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        General >> OBD Advice >> Serial To USB connector
        
(Message started by: Fitzy on Nov 26^th, 2004, 5:25pm)

Title: Serial To USB connector
Post by Fitzy on Nov 26^th, 2004, 5:25pm

Does anyone know if you can use a serial to USB connector to connect the OBD lead between the car and laptop, as my laptop which i only bought a few weeks ago of ebay doesn't have a serial port (even though it was described as having a serial port and can't get a refund as its not faulty). Its a Dell CSx Pentium 3, i have to use a port replicator if i want to use the serial port, but this is a little heavy and requires its own power source, its ok outside my own home but awkward if i want to use it at meetings or on other members cars. So would a serial to USB cable work or not?

Regards,

fitzy ;) ;D ;)

Title: Re: Serial To USB connector
Post by Paul B on Nov 26^th, 2004, 6:14pm

'ello mate.
Yes, they do work. I had to buy one myself for the very same purpose.
If it's any help, the one I got is a "Belkin USB PDA Adapter" which I got from Staples (you must have one of those down your way). Can't remember the price exactly but I think it was about £30 :o

Title: Re: Serial To USB connector
Post by Fitzy on Nov 26^th, 2004, 6:30pm

Hi Paul,

Cheers mate, does it have a male serial connector on one end and obviously a USB on the other end and only about a foot long. If so i've just located one on ebay for £11, PDA was in the description so i guess its roughly the same one.

Does it connect ok with no interuptions?

fitzy ;) ;D ;)

Title: Re: Serial To USB connector
Post by Paul B on Nov 26^th, 2004, 6:45pm

That sounds about right.
Took a kwik pic for you...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/PCBoulton/Belkin.jpg
11 quid sounds good to me :)

Title: Re: Serial To USB connector
Post by Fitzy on Nov 26^th, 2004, 6:52pm

Yep, thats the exact same one as on ebay, just bought one will be here middle of next week, cheers Paul you a diamond,

Fitzy ;) ;D ;)

Title: Re: Serial To USB connector
Post by Paul B on Nov 26^th, 2004, 7:01pm

:D A bit of a rough cut one, but a diamond none the less! ;)

Title: Re: Serial To USB connector
Post by Dave Boulton on Nov 27^th, 2004, 6:54am

Best of luck with cable Fitzy. I've had to use a USB-serial lead for the last year and never had a problem with it under Win 2k.

Just got a new laptop (Sony Vaio X505VP) which is rather "cool" and extremely light (835 g) and, er, free 'cos work paid for it. Couldn't connect to the car at all until I updated the driver for my USB-serial cable (it's the Cables To Go one that Alex Peper sells for about $30). Now I can connect again but after about a minute Windows XP gets hosed back to the old "blue screen of death".

Looks like I'll have to wait for a further driver update - unless anyone can recommend a USB-serial cable that works with XP...

Cheers,
Dave

Title: Re: Serial To USB connector
Post by Paul B on Nov 27^th, 2004, 7:39am

Dave... I have XP (Home edition) and it seems to be ok with the aforementioned adaptor lead type thing.

Title: Re: Serial To USB connector
Post by Dave Boulton on Nov 27^th, 2004, 8:30am

Thanks Paul,

I'll get looking on eBay then ;D

Dave

Title: Re: Serial To USB connector
Post by Paul B on Nov 27^th, 2004, 8:40am

There's a few to choose from on there. Shame I wasn't e-bay compliant when I bought mine :'(

Title: Re: Serial To USB connector
Post by Fitzy on Nov 27^th, 2004, 10:03am

Hi Dave

Have checked on ebay and the same person i bought from has at least another three for sale, just type in one of the following item No's when your on ebay and it'll bring the right item up.

6725331834

6725495979

6725547818

HTH

Fitzy ;) ;D ;)

Title: Re: Serial To USB connector
Post by Dave Boulton on Nov 28^th, 2004, 7:09pm

Cheers Fitzy,

They look very much like the one I've got already. May hold out for a "Bonkin" Belkin or wait for success stories with your's and XP... ;)

Dave

Title: Re: Serial To USB connector
Post by the_pot_noodle_kid on Nov 28^th, 2004, 8:26pm

I got mine from Maplins for about £25. It doesn't have a manufacturers name on it though, strange. I run Windows XP on a P4 3 gig and have had no problems. I do however have to configure the gateway interface to serial port 6, not 3 as recommended.
Dave

Title: Re: Serial To USB connector
Post by Mmonster on Dec 8^th, 2004, 8:14pm

Hi,

If you have problem with disapearing serial port with XP, try to reinstal XP with the USB->COM device attached to the PC.

Mmonster