USB to Serial Adapters
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:50 pm
Laptops these days do not have a serial port, but most timers available today are designed to work on the serial port. To connect the two, you need to have a USB to Serial Adapter. You can get these adapters through many of the timer manufacturers or at stores like Best Buy, Micro Center and other electronics stores.
Be careful of ultra inexpensive adapters that you find online, as they may have counterfeit chips which may cause driver issues.
See http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProdu ... 55&pcid=41 and http://hackaday.com/2014/10/22/watch-th ... ake-chips/ regarding that issue.
I have heard from several people about problems using the one sold at Radio Shack, so I do not recommend that one.
Notes:
+ The adapter will come with drivers that you must install. The drivers will create a virtual COM port that race management software can then use. If you cannot find your drivers, you can try installing the drivers from the Prolific or FTDI websites (most adapters use communications chips from one of these two companies).
+ When the adapter is unplugged the COM port disappears from your system and will reappear when plugged back in. Some race management software will scan your system for installed ports, so you should have the adapter plugged in when using that software.
+ Older adapters may not be compatible at all with newer versions of Windows.
+ It is always a good idea to make sure that you have the latest drivers for your adapter installed. You can usually find these on the adapter manufacturer's website or the website of the derby merchant that you purchased the adapter from.
+ Windows 8/8.1 Notice - Older adapters, with the Prolific communications chipset, may not work with Windows 8/8.1. See viewtopic.php?f=16&t=7949
How to tell if USB to Serial Adapter is installed correctly (Windows XP and earlier):
1. Plug in your adapter to the computer (having it also plugged into the timer is not necessary at this point)
2. Click on the Windows Start button
3. Open up your Control Panel
4. Double Click on the System icon (if in Category View, switch to Classic View)
5. Go to the Hardware tab
6. Click on the Device Manager button
7. Click on the "+" sign next to "Ports (COM & LPT)". If you don't see "Ports (COM & LPT)" listed, then the drivers for the adapter are not installed properly.
8. Generally, a USB adapter will be labeled so you can tell which COM port number it is setup as (i.e. "USB Serial Port" or "Prolific USB-to-Serial...").
9. If the icon next to the adapter's COM port has an exclamation next to it, then the adapter's driver is not installed properly. Uninstall the driver (right mouse click over that port and select Uninstall) and then unplug the adapter. Try reinstalling the driver (follow the directions provided by the adapter manufacturer).
10. If the icon next to the adapter's COM port looks like a plug, then the adapter's driver should be installed properly.
How to tell if USB to Serial Adapter is installed correctly (Windows Vista, 7, and 8/8.1):
1. Plug in your adapter to the computer (having it also plugged into the timer is not necessary at this point)
2. Click on the Windows Start button
3. In the search box, enter the words "Device Manager", without the quotes, and hit the Enter key
4. In the Device Manager screen, double click on "Ports (COM & LPT)" to view the list of installed ports. If you don't see "Ports (COM & LPT)" listed, then the drivers for the adapter are not installed properly.
5. Generally, a USB adapter will be labeled so you can tell which COM port number it is setup as (i.e. "USB Serial Port" or "Prolific USB-to-Serial...").
6. If the icon next to the adapter's COM port has an exclamation next to it, then the adapter's driver is not installed properly. Uninstall the driver (right mouse click over that port and select Uninstall) and then unplug the adapter. Try reinstalling the driver (follow the directions provided by the adapter manufacturer).
7. If the icon next to the adapter's COM port looks like a plug, then the adapter's driver should be installed properly.
How to tell if USB to Serial Adapter is installed correctly (Windows 10):
1. Plug in your adapter to the computer (having it also plugged into the timer is not necessary at this point)
2. Right-click on the Windows Start button
3. Select Device Manager
4. In the Device Manager screen, double click on "Ports (COM & LPT)" to view the list of installed ports. If you don't see "Ports (COM & LPT)" listed, then the drivers for the adapter are not installed properly.
5. Generally, a USB adapter will be labeled so you can tell which COM port number it is setup as (i.e. "USB Serial Port" or "Prolific USB-to-Serial...").
6. If the icon next to the adapter's COM port has an exclamation next to it, then the adapter's driver is not installed properly. Uninstall the driver (right mouse click over that port and select Uninstall) and then unplug the adapter. Try reinstalling the driver (follow the directions provided by the adapter manufacturer).
