USB's were very tricky to deal with at first (version 1.0) and it scared a lot
of programmers off from wanting to deal with them for simple comm routines. I
believe that fear has carried forward for quite some time and is slowly fading
away since the OS's like Windows now assign a virtual comm port number (that
wasn't the case a long time ago).
As we all know once a trend begins, it takes a long time for a new one to
start. In the meantime we have to add operating cost to our stations in that
we have to buy USB/RS232 converters.
Just my view and recollection.
-Eric
W9WLW
http://w9wlw.blogspot.com/ ;
>________________________________
> From: Marsh Stewart <marsh@ka5m.net>
>To: 'K8JHR' <jrichards@k8jhr.com>; Wes Attaway N5WA
><wesattaway@bellsouth.net>; 'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment'
><tentec@contesting.com>
>Sent: Monday, April 7, 2014 1:34 PM
>Subject: Re: [TenTec] Any update on a replacement for the Orion II? - COM
>Ports
>
>
>James, thank you for your post. I've been wondering why someone hadn't
>mentioned this before.
>
>I just updated / upgraded my Ham Radio station computer from a Pentium D and
>Win XP SP3 to an i5 Quad Core and Win 7 64-bit Pro. Of course the new
>small-tower desktop came with no COM ports. Rather than go with FTDI chip
>USB to COM adapters or use COM port emulation software, I installed a 4-port
>RS-232 PCI Express board. It has four 16C950 compatible UARTs and ESD
>protection. The driver installed successfully on the first try. Windows
>Device Manager says all are working properly. Rig (Orion II) control is on
>COM 1 and CW keying is on COM 2 (with a simple Opto-isolator interface). As
>best I can tell this setup works just fine with both WriteLog and N1MM.
>
>When the day comes that all transceivers, amps, antenna switching
>controllers, rotors, etc. have USB ports as standard, if I am still using
>this computer, I can easily uninstall the driver and remove the COM port
>card.
>
>Unless someone can give me a compelling reason why FTDI USB to COM port
>adapters or virtual COM port software is better, I'll stay with what I am
>using now.
>
>Of course if you are using a laptop computer with no PCI Express expansion
>slot, the FTDI USB to COM port adapters work I know with no problems.
>
>Marsh, KA5M
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of K8JHR
>Sent: Monday, April 07, 2014 11:10 AM
>To: Kimberly Elmore; Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
>Subject: Re: [TenTec] Any update on a replacement for the Orion II?
>
>
>On 4/7/2014 11:06 AM, Kimberly Elmore wrote:
> that's what people use: a USB-to-RS232 adapter since no one puts
>RS232 ports on either desktop motherboards of laptops anymore.
>
>------------------------------------------------
>
>
>NOT SO, DICK TRACY ! There IS a way.
>
>I use a 4-port serial port PCIe I/O add-on card that gave my new
>computer 4 old fashioned serial ports. NO USB-SERIAL ADAPTERs in my
>shack. These look and act and feel just like regular built-in serial
>ports, so no finicky oddball drivers. No issue with potentially bogus
>bootleg Prolific brand chips.
>
>Cost - $20
>
>Problem solved. There is no reason to pay more for a USB-to-Serial
>adapter cable and suffer its little idiosyncrasies.
>
>--------------------- K8JHR ----------------------
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>
>
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