Alright, I have a preety new laptop, got it in August of 03. Dell Inspiron 5100, Connected the UTEC and all that stuff but when I went to use the serial cable to connect it to my laptop it has no serial port cept the VGA 15 prong port. How can I hook it up to the laptop. I checked Circuit City, Radio Shack, and Sears, none of them had an adapter to make it 15 prong and I don't think I can go through that port anyway.

Quick response please
Better one would be calling my cell.

774-406-0172
Tim

 

do you have a usb port? most likely...try that!

 

Yeah I have a usb port, but do I do 9 pin male into the utec and an adapter on the other end to USB???

And can the USB do Hyperterminal?

 

Dont know what to tell you. If you have a new laptop it should have the serial cable ready to plug and play. If you read other posts, you will find out that a gameboy will do the job as well. I wouldnt go buy one yet since I have not seen one with my own eyes connected to it. Maybe you should go back to the store you boiught it from and ask them why there isnt one unless that connection is behind a clip that pops on and off of the back of the cpu. Let me know, once you get it connected. Because you have to dial up to the UTEC with the laptop before you turn the key on to bring up the menu.

At least thats the way I have to do mine.
Later

 

You have to get a 9pin to USB. pin will connect to utec and usb into the computer. make sure the cable comes with software so you can install a driver that will make the USB a sepserate com port IE: COM 5.

Radio shack sells them thats where i got myne.


ERIK

 

As far as I know most newer computers dont have the 9pin anymore.


ERIK

 

Some laptops still have 9 pin serial.. many don't.. However a USB to Serial cable is pretty common.. look for a "USB Sync cable" for a PDA or something to that effect if your having trouble finding one.

However, most new OS's will recognize a USB-Serial adapter and create a new "Com port" (com5 or something likely greater than 4)

Then you just configure hyperterminal to use that new serial port that it creates and it'll work.

 

Not cheap but this is it:

http://www.cablestogo.com/product.as...1501&sku=26886

Actually I would search other sites as well, might find it cheaper.

Don't really expect to find anything like this in CompUSA and similar stores. The Palm Pilot conversion cables might work though but you have to be careful that they are not MAC versions (and most of them are) since they have a different (thicker) USB ending which most branded PCs don't have.

 

Do not even try to connect into the VGA 15 pin port, this is not a serial port.

You will need a USB to RS-232 converter as the guys have said. We have a tried a few and they all seem to work with our laptop.

regards
Pete
(TurboXS)

 

Hey Pete,
What cable comes with your kit? Isnt it a serial cable? Just a thought...maybe you should substitute your current cables with this USB cable or have the vendors ask what type of setup they have on their laptop so the right cable can be packaged so this type of thing doesnt happen.

 

a USB - serial adapter is the only real option.. I do have bluetooth setup on my TXS Tuner and use a bluetooth adapter in my PC.. If you have built in bluetooth thats another option if your a little computer savvy.. (and can configure the RS232 plug device you need)