serial to USB
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I have zero serial ports on the computer in my shack. I use Elecrafts Serial/USB converter for one connection, Another FTDI unit I bought on Amazon for the other and piggy back my SteppIR controller with a Y cable to the main rig/computer interface. I have no issues at all. I'm quite happy with the way they work. I've used a lot of Serial to USB converters since serial ports started disappearing and these FTDI ones seem to work just fine.
Message: 23 Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:38:39 -0800 (PST) From: KM4VX <[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 and K2 simultaneous on serial to USB cables tocomputer To: [hidden email] Message-ID: <[hidden email]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Many thanks for the helpful suggestions on and off-line. Given all the problems with Serial to USB adapters I am going to install serial PCI cards in my PC and then connect the correctly wired cable from the K2 (I understand it is not a true RS232 port on the K2) to a new serial port on the PC. I may do the same with my K3 rather than use the Elecradft Serial to USB cable, which actually works well. 73. Ron Libby and John www.TheRollingHome.com Ft Clark Springs, Brackettville, TX No trees were harmed in the sending of this e-mail; however, many electrons were inconvenienced ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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It really begs the question for some us who do not understand or are not
computer geeks: what IS the difference between FTDI and Prolific. We understand each one behaving (responding) differently with software to radio control, and that some don't work at all, I do not understand what makes one preferred over the other (such as elecraft serial/usb adaptor cable) Prolific also works with most stuff too. For example, are they "platform" related? (micr0$oft) Is this akin to "ordinary" DVD player as opposed to a "blue ray" player that can play "both"?? 72 Ron, wb1hga ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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The biggest problem I've seen lately is there were counterfeit Prolific
chips found and the latest drivers from Prolific disable the counterfeit chips (for good reasons). They both work OK if you have the proper drivers. On Sat, 11 Feb 2012, roncasa wrote: > It really begs the question for some us who do not understand or are not > computer geeks: > > what IS the difference between FTDI and Prolific. > > We understand each one behaving (responding) differently with software > to radio control, and that some don't work at all, I do not understand > what makes one preferred over the other (such as elecraft serial/usb > adaptor cable) > Prolific also works with most stuff too. > For example, are they "platform" related? (micr0$oft) > Is this akin to "ordinary" DVD player as opposed to a "blue ray" player > that can play "both"?? -- Hisashi T Fujinaka - [hidden email] BSEE(6/86) + BSChem(3/95) + BAEnglish(8/95) + MSCS(8/03) + $2.50 = latte ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by John's email
>what IS the difference between FTDI and Prolific.
They are two different manufacturers of USB to Serial hardware ICs (chips). http://www.ftdichip.com/ http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/company.asp Besides the hardware, each manufacturer supplies royalty free software (device drivers) as part of the solution for PC operating systems such as Mac, Windows and Linux. At work I have long used FTDI chips in products we design. A customized version of the signed driver package supplied by FTDI for 32 and 64 bit Windows is incorporated into our own software distribution. Prolific is generally ok but lately they have been warning about counterfeit parts and USB to Serial Cables: http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?id=31 Bob NW8L ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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Bob,
Thanks for the heads up. Must be one of the reasons for bunches of issues with the adapters. This is also the reason I don't mind spending more for a product that I know is genuine. 73, Bill K9YEQ -----Original Message----- >what IS the difference between FTDI and Prolific. They are two different manufacturers of USB to Serial hardware ICs (chips). http://www.ftdichip.com/ http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/company.asp Besides the hardware, each manufacturer supplies royalty free software (device drivers) as part of the solution for PC operating systems such as Mac, Windows and Linux. At work I have long used FTDI chips in products we design. A customized version of the signed driver package supplied by FTDI for 32 and 64 bit Windows is incorporated into our own software distribution. Prolific is generally ok but lately they have been warning about counterfeit parts and USB to Serial Cables: http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?id=31 Bob NW8L ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by Bob Cunnings NW8L
All,
