USB-to-serial converters that work (especially with ILEC SN10) ?

Wow, can't believe all the problems with the new stuff that I know
nothing about. Thanks for confirming my decision to stay with my
prehistoric lap-top, prehistoric B-100 and prehistoric model-20 GPS
with Cambridge's prehistoric DOS software. Everything works and I got
all my soaring sites loaded in the B-100, even though I had to do it
manually. Dave tried to show me how to do it with one of them serial
ports, but lost me in a heart beat.

I do have a bit of a problem with the B-100 audio, it only comes on
when going fast, 70+ but no tone at thermal speed. Any suggestions? Not
a big deal because I use the audio on the B-40, like it much better,
because I can turn off the down (no bad news) audio.
Cheers,
JJ

JJ, you are such a risk taker! All those fancy electrical gizmos, just
waiting to fail. I'm surprised you don't use a pellet vario and an
external vane airspeed indicator.

Old stuff isn't any better or more reliable, it's just older and
cheaper. And when it finally fails, you can move up to "the new
stuff", only now it will be old stuff and you will think it's the
greatest thing since the AIM-9L. I've had absolutely no problems with
my SN10, hooked up to a nice Garmin GPS, and talking to several
different computers via various serial and usb connectors, with both
Win98 and XP, and now via a PDA so I don't have to lug that notebook
with me anymore.

But then, I keep my software up to date and don't mess around with it
much.

Although I got to admit, DOS was kinda fun to fool around with - sort
of like doing a tune up on and old car; changing points, adjusting the
timing with a strobe, setting the idle.

But back to the subject at hand (tangentially): It would be really
nice to be able to download the logger trace or upload a waypoint file
via a USB thumb drive directly to the SN-10. How about an upgrade
(SN10C?) that would increase internal memory (store multiple flights
and more waypoints) and change the serial connector on the panel to a
USB connector?

Just dreaming...

Kirk

wrote in message
oups.com...
OK, this may sound silly, but can you report either
good or bad experiences with a SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL
of USB-to-serial converter ? We have many reports
of units that don't work properly, and a few that do
(but not necessarily for everyone). A few specific
questions:
- what is the make and model of the converter ?
- did the driver install without dire warnings from
Windoze about "uncertified driver" and the like ?
- you are using it with Windoze XP, which SP (service pack) ?
- does your laptop sometimes crash after you "resume" ?
- has the helpful MS site explained (after a crash) that
you need to update the driver, and directed you to a
site with only non-arabic characters (Japanese, Korean,
Chinese, or somesuch) ?
- have you got scary messages like "thread stuck in kernel" ?
- does it work reliably with SN10 PC-Link (log, database) ?
- does it work reliably with SN10 "software load" ?

This should help us collate some recommendations...
Thanks in advance !
Best Regards, Dave "YO"


I've just bought one from Easysync:

http://www.easysync.co.uk/usbrs232_single.html


Works fine using xp sp2 with Garmin 2 and an EW logger.

Rob.

wrote in message
oups.com...
OK, this may sound silly, but can you report either
good or bad experiences with a SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL
of USB-to-serial converter ? We have many reports
of units that don't work properly, and a few that do
(but not necessarily for everyone). A few specific
questions:
- what is the make and model of the converter ?
I've tried Belkin FSU 103
and Iogear GUC 232A
- did the driver install without dire warnings from
Windoze about "uncertified driver" and the like ?
Both installed by windows without problem
- you are using it with Windoze XP, which SP (service pack) ?
XP SP1
- does your laptop sometimes crash after you "resume" ?
I get the "blue screen" which says I've recovered from a serious
error and should remove any new hardware when I use the Belkin (about 40% of
the time). The Iogear just plain doesn't work although it lights up like
it's trying to when I try to use it. The driver is properly
installed.
- has the helpful MS site explained (after a crash) that
you need to update the driver, and directed you to a
site with only non-arabic characters (Japanese, Korean,
Chinese, or somesuch) ?
- have you got scary messages like "thread stuck in kernel" ?

- does it work reliably with SN10 PC-Link (log, database) ?
Belkin yes
- does it work reliably with SN10 "software load" ?
Belkin yes

This should help us collate some recommendations...
Thanks in advance !
Best Regards, Dave "YO"

I just took delivery of a new Colibri 4.0 with USB
connector. The manual says that the Colibri has a built in
USB/232 adapter.

/Robert


Marc Ramsey skrev:
Greg Arnold wrote:

I have a digital camera, a laser printer, and an Ipaq, all with USB
connectors, and all work fine on my Windows computer. Why would the
Colibri be different?


Why would a USB-to-serial converter be different?

Because the drivers for most digital cameras (which are actually USB
"mass storage devices"), and low-level printer drivers are included with
the Windows 2K/XP. The generic USB PocketPC driver is now also included
in XP, and both HP and Microsoft have a vested interest in making sure
it works properly.

