[Roger L. Ruszko]

Josh, FVC Team 78

Questions:
1) For people who are using a direct serial interface from the computer, how are they doing it?

Serial interfaces have been with us much longer than USB. There are cables with either type of connector (male pins, female sockets) on each end. Plus having either the male screw pins or female nuts. Watch the wire configuration in the cables from pin to pin. There are also cables out there that look like serial cables but serve as Null Modem Cables. You just have to spend some time hunting through cables (new or used) until you find one that fits your needs.

You may be able to pull some of the nuts off or screws off of the cable connectors and thus allow the cables to plug into the connectors. You may not get a "permanent" connection of cable to computer or cable to adapter. However the connection can be make and the mission accomplished.



2) How much faster is the download time? (In other words, how important a problem is this to solve?)

You very likely need to solve this problem if you are using an older computer not equipped with a USB port. For some its not a question of time and speed it is a question of need.

Roger L. Ruszkowski