I feel I should add to the discussion the fact that these consumer quality USB to Serial adapters typically do not like to work at lower baud rates - the K2 uses 4800 baud. So an adapter that works at the K3 rate of 19.2k may have trouble when attempting to drive a K2. The commercial quality USB to Serial converters (note that they are called converters instead of adapters) may not suffer from the same problems, my Edgeport/4 converter works well with the K2 even with the high polling rates of Ham Radio Deluxe. Of course these commercial quality converters are more expensive than the $10 to $40 consumer quality adapters. 73, Don W3FPR On 2/11/2012 4:14 PM, Bob Cunnings wrote: >> what IS the difference between FTDI and Prolific. > They are two different manufacturers of USB to Serial hardware ICs (chips). > > http://www.ftdichip.com/ > > http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/company.asp > > Besides the hardware, each manufacturer supplies royalty free software > (device drivers) as part of the solution for PC operating systems such > as Mac, Windows and Linux. > > At work I have long used FTDI chips in products we design. A > customized version of the signed driver package supplied by FTDI for > 32 and 64 bit Windows is incorporated into our own software > distribution. Prolific is generally ok but lately they have been > warning about counterfeit parts and USB to Serial Cables: > > http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?id=31 > > Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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Don,
Which brand are you using? I am looking for a four port. 73, Bill K9YEQ -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 4:08 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] serial to USB All, I feel I should add to the discussion the fact that these consumer quality USB to Serial adapters typically do not like to work at lower baud rates - the K2 uses 4800 baud. So an adapter that works at the K3 rate of 19.2k may have trouble when attempting to drive a K2. The commercial quality USB to Serial converters (note that they are called converters instead of adapters) may not suffer from the same problems, my Edgeport/4 converter works well with the K2 even with the high polling rates of Ham Radio Deluxe. Of course these commercial quality converters are more expensive than the $10 to $40 consumer quality adapters. 73, Don W3FPR On 2/11/2012 4:14 PM, Bob Cunnings wrote: >> what IS the difference between FTDI and Prolific. > They are two different manufacturers of USB to Serial hardware ICs (chips). > > http://www.ftdichip.com/ > > http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/company.asp > > Besides the hardware, each manufacturer supplies royalty free software > (device drivers) as part of the solution for PC operating systems such > as Mac, Windows and Linux. > > At work I have long used FTDI chips in products we design. A > customized version of the signed driver package supplied by FTDI for > 32 and 64 bit Windows is incorporated into our own software > distribution. Prolific is generally ok but lately they have been > warning about counterfeit parts and USB to Serial Cables: > > http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?id=31 > > Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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Don,
Thanks! I found a digi on Amazon for $ 216. There was a reconditioned unit by Saitek, but I believe that is Chinese and I am no so certain it isn't a knock off. I will check out eBay. 73, Bill K9YEQ -----Original Message----- From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]] Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 4:41 PM To: Bill K9YEQ Subject: Re: [Elecraft] serial to USB Bill, I bought mine some time ago (when they were cheap) on Ebay - I have the Edgeport/4 (4 port) by Inside Out - that company was sold to Digi International, and the Digi drivers work with the Edgeport - see if you can find one being sold on Ebay for a decent price. The drivers for the /2, /4, /8 and /16 are the same. 73, Don W3FPR On 2/11/2012 5:34 PM, Bill K9YEQ wrote: > Don, > > Which brand are you using? I am looking for a four port. > > 73, > Bill > K9YEQ > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [hidden email] > [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm > Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 4:08 PM > To: [hidden email] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] serial to USB > > All, > > I feel I should add to the discussion the fact that these consumer quality > USB to Serial adapters typically do not like to work at lower baud rates - > the K2 uses 4800 baud. So an adapter that works at the K3 rate of 19.2k > have trouble when attempting to drive a K2. > > The commercial quality USB to Serial converters (note that they are called > converters instead of adapters) may not suffer from the same problems, my > Edgeport/4 converter works well with the K2 even with the high polling rates > of Ham Radio Deluxe. Of course these commercial quality converters are more > expensive than the $10 to $40 consumer quality adapters. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 2/11/2012 4:14 PM, Bob Cunnings wrote: >>> what IS the difference between FTDI and Prolific. >> They are two different manufacturers of USB to Serial hardware ICs > (chips). >> http://www.ftdichip.com/ >> >> http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/company.asp >> >> Besides the hardware, each manufacturer supplies royalty free software >> (device drivers) as part of the solution for PC operating systems such >> as Mac, Windows and Linux. >> >> At work I have long used FTDI chips in products we design. A >> customized version of the signed driver package supplied by FTDI for >> 32 and 64 bit Windows is incorporated into our own software >> distribution. Prolific is generally ok but lately they have been >> warning about counterfeit parts and USB to Serial Cables: >> >> http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?id=31 >> >> > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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I refined the search and found the items you are referring to. Thanks a