7. If the icon next to the adapter's COM port looks like a plug, then the adapter's driver should be installed properly.
Doing the above procedure will also help you identify the COM port number that the adapter was setup as. Do note that this COM number will change if you plug into a different USB port on your computer.
Be careful of ultra inexpensive adapters that you find online, as they may have counterfeit chips which may cause driver issues.
See http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProdu ... 55&pcid=41 and http://hackaday.com/2014/10/22/watch-th ... ake-chips/ regarding that issue.
I have heard from several people about problems using the one sold at Radio Shack, so I do not recommend that one.
Notes:
+ The adapter will come with drivers that you must install. The drivers will create a virtual COM port that race management software can then use. If you cannot find your drivers, you can try installing the drivers from the Prolific or FTDI websites (most adapters use communications chips from one of these two companies).
+ When the adapter is unplugged the COM port disappears from your system and will reappear when plugged back in. Some race management software will scan your system for installed ports, so you should have the adapter plugged in when using that software.
+ Older adapters may not be compatible at all with newer versions of Windows.
+ It is always a good idea to make sure that you have the latest drivers for your adapter installed. You can usually find these on the adapter manufacturer's website or the website of the derby merchant that you purchased the adapter from.
+ Windows 8/8.1 Notice - Older adapters, with the Prolific communications chipset, may not work with Windows 8/8.1. See viewtopic.php?f=16&t=7949
How to tell if USB to Serial Adapter is installed correctly (Windows XP and earlier):
1. Plug in your adapter to the computer (having it also plugged into the timer is not necessary at this point)
2. Click on the Windows Start button
3. Open up your Control Panel
4. Double Click on the System icon (if in Category View, switch to Classic View)
5. Go to the Hardware tab
6. Click on the Device Manager button
7. Click on the "+" sign next to "Ports (COM & LPT)". If you don't see "Ports (COM & LPT)" listed, then the drivers for the adapter are not installed properly.
8. Generally, a USB adapter will be labeled so you can tell which COM port number it is setup as (i.e. "USB Serial Port" or "Prolific USB-to-Serial...").
9. If the icon next to the adapter's COM port has an exclamation next to it, then the adapter's driver is not installed properly. Uninstall the driver (right mouse click over that port and select Uninstall) and then unplug the adapter. Try reinstalling the driver (follow the directions provided by the adapter manufacturer).
10. If the icon next to the adapter's COM port looks like a plug, then the adapter's driver should be installed properly.
How to tell if USB to Serial Adapter is installed correctly (Windows Vista, 7, and 8/8.1):
1. Plug in your adapter to the computer (having it also plugged into the timer is not necessary at this point)
2. Click on the Windows Start button
3. In the search box, enter the words "Device Manager", without the quotes, and hit the Enter key
4. In the Device Manager screen, double click on "Ports (COM & LPT)" to view the list of installed ports. If you don't see "Ports (COM & LPT)" listed, then the drivers for the adapter are not installed properly.
5. Generally, a USB adapter will be labeled so you can tell which COM port number it is setup as (i.e. "USB Serial Port" or "Prolific USB-to-Serial...").
6. If the icon next to the adapter's COM port has an exclamation next to it, then the adapter's driver is not installed properly. Uninstall the driver (right mouse click over that port and select Uninstall) and then unplug the adapter. Try reinstalling the driver (follow the directions provided by the adapter manufacturer).
7. If the icon next to the adapter's COM port looks like a plug, then the adapter's driver should be installed properly.
How to tell if USB to Serial Adapter is installed correctly (Windows 10):
1. Plug in your adapter to the computer (having it also plugged into the timer is not necessary at this point)
2. Right-click on the Windows Start button
3. Select Device Manager
4. In the Device Manager screen, double click on "Ports (COM & LPT)" to view the list of installed ports. If you don't see "Ports (COM & LPT)" listed, then the drivers for the adapter are not installed properly.
5. Generally, a USB adapter will be labeled so you can tell which COM port number it is setup as (i.e. "USB Serial Port" or "Prolific USB-to-Serial...").
6. If the icon next to the adapter's COM port has an exclamation next to it, then the adapter's driver is not installed properly. Uninstall the driver (right mouse click over that port and select Uninstall) and then unplug the adapter. Try reinstalling the driver (follow the directions provided by the adapter manufacturer).
7. If the icon next to the adapter's COM port looks like a plug, then the adapter's driver should be installed properly.
Doing the above procedure will also help you identify the COM port number that the adapter was setup as. Do note that this COM number will change if you plug into a different USB port on your computer.