USB to Serial Port Adapters

[Michael Cook]

I'm thinking of getting one of these adapters, and I'm looking for some feedback in the hopes that some of you might be using one of these in your set-ups.

Quatech:
http://www.quatech.com/catalog/usb_2.0.php

Edgeport:
http://www.digi.com/products/usb/edgeport.jsp#overview

Thanks for your help.

Michael

[Bob Denny]

I have been pleased with QuaTech adapters for years. They were the first ones to understand the need for proper port/class drivers and real plug and play, and implementing solid drivers even going back to the PCMCIA card days and Windows 2000. Attached is a pic of a 10-year old Quatech 2-port serial PCMCIA card which still works under Windows XP on the opnly machine I have which includes a PCMCIA slot, a Dell i9300 giant-screen notebook.

One person's experience...

[Michael Cook]

Thanks Bob. Now I'm struggling with whether to go with Quatech's PCIe serial cards or usb-serial box. I like th idea of one usb wire from the PC to the Quatech usb-serial box.

[Bob Denny]

I couldn't say beyond the fact that PCI cards are mature and the direct to serial is appealing. Why interpose USB? My gut instinct would be to go with the PCI card(s).

[Michael Cook]

Good points. The maturity of PCI is appealing. That's what I have now, except PCI. My new motherboard will only accept PCIe. So it's either new PCIe card or the USB-serial. Decisions, decisions.

[Marty Schultz]

I'm thinking of getting one of these adapters, and I'm looking for some feedback in the hopes that some of you might be using one of these in your set-ups.

Quatech:
http://www.quatech.com/catalog/usb_2.0.php

Edgeport:
http://www.digi.com/products/usb/edgeport.jsp#overview

Thanks for your help.

Michael

I've been using that same Edgeport box for about 5 years to connect ACP to our scope and dome, and have a spare line run for other devices as needed.

Our TCFS focuser needed to be plugged into the PC serial port directly, but that device is known to be extremely picky about what type of port it plugs into.

[Michael Cook]

Great to know Marty. Thanks.