ton! 73, Bill K9YEQ -----Original Message----- From: Ron W3ZV [mailto:[hidden email]] Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 5:00 PM To: Bill K9YEQ Subject: Re: [Elecraft] serial to USB I paid $35 on eBay. 4 port. It worked fine. Keep looking. Ron W3ZV On Feb 11, 2012, at 5:43 PM, Bill K9YEQ wrote: > Don, > > Thanks! I found a digi on Amazon for $ 216. There was a > reconditioned unit by Saitek, but I believe that is Chinese and I am > no so certain it isn't a knock off. I will check out eBay. > > 73, > Bill > K9YEQ > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]] > Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 4:41 PM > To: Bill K9YEQ > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] serial to USB > > Bill, > > I bought mine some time ago (when they were cheap) on Ebay - I have > the > Edgeport/4 (4 port) by Inside Out - that company was sold to Digi > International, and the Digi drivers work with the Edgeport - see if > you can find one being sold on Ebay for a decent price. The drivers > for the /2, /4, > /8 and /16 are the same. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 2/11/2012 5:34 PM, Bill K9YEQ wrote: >> Don, >> >> Which brand are you using? I am looking for a four port. >> >> 73, >> Bill >> K9YEQ >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [hidden email] >> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm >> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 4:08 PM >> To: [hidden email] >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] serial to USB >> >> All, >> >> I feel I should add to the discussion the fact that these consumer >> quality USB to Serial adapters typically do not like to work at lower >> baud rates - the K2 uses 4800 baud. So an adapter that works at the >> K3 rate of 19.2k > may >> have trouble when attempting to drive a K2. >> >> The commercial quality USB to Serial converters (note that they are >> called converters instead of adapters) may not suffer from the same >> problems, my >> Edgeport/4 converter works well with the K2 even with the high >> polling > rates >> of Ham Radio Deluxe. Of course these commercial quality converters >> are > more >> expensive than the $10 to $40 consumer quality adapters. >> >> 73, >> Don W3FPR >> >> On 2/11/2012 4:14 PM, Bob Cunnings wrote: >>>> what IS the difference between FTDI and Prolific. >>> They are two different manufacturers of USB to Serial hardware ICs >> (chips). >>> http://www.ftdichip.com/ >>> >>> http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/company.asp >>> >>> Besides the hardware, each manufacturer supplies royalty free >>> software (device drivers) as part of the solution for PC operating >>> systems such as Mac, Windows and Linux. >>> >>> At work I have long used FTDI chips in products we design. A >>> customized version of the signed driver package supplied by FTDI for >>> 32 and 64 bit Windows is incorporated into our own software >>> distribution. Prolific is generally ok but lately they have been >>> warning about counterfeit parts and USB to Serial Cables: >>> >>> http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?id=31 >>> >>> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:[hidden email] >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this >> email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> >> > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email > list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by roncasa
Ron, RS-232 serial interface has been defined for at least 25 years and its functions are well known and stable so the radio software and hardware producers can design to these specifications. The converters are designed to emulate the portion of these functions that the designers feel are needed, but do not conform to any IEEE standard so that other manufacturers can depend on their function. RS-232 is coded and decoded by hardware, so it is stable. USB converters are coded by some software and some hardware and are decoded by the RS-232 receiver. The software portion is somewhat different for the different operating systems. It takes a while after a new operating system is implemented for the converter writers to get it right. FTDI and Prolific are two companies who write software and sell chips for USB converters. Lots of people buy chips from these two companies and mold them into connector/cable assemblies and then retail them under
various brands. It is not real easy to find out which chips have been used and often the end brand does not identify the chip used. Both of them work OK with most printers, scanners and other serial connected computer stuff, but it can be a different story with ham radio stuff where sometimes more is demanded and RS-232 compliance is usually assumed. FTDI seems to do a better job than Prolific, but you have to try the software/hardware combination before you know. I had a lot of trouble when I bought a Win7 computer a couple of years ago and endured some real rude comments from the computer crowd when trying to figure out the combination. I bought a RS-232 card for my computer and have not had trouble since. I suspect that the problems with USB converters has been worked out in the two years so that things work better now. My USB converter that I bought with my K3 in 2007 worked well with the Elecraft software, but not with my loggers. I understand that the older converters were Prolific and that Elecraft now supplies FTDI, or at least something that will work. The cards work well with desk top computers, but are not so easy with lap tops that have only USB. The computer world is trying to get away from RS-232 in favor of USB, but the ham radio community does not want to throw away perfectly good hardware every four or five years like the computer world is geared to do. Also, ham radio operators expect to know how everything works, computer people not so much. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart ________________________________ From: roncasa <[hidden email]> To: [hidden email] Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 1:38 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] serial to USB It really begs the question for some us who do not understand or are not computer geeks: what IS the difference between FTDI and Prolific. We understand each one behaving (responding) differently with software to radio control, and that some don't work at all, I do not understand what makes one preferred over the other (such as elecraft serial/usb adaptor cable) Prolific also works with most stuff too. For example, are they "platform" related? (micr0$oft) Is this akin to "ordinary" DVD player as opposed to a "blue ray" player that can play "both"?? 72 Ron, wb1hga ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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Willis,