The USB-equipped flight recorders I have seen all look like USB serial
devices, for which a vendor supplied device driver is required. Flight
recorder vendors don't build their own drivers, they redistribute
whatever driver is supplied by the chip manufacturer which, strangely
enough, happen to be the exact same drivers supplied along with
USB-to-serial converters that use the same chip family.

like doing a tune up on and old car; changing points,
adjusting the
timing with a strobe,

Hey Kirt,
I put the car in gear, rock it back and forth until
the timing mark is lined up with the mark on the fly-weel,
adjust the points so that they have just opened (slide
a wrapper from my Lucky Strike smokes between the points)
and I'm good to go, because #1 cylinder is on the timing
mark and the points have just started to open.
What's a strobe lite?
JJ
PS, I watched 2 techno-crats fighting with their fancy
new palm-nav's and SN-10's last week. By the way the
B-100 has 90% of the good stuff that's on your SN-10,
only I know where things are and how to use them. Do
you know how to drag your turn point around a turn-area?
The locals don't seem to know how to accomplish this.
Fancy stuff that can't be used is worthless, remember
KISS.
:) JJ
PS #2, Did me one of those low passes at about 100
feet, scared myself and won't do that again.

Hi,

I had a friend that could not communicate with his SN-10 using his USB to
serial converter. I put my Socket PCMCIA RS-232 card into his laptop and it
worked great.

I have a link to them on my PDA comparison page he
http://www.soarmn.com/cumulus/pda.htm#SL0700-004

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

wrote in message
oups.com...
OK, this may sound silly, but can you report either
good or bad experiences with a SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL
of USB-to-serial converter ? We have many reports
of units that don't work properly, and a few that do
(but not necessarily for everyone). A few specific
questions:
- what is the make and model of the converter ?
- did the driver install without dire warnings from
Windoze about "uncertified driver" and the like ?
- you are using it with Windoze XP, which SP (service pack) ?
- does your laptop sometimes crash after you "resume" ?
- has the helpful MS site explained (after a crash) that
you need to update the driver, and directed you to a
site with only non-arabic characters (Japanese, Korean,
Chinese, or somesuch) ?
- have you got scary messages like "thread stuck in kernel" ?
- does it work reliably with SN10 PC-Link (log, database) ?
- does it work reliably with SN10 "software load" ?

This should help us collate some recommendations...
Thanks in advance !
Best Regards, Dave "YO"

Mario Crosina wrote:

What do you mean you've had no problems with that cable? I was at the
Avenal contest and on one day you completely forgot to bring the cable
- I'd call that a big PROBLEM :-)

Hi Dave,

I have been using a Belkin USB/Serial Portable Adapter F5U 409 for 3 years
with a laptop with XP, SN-10,
and Volkslogger with no problems.

Mario




wrote in message
oups.com...

OK, this may sound silly, but can you report either
good or bad experiences with a SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL
of USB-to-serial converter ? We have many reports
of units that don't work properly, and a few that do
(but not necessarily for everyone). A few specific
questions:
- what is the make and model of the converter ?
- did the driver install without dire warnings from
Windoze about "uncertified driver" and the like ?
- you are using it with Windoze XP, which SP (service pack) ?
- does your laptop sometimes crash after you "resume" ?
- has the helpful MS site explained (after a crash) that
you need to update the driver, and directed you to a
site with only non-arabic characters (Japanese, Korean,
Chinese, or somesuch) ?
- have you got scary messages like "thread stuck in kernel" ?
- does it work reliably with SN10 PC-Link (log, database) ?
- does it work reliably with SN10 "software load" ?

This should help us collate some recommendations...
Thanks in advance !
Best Regards, Dave "YO"

JJ,

Yeah, I guess timing strobes came out a little after your time ,
kinda high tech, you know?

About B-100s, I've used them, and they are OK - but the difference
between a B-100 and an SN10 is like the difference between an F-4C and
an F-15E. Same idea, just a lot more of it and it works a lot better.
Sure it takes awhile to figure it all out, but with a little homework
and practice, it's actually a lot easier to use than the B-100. That's
called progress...

The SN10 is just getting into the PDA thing (YO is somewhat
conservative, you know), so it's still a learning experience - but I've
got it to work pretty easily and I'm just a dumb ex-WSO. And yes, I do
know how to drag a turn point around a turn-area (it's easy, really -
tell your locals to RTFM), although I think going that kind of stuff
inflight is dumb - too much heads-down time twiddling knobs (and that
would apply to any flight computer). It's another "new" change to
racing that I think is a mixed blessing.

And the new SN10 software lets you see at a glance where your nearest
landable alternates are - something the B-100 will never be able to do.

Did me one of those low passes at about 100 feet Saturday (in a Pik-20B
- wonderful little glider!) and had a blast - got so high on the pullup
I had to use most of those 90 degree flaps to get down after. My wife
thought it was pretty cool. Different strokes, etc...

66

66,
I thought my stuff was old until I looked at P7's panel.
Seems to work for him because he earns a seat on the
US team headed for the World's every couple of years.

For a guy that proudly proclaims to be right up to
date with all the new electronic wizard'tries, why
are you stuck on an ancient finish gate and prehistoric
tasking? Is that one of them dichotomies?
JJ