Serial to USB convertor

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TimTDP

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I have a device with a serial port interface. My laptop only has usb ports!
I have used a Serial to USB convertor to connect the device. Windows 7 picked up the hardware and reported that the drivers were installed correctly. But I cannot communicate with the device!

Is there any open source software that I can use to test the connection to make sure that I actually have a connection?

I would also like to be able to send commands to the device.

Many thanks
 
I have had endless issues with serial to USB cables on some of our older machines (cnc, die casters and wirecutters).
Even when i do get them to work it only lasts a short while and half the time a reboot is all it takes to have to spend hours trying to get it working again.

I know this is not going to help you with the laptop but I found the solution to be PCI to Serial cards.

Perhaps someone else has a better idea though.
 
I use usb-serial converters with cisco routers and they always work fine.
With a device that requires a constant connection there are always hassles.
You might need to set the baud rates etc depending on what the device you are connecting to requires.
 
Rocket-Boy said:
I use usb-serial converters with cisco routers and they always work fine.
With a device that requires a constant connection there are always hassles.
You might need to set the baud rates etc depending on what the device you are connecting to requires.
Click to expand...

Just make sure you get a decent one. The ones containing an FTDI chip are pretty good. Then you can use e.g. HyperTerminal or Putty to open the serial port and interact with the device. But yes, find out what the right baud rate (and parity, etc, settings) are required, or you may have a bad day trying to figure them out.

And before people say, 8N1, my bloody alarm panel (Texecom!) uses 8n2!
 
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