Windows Vista - ready for Soaring Laptops?

On the subject of needing a serial port for many of the older flight
loggers and computers. You have 2 options. You can buy a serial port
PCMCIA card and install it in your computer or it is much more
conveniently to purchase a USB serial port adapter. The second option
allows you to use that USB device on any computer. The serial USB port
adapter looks like a small memory stick and costs less than $20. One
caveat though is that the computer assigns a com port number to the
USB device. My computer assigned it to com port 3. Usually the com
port number is 1. That's easy to change. I now can communicate with my
old CAI LNAV loggers using a modern laptop with the latest MSN
operating system
Dave

Chris wrote:

Since most new laptops do not include a serial port I plan to add a
serial port adapter pcmcia card. [to be capatible with my
Volkslogger, and Garmin as well as other peoples serial port stuff]

I understand the desirability of the USB adaptor approach but I went through
no less than 6 USB/serial adaptors and cables before giving up and
installing a serial card. It worked straight off.

Bill Daniels

wrote in message
oups.com...
On the subject of needing a serial port for many of the older flight
loggers and computers. You have 2 options. You can buy a serial port
PCMCIA card and install it in your computer or it is much more
conveniently to purchase a USB serial port adapter. The second option
allows you to use that USB device on any computer. The serial USB port
adapter looks like a small memory stick and costs less than $20. One
caveat though is that the computer assigns a com port number to the
USB device. My computer assigned it to com port 3. Usually the com
port number is 1. That's easy to change. I now can communicate with my
old CAI LNAV loggers using a modern laptop with the latest MSN
operating system
Dave

Chris wrote:

Since most new laptops do not include a serial port I plan to add a
serial port adapter pcmcia card. [to be capatible with my
Volkslogger, and Garmin as well as other peoples serial port stuff]

The key to USB adapters is that unlike many other USB devices, most
USB serial adapters will not work unless you install the
manufacturer's driver. Windows will not report any error if you don't,
and will even say the device is working properly and ready to use if
you ask it.

I use the Keyspan adapter and it works great.

2NO

For the record, I installed all the mfg's drivers. The USB devices worked
on everything except the Volkslogger.

Bill Daniels

"Tuno" wrote in message
ups.com...
The key to USB adapters is that unlike many other USB devices, most
USB serial adapters will not work unless you install the
manufacturer's driver. Windows will not report any error if you don't,
and will even say the device is working properly and ready to use if
you ask it.

I use the Keyspan adapter and it works great.

2NO

I had the same problem with the SN10 only one adaptr
would work and that was the Belkin FU45 I think?

I bought a windoze Vista compaq and after fighting
with the open GL graphics drivers and low memory issues
and all of the other Vista crap I took the computer
back and bought a refurb t-30 IBM thinkpad that has
a serial port and came with a liensed edition of XP
Pro. I am much happier now. Vista just sucks and they
pushed it out before any one has had time to write
new drivers for it yet.


At 19:56 11 April 2007, Bill Daniels wrote:
For the record, I installed all the mfg's drivers.
The USB devices worked
on everything except the Volkslogger.

Bill Daniels

'Tuno' wrote in message
oups.com...
The key to USB adapters is that unlike many other
USB devices, most
USB serial adapters will not work unless you install
the
manufacturer's driver. Windows will not report any
error if you don't,
and will even say the device is working properly and
ready to use if
you ask it.

I use the Keyspan adapter and it works great.

2NO

I had the same problem with the SN10 only one adaptr
would work and that was the Belkin FU45 I think?

I bought a windoze Vista compaq and after fighting
with the open GL graphics drivers and low memory issues
and all of the other Vista crap I took the computer
back and bought a refurb t-30 IBM thinkpad that has
a serial port and came with a liensed edition of XP
Pro. I am much happier now. Vista just sucks and they
pushed it out before any one has had time to write
new drivers for it yet.


At 19:56 11 April 2007, Bill Daniels wrote:
For the record, I installed all the mfg's drivers.
The USB devices worked
on everything except the Volkslogger.

Bill Daniels

'Tuno' wrote in message
oups.com...
The key to USB adapters is that unlike many other
USB devices, most
USB serial adapters will not work unless you install
the
manufacturer's driver. Windows will not report any
error if you don't,
and will even say the device is working properly and
ready to use if
you ask it.

I use the Keyspan adapter and it works great.

2NO

I took a look on Ebay for legal XP laptops and you can get a lot of
bang for your buck as people such to Vista.

Thank god for virtualization! Go get a MAC laptop, throw vmware on it
and install a copy of windows XP. Everything works, and you can even
program your SN10 with it using the Belkin FU45.

The best part is that after you are done with your soaring SW, you can
shut down the XP and use a great laptop for your general needs.


On Apr 11, 1:36 pm, Cliff Hilty
wrote:
I had the same problem with the SN10 only one adaptr
would work and that was the Belkin FU45 I think?

I bought a windoze Vista compaq and after fighting
with the open GL graphics drivers and low memory issues
and all of the other Vista crap I took the computer
back and bought a refurb t-30 IBM thinkpad that has
a serial port and came with a liensed edition of XP
Pro. I am much happier now. Vista just sucks and they
pushed it out before any one has had time to write
new drivers for it yet.

At 19:56 11 April 2007, Bill Daniels wrote:

For the record, I installed all the mfg's drivers.
The USB devices worked
on everything except the Volkslogger.

Bill Daniels

'Tuno' wrote in message
oups.com...
The key to USB adapters is that unlike many other
USB devices, most
USB serial adapters will not work unless you install
the
manufacturer's driver. Windows will not report any
error if you don't,
and will even say the device is working properly and
ready to use if
you ask it.

I use the Keyspan adapter and it works great.

2NO