio shacks. This is the same adapter that the VEX programming kit has, and if FVC are using it, then I think it is a big hint that it is good. Yes it is a little pricey, but it is worth the quality.
AustinSchuh
25-12-2006, 20:20
I bought a Keyspan USB->Serial converter, and have been very happy with it. It works for me under both Windows and Linux.
EHaskins
25-12-2006, 21:16
I've had good luck with the RadioShack one included in the VEX programming kit.
Matt Krass
26-12-2006, 00:22
There's the Vex one, and there's also this Keyspan one I use:
http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/usa19hs/
It's slow though, most of them will be, they're meant for PDAs, not interfacing with this kind of hardware.
Also if you're feeling adventurous you could try an electronics project and make your own based on this nifty sucker:
http://www.smileymicros.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=31&MMN_position=57:57
MrForbes
26-12-2006, 00:47
some older laptops have a serial port on the docking station, and you can buy some of those docking stations dirt cheap on ebay...like the one for my 700 mhz small/light Dell L400. And this docking station is really no more bulky/heavy than some of the usb/serial adapters are! ymmv
some older laptops have a serial port on the docking station, and you can buy some of those docking stations dirt cheap on ebay...like the one for my 700 mhz small/light Dell L400. And this docking station is really no more bulky/heavy than some of the usb/serial adapters are! ymmv
that would be cool......but the new alienware laptop i have dosent have a docking station that i know of.
i may try to build my own :ahh:.....then again maby not..lol :)
/forest
Rickertsen2
26-12-2006, 03:18
You might look into PCMCIA serial cards. I have had nothing but problems with the multitude of usb adapters i have tried. These would provide a true serial port.
Kingofl337
26-12-2006, 10:41
Don't by a Belkin! I also recommed the Prolific cable. I'm going to order the Paralax one though to try it out. Anyone see a cardbus express 3/4 rs232 adapter?
Parallax is based on the FT232RL I took some important points from the data sheet ( http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/DataSheets/DS_FT232R_v104.pdf ):
• UART interface support for 7 or 8 data bits, 1 or 2 stop bits and odd / even / mark / space / no parity.
• Fully assisted hardware or X-On / X-Off software handshaking.
• Data transfer rates from 300 baud to 3 Megabaud (RS422 / RS485 and at TTL levels) and 300 baud to 1 Megabaud (RS232).
• 256 byte receive buffer and 128 byte transmit buffer utilising buffer smoothing technology to allow for high data throughput.
• FTDI’s royalty-free VCP and D2XX drivers eliminate the requirement for USB driver development in most cases.
• In-built support for event characters and line break condition.
• FIFO receive and transmit buffers for high data throughput.
• Adjustable receive buffer timeout.
• Synchronous and asynchronous bit bang mode interface options with RD# and WR# strobes.
• New CBUS bit bang mode option.
• Support for USB suspend and resume.
• Support for bus powered, self powered, and high-power bus powered USB configurations.
• Integrated 3.3V level converter for USB I/O .
• Integrated level converter on UART and CBUS for interfacing to 5V - 1.8V Logic.
• True 5V / 3.3V / 2.8V / 1.8V CMOS drive output and TTL input.
• 3.3V to 5.25V Single Supply Operation.
• Low operating and USB suspend current.
• Low USB bandwidth consumption.
• UHCI / OHCI / EHCI host controller compatible
• USB 2.0 Full Speed compatible.
Royalty-Free Drivers For:
• Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, Server 2003, XP.
• Windows Vista / Longhorn*
• Windows XP 64-bit.*
• Windows XP Embedded.
• Windows CE.NET 4.2 & 5.0
• MAC OS 8 / 9, OS-X
• Linux 2.4 and greater
• Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, Server 2003, XP.
• Windows Vista / Longhorn*
• Windows XP 64-bit.*
• Windows XP Embedded.
• Windows CE.NET 4.2 & 5.0
• Linux 2.4 and greater
ChuckDickerson
26-12-2006, 12:03
We have had no problems with the IOGear GUC232A (http://www.iogear.com/main.php?loc=product&Item=GUC232A).
Astronouth7303
28-12-2006, 16:54
If you want a real test of an adaptor, just hook it up to the dashboard, switch it to RC mode, and start reading data. Because the dashboard is set to the highest baud normally supported (115200), any USB adapter not able to handle it will bork.
Any adapter that handles this amount of data will be able to download code as rapidly as a native serially port. I'm not saying others won't, they'll just go slower.
