Elecraft

USB to Serial converter

Classic

List

Threaded

9 messages Options

Charles Greene

USB to Serial converter

Hi,

Anyone know of a good, inexpensive USB to Serial Converter preferably that
does RTS/DTR for PTT and CW keying? I need one for a second port for my
Lap Top which has only one serial port.

TNX, Chas,

W1CG

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

Daniel Reynolds-2

Re: USB to Serial converter

I had good success using one off of eBay that I recently purchased for use with
a PSK31 interface (RTS/DTR keying).

Here's the auction...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6714586475

Obviously - you pay it primarly through the shipping/insurance charge ($12). I
won it Oct 13th and it arrived the 16th in a basic manilla envelope. The
adapter comes in a retail package (plastic front, cardboard backing) with a
mini-CD with the drivers for Win98-XP, Mac, and Linux. It worked fine out of
the box. I've used it with my WinXP laptop that has no serial port.

The model I received was more of a grey translucent plastic (not like the blue
transclucent pictured in the auction).

- Daniel / AA0NI

--- Charles Greene <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Anyone know of a good, inexpensive USB to Serial Converter preferably that
> does RTS/DTR for PTT and CW keying? I need one for a second port for my
> Lap Top which has only one serial port.
>
> TNX, Chas,
>
> W1CG
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

Joe-aa4nn

Re: USB to Serial converter

In reply to this post by Charles Greene

Hi Chas,
Take a look at www.n3fjp.com for CW interface circuits. You can build this
little circuit inside the DB9 shell then attach it to the end of the USB-Com
cable. A USB-Com converter cable is also offered at n3fjp altho you can get
one most anywhere. These come with a windows driver but Win XP has a
default driver as well.

Something new and interesting is a windows "Winkey CW Keyer Kit" at
http://k1el.tripod.com/wkinfo.html This device insures perfectly timed CW
keying which you don't often get straight out of windows due to timing
considerations.

I have done the USB-Com keying and am building the Winkey kit when it
arrives.

73, Joe, aa4nn

----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles Greene" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 12:12 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] USB to Serial converter

Dick Ballard

Re: USB to Serial converter

In reply to this post by Charles Greene

Try this:

http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=800-00030

Dick Ballard W7AND
[hidden email]
Beaverton OR (near Portland)

On Tue, 26 Oct 2004 12:12:29 -0400, Charles Greene wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Anyone know of a good, inexpensive USB to Serial Converter preferably that
>does RTS/DTR for PTT and CW keying? I need one for a second port for my
>Lap Top which has only one serial port.
>
>TNX, Chas,
>
>W1CG

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

Luc Favre

Re: USB to Serial converter

In reply to this post by Charles Greene

Have a look at http://www.microham.com/USB%20interfaces.html
Really nice units (I own one).
73
Luc/F6HJO

----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles Greene" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 6:12 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] USB to Serial converter

http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
>

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

Jack Brindle

Re: USB to Serial converter

In reply to this post by Joe-aa4nn

Can someone comment on the effects of timing latencies for CW signals
going through the USB system software and the serial adapter? I would
think that the delays might be a bit much, and possibly make the CW a
bit uneven. Something like the K1EL PIC circuit would probably be
better. Even better would be for software folks to support the K2's KY
facility...

Does anyone else realize that we have two USB threads going at present,
one where USB means Universal Serial Bus, the other for Upper Sideband?
It can get confusing...

- Jack Brindle, WA4FIB
------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

Charles Greene

Re: USB to Serial converter

Jack,

I have used MixW for keying CW and don't notice any difference between a
real serial port and a USB to serial port. On some programs, like N1MM,
the K1EL keyer does a better job than the program without it.

Chas

At 07:59 PM 10/26/2004, you wrote:

>Can someone comment on the effects of timing latencies for CW signals
>going through the USB system software and the serial adapter? I would
>think that the delays might be a bit much, and possibly make the CW a
>bit uneven. Something like the K1EL PIC circuit would probably be
>better. Even better would be for software folks to support the K2's KY
>facility...
>
>Does anyone else realize that we have two USB threads going at present,
>one where USB means Universal Serial Bus, the other for Upper Sideband?
>It can get confusing...
>
>- Jack Brindle, WA4FIB

Joe-aa4nn

Re: USB to Serial converter

In reply to this post by Jack Brindle

I have used a USB-Com adapter for keying CW on the K2 using N3FJP contest
software. Keying is generally smooth, but occasionally some dits and dahs
get stretched a little bit due to busy windows tasks in the laptop.

K1EL's WinKey CW Keying Kit offers a good solution for using the USB port
for CW keying. However, K1EL requires that the logging/contest software
send strings of ASCII characters through the Com Port (which K1EL translates
into CW) rather than the software itself manipulate RTS/DTR to make CW.
Several logging programs already support the WinKey CW Keying interface.

K1EL needs to put the transistor keying circuits right on his PCB and
thereby eliminate altogether the requirement for a Com adapter.

I have the WinKey CW Keying Kit or order and will be reporting on its
effectiveness.

BTW, what is K2's KY facility?

73, Joe, aa4nn

> Can someone comment on the effects of timing latencies for CW signals
> going through the USB system software and the serial adapter? I would
> think that the delays might be a bit much, and possibly make the CW a bit
> uneven. Something like the K1EL PIC circuit would probably be better.
> Even better would be for software folks to support the K2's KY
> facility...
>
> Does anyone else realize that we have two USB threads going at present,
> one where USB means Universal Serial Bus, the other for Upper Sideband?
> It can get confusing...
>
> - Jack Brindle, WA4FIB
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ---------------------
>

Jack Brindle

Re: USB to Serial converter

As part of the serial command set, the K2 allows the computer to send
data strings which are sent as CW. The message is something like
"KY CQ CQ DE WA4FIB K". It works quite nicely! I just wish more
computer programs used it.

On Oct 27, 2004, at 8:21 AM, Joe - aa4nn wrote:

> I have used a USB-Com adapter for keying CW on the K2 using N3FJP
> contest software. Keying is generally smooth, but occasionally some
> dits and dahs get stretched a little bit due to busy windows tasks in
> the laptop.
>
> K1EL's WinKey CW Keying Kit offers a good solution for using the USB
> port for CW keying. However, K1EL requires that the logging/contest
> software send strings of ASCII characters through the Com Port (which
> K1EL translates into CW) rather than the software itself manipulate
> RTS/DTR to make CW. Several logging programs already support the
> WinKey CW Keying interface.
>
> K1EL needs to put the transistor keying circuits right on his PCB and
> thereby eliminate altogether the requirement for a Com adapter.
>
> I have the WinKey CW Keying Kit or order and will be reporting on its
> effectiveness.
>
> BTW, what is K2's KY facility?

- Jack Brindle, WA4FIB
------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com