I would add the fact that the consumer quality USB to Serial adapters do not fully implement the RS-232 standard voltages for drivers swinging between +25 volts and -25 volts, and receivers that will accept a voltage of +3.5 volts or greater as a mark and those of -3.5 volts or less as a space. In addition, the slew rate may not be great enough to allow good conversion to real RS-232 levels. BTW - this situation is nothing new - when the IBM PC was introduced, the serial port did not drive the negative level below -5 volts - that fact alone reduced the distance the IBM PC could drive RS-232 serial lines. The lack of adherence to standards (voltage levels, timings, etc.) has created a bunch of devices that "work", but while not to standards, do work in certain common instances - such is the fallout from consumer oriented USB to Serial adapters. As I have mentioned, there are commercial versions that "do it right", but they are quite "pricy" compared to the consumer variety that will work most of the time. There is a price to be paid for reliability and consistency. Make your choices and take whatever "licks" result from them. 73, Don W3FPR On 2/11/2012 6:25 PM, WILLIS COOKE wrote: > Ron, RS-232 serial interface has been defined for at least 25 years and its functions are well known and stable so the radio software and hardware producers can design to these specifications. The converters are designed to emulate the portion of these functions that the designers feel are needed, but do not conform to any IEEE standard so that other manufacturers can depend on their function. RS-232 is coded and decoded by hardware, so it is stable. USB converters are coded by some software and some hardware and are decoded by the RS-232 receiver. The software portion is somewhat different for the different operating systems. It takes a while after a new operating system is implemented for the converter writers to get it right. FTDI and Prolific are two companies who write software and sell chips for USB converters. Lots of people buy chips from these two companies and mold them into connector/cable assemblies and then retail them under > various brands. It is not real easy to find out which chips have been used and often the end brand does not identify the chip used. Both of them work OK with most printers, scanners and other serial connected computer stuff, but it can be a different story with ham radio stuff where sometimes more is demanded and RS-232 compliance is usually assumed. FTDI seems to do a better job than Prolific, but you have to try the software/hardware combination before you know. I had a lot of trouble when I bought a Win7 computer a couple of years ago and endured some real rude comments from the computer crowd when trying to figure out the combination. I bought a RS-232 card for my computer and have not had trouble since. I suspect that the problems with USB converters has been worked out in the two years so that things work better now. My USB converter that I bought with my K3 in 2007 worked well with the Elecraft software, but not with my loggers. I > understand that the older converters were Prolific and that Elecraft now supplies FTDI, or at least something that will work. The cards work well with desk top computers, but are not so easy with lap tops that have only USB. The computer world is trying to get away from RS-232 in favor of USB, but the ham radio community does not want to throw away perfectly good hardware every four or five years like the computer world is geared to do. Also, ham radio operators expect to know how everything works, computer people not so much. > > Willis 'Cookie' Cooke > K5EWJ& Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart > > > ________________________________ > From: roncasa<[hidden email]> > To: [hidden email] > Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 1:38 PM > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] serial to USB > > It really begs the question for some us who do not understand or are not > computer geeks: > > what IS the difference between FTDI and Prolific. > > We understand each one behaving (responding) differently with software > to radio control, and that some don't work at all, I do not understand > what makes one preferred over the other (such as elecraft serial/usb > adaptor cable) > Prolific also works with most stuff too. > For example, are they "platform" related? (micr0$oft) > Is this akin to "ordinary" DVD player as opposed to a "blue ray" player > that can play "both"?? > > 72 > Ron, wb1hga > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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On 2/11/2012 3:43 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> There is a price to be paid for reliability and consistency. > Make your choices and take whatever "licks" result from them. "Good, Fast, Cheap." Pick any two. First Law of Engineering 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2012 Cal QSO Party 6-7 Oct 2012 - www.cqp.org ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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