Dave Flowerday
28-12-2006, 17:21
If you want a real test of an adaptor, just hook it up to the dashboard, switch it to RC mode, and start reading data. Because the dashboard is set to the highest baud normally supported (115200), any USB adapter not able to handle it will bork.
The dashboard runs at 19200.
Any adapter that handles this amount of data will be able to download code as rapidly as a native serially port. I'm not saying others won't, they'll just go slower.
No, for a few reasons. First, like I mentioned above the dashboard does not run at 115200 so this test won't work. Second, and much more importantly, is that these USB->Serial adapters are fully capable of 115200 speeds - that's not the problem. The problem has to do with buffering built into the USB->Serial adapter and the nature of the USB protocol. These adapters buffer up data coming from the serial port and only transmit it to the PC at certain intervals, either when the buffer fills or when some sort of timeout expires. This adds lots of latency since the way the IFI downloader works is to send commands to the RC and then wait for a response. So, each response takes a while longer than it should, which slows down the overall transfer. This is probably also why some just plain don't work at all.
Astronouth7303
03-01-2007, 03:08
You know, a little voice inside said I should do my homework before posting...
As an addendum, my post was partly based on my own experience with a USB adapter. Downloading worked, but dashboard didn't. Don't remember what adapter or from whom. It was purple and had a USB B port (the square one).
MikeDubreuil
03-01-2007, 06:53
Parallax is based on the FT232RL
This is an incredible little chip by FTDI (http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/FT232R.htm). We use them at work at their highest baud rate. We also run them for days at a time. They work great.
I have an interesting situation.
I bought a belkin usb to serial port cable and it could work for the dashboard but using the ifi loader would not detect the controller nor download data. I returned that and bought the radio shack version someone mentioned and its hooked up right this minute. Again the dashboard works fine but downloading and initializing /reading the controller doesn't work. I tried changing the buffer tried changing the speeds up and down to no effect.
Can someone please help me. I bought a new laptop and it doesn't have aserial port, which I knew when I bought it but I didn't think the usb to serial port converter would be this hard to get working. I would buy a pcmcia card to serial (which I did) but something I didn't realize the laptop doesn't have the slot, instead its an express card slot, which I can order a serial port for but they're $50+.
I would use my old laptop but the screen, harddrive and cd-rom are dying.
-Mike
whytheheckme
16-01-2007, 09:46
We are using a VEX USB-Serial cable on my MacBook Pro running Windows XP SP2 with no problems.
The VEX driver is even included in the easyC install (I think... If not, you can always use the CD it came with or download the driver.) This is really convenient.
Jacob
BrianBSL
16-01-2007, 10:11
Can someone please help me. I bought a new laptop and it doesn't have aserial port, which I knew when I bought it but I didn't think the usb to serial port converter would be this hard to get working. I would buy a pcmcia card to serial (which I did) but something I didn't realize the laptop doesn't have the slot, instead its an express card slot, which I can order a serial port for but they're $50+.
I know some people who think the vex adapters work pretty well.
Also, don't even bother with the SIIG expresscard serial adapter. Its just a express card to usb adapter and usb to serial adapter in one card.
We are using a VEX USB-Serial cable on my MacBook Pro running Windows XP SP2 with no problems.
The VEX driver is even included in the easyC install (I think... If not, you can always use the CD it came with or download the driver.) This is really convenient.
Jacob
Would you be willing to post the driver? The stores in my area only sell the version which is just the cable which comes with a basic driver. Did you buy the RS # 276-2152 ? I am begining to think its no longer available?
-Mike
jtdowney
16-01-2007, 17:01
We have had no problems with the IOGear GUC232A (http://www.iogear.com/main.php?loc=product&Item=GUC232A).
We've had good luck with this one as well
2 days ago I returned all the cables and adapters I bought and went to another computer store which had the IOGEAR. I bought the cable, brought it home and connected the cable to my computer and installed per instructions. With all the other cables I could get the dashboard to work but it wouldnt recognise the controller. So today I took my computer and the iogear cable and brought them to our 06 controller. Powered up the other robot hooked my cables together and to the controller. Started IFI loader, clicked on "Controller Verification" and voila the controller is recognised. I an 99% sure I got a bad controller. :confused:
So now I will go call IFI and see what I need to do to send in the bad controller and get a new one before we NEED it, I guess I'll use an old controller for programming...
-Mike
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