LinuxMCE Forums

General => Users => Topic started by: purps on February 02, 2011, 02:51:50 pm

Title: USB to RS232 (serial) converters
Post by: purps on February 02, 2011, 02:51:50 pm
I have read various posts about them giving people trouble, but then there are others who have no problems.

Is there a make or model that anybody knows of that is guaranteed to work? Will be using it on an Asus atom mini ITX board if that is relevant.

I nearly bought this http://lmcecompatible.com/#ecwid:mode=product&product=839076 but it's 37 quid in total to get it to England (with a modem adapter)....... seemed a bit steep to me.

Cheers,
Matt.
Title: Re: USB to RS232 (serial) converters
Post by: bulek on February 02, 2011, 03:23:00 pm
I have read various posts about them giving people trouble, but then there are others who have no problems.

Is there a make or model that anybody knows of that is guaranteed to work? Will be using it on an Asus atom mini ITX board if that is relevant.

I nearly bought this http://lmcecompatible.com/#ecwid:mode=product&product=839076 but it's 37 quid in total to get it to England (with a modem adapter)....... seemed a bit steep to me.

Cheers,
Matt.
Hi,

I won't be of much help but :
- I usually buy few different brands to try out (or maybe one, I think they are really cheap now in your local stores) and then buy perhaps some more of those that work
- by the time you get the experience and could recomend it further, there are new models and you cannot purchase tested ones....

BTW, I recently purchase mini bluetooth adapters from Hong Kong (for 3-4 EUR inclu. shipment) and they work (Win only)...

HTH,

regards,

Bulek.
Title: Re: USB to RS232 (serial) converters
Post by: totallymaxed on February 02, 2011, 03:23:53 pm
I have read various posts about them giving people trouble, but then there are others who have no problems.

Is there a make or model that anybody knows of that is guaranteed to work? Will be using it on an Asus atom mini ITX board if that is relevant.

I nearly bought this http://lmcecompatible.com/#ecwid:mode=product&product=839076 but it's 37 quid in total to get it to England (with a modem adapter)....... seemed a bit steep to me.

Cheers,
Matt.

Hi Matt,

It comes down to the usb-serial driver that is required for the adapter in question usually... and this will vary based on the Kernel version your running (ie 0810 v's 10.04 or with Dianemo 10.10 for example...all run different Kernels and have different in-built driver support).

Another issue is that even if you purchase a 'branded product' you can find that all of a sudden internally the manufacturer has used completely different usb-serial chips...the plastics look the same but suddenly the device fails to work! 99% of the time its just a matter of installing a new driver however.

We use this product successfully on our Dianemo 7.10 systems; http://www.lindy.co.uk/usb-to-serial-adapter-9-way-rs-232-15m/42855.html

Hope the above is helpful.

All the best


Andrew
Title: Re: USB to RS232 (serial) converters
Post by: purps on February 02, 2011, 04:19:42 pm
Thank you chaps, some very useful information there. Sounds like bit of a game of chance!

Andrew, I'll try the one you posted. I'm running 0810 beta, but we'll see how it goes.

Cheers,
Matt.