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Using PS2 port for download

J

Joel Kolstad

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jim said:
I am investigating PCMCIA to serial port adapters, but in the meantime, I
would like to know if I can use one of the PS2 ports as a serial port for
data download.

No, the PS/2 protocol is not at all like RS-232, other than the fact that,
yeah, it's a serial protocol.
Any ideas?

What brand of USB<-->RS-232 cable were you using? Although most of them seem
OK these days, in years past there were some notoriously flaky ones. I think
we still have a Belkin brand unit kicking around at work here that wouldn't
work with AVR Studio, for instance.

That being said, a PCMCIA serial port card is a "real" serial port in that
even software (such as DOS programs) that directly access the hardware I/O
registers will work with it. If you can find one inexpensively on eBay
(etc.), it's a good investment.
 
M

martin griffith

Jan 1, 1970
0
I have a crappy portable computer that does NOT have even one RS232 serial
port, and for which I have been unsuccessful in getting a USB to Serial port
converter to work (several of them).

I am investigating PCMCIA to serial port adapters, but in the meantime, I
would like to know if I can use one of the PS2 ports as a serial port for
data download. I think I remember seeing this once, but can't remember
where.

All I really want to do is download the data from my Garmin Etrex GPS which
uses a 9 pin RS232 to 4 pin Etrex serial port cable (it may only use 3 of
these pins for communications I think).

Any ideas?

Thanks
Jim
PCI serial port card, maybe sounds like a possible solution
But you really should get a new mobo, keep the cpu, ram,case , (and
install Vista)


martin
 
J

Jim

Jan 1, 1970
0
I have a crappy portable computer that does NOT have even one RS232 serial
port, and for which I have been unsuccessful in getting a USB to Serial port
converter to work (several of them).

I am investigating PCMCIA to serial port adapters, but in the meantime, I
would like to know if I can use one of the PS2 ports as a serial port for
data download. I think I remember seeing this once, but can't remember
where.

All I really want to do is download the data from my Garmin Etrex GPS which
uses a 9 pin RS232 to 4 pin Etrex serial port cable (it may only use 3 of
these pins for communications I think).

Any ideas?

Thanks
Jim
 
K

Ken Fowler

Jan 1, 1970
0
I have a crappy portable computer that does NOT have even one RS232 serial
port, and for which I have been unsuccessful in getting a USB to Serial port
converter to work (several of them).

I am investigating PCMCIA to serial port adapters, but in the meantime, I
would like to know if I can use one of the PS2 ports as a serial port for
data download. I think I remember seeing this once, but can't remember
where.

All I really want to do is download the data from my Garmin Etrex GPS which
uses a 9 pin RS232 to 4 pin Etrex serial port cable (it may only use 3 of
these pins for communications I think).

Any ideas?

Thanks
Jim

It's not necessarily a crappy portable. Even my Sony laptop bought in 2006 came without a Serial
Port. I tried a cheap piece of crap USB to RS232 adapter which didn't work, got an RMA on it and the
replacement didn't work either. I was shopping for USB to RS232 at Fry's and met two other people
who hadn't found a satisfactory unit either. Did a lot of Googling and learned that there is one
model by Belkin with a good reputation. Finally bought a PCMCIA CardBus serial port which has
worked solid. CardBus units seem overpriced but I got a generic one through Amazon.Com for $27.99
sold by Computer Geeks. Good Luck and make sure you can return it if it doesn't work.

Ken Fowler
 
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