FOAK: USB - Serial Adaptors

Do they always work on all kit, or more specifically, will they work
for connecting a Power Commander (serial) to a USB-only laptop? Any
recommendations on what/where to buy?

--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
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'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger (FOYRNB) '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

Definitely not, no. Things have probably improved these days though

Not really. I'd aim for one that claims 100% compatability if it was
critical. Hopefully SWK from direct experience will be along soon.
Alternatively my new toughbook has serial port if you're anywhere near
Chavnorth

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Bought a random cheap one from my local pc shop for talking USB laptop
to Clifford car alarm. That worked fine, first time. If you want me to
find out the exact details then I can have a look when I get in.

You'll probably be fine - just grab the first one you see...

(You do have some other form of transport to take the fused Power
Commander to a workshop right ?)

 

Swot I feared, & they seem a bit expensive to take a risk on.

I've got an old Dell laptop with a serial port, but no screen. I could
probably use that by VNC'ing from the other laptop if necessary. Ta for
the offer though.

--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger (FOYRNB) '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

Dunno about all kit, but Mitch The Mechanic uses one to
program the PCIIIs on the dyno using his Dell laptop.

 

Ooh - just the sort of answer I was looking for, except for the one
vital part... Any way of finding out which one he's got?

--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger (FOYRNB) '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

I got one to program my GPS from my laptop. I also used it once to drive
a friends old plotter that was serial only after their computer died.
Both occassions it worked first time. Mine was a Targus job I think.

 

I don't know off hand, but I will email him and find out.

 

Thanks, you're a star.

--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger (FOYRNB) '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

I know. He says:

USB-Serial adaptor was of the shelf from Maplins in Romford town
center......just found box......made by company called New Link:
http://www.newlinkproducts.co.uk/prodinfo.asp?catID=4&prodID=89

Quick plug for him for being so helpful:
http://www.tecmoto.co.uk/

 

Excellent - thank you kindly.

Spamming ****.

--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger (FOYRNB) '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

The computer radio I use is a serial port version and several folk have
recommended converters based on particular chip - I'll have a look for
it later.

 

I aim to please.

 

Looking up old posts relating to this, I find mention of the maker
'Prolific' and the figure UC310 on ones that work. 'Buxcomm' and Radio
Shack cheapies too. Probably the most predictable might be the Belkin
F5U409.

 

I lugged the screenless laptop & a monitor down to the garage last
night to check it could actually talk to the PCIII before investing in
an adaptor (this laptop has a serial port). The software found the
PCIII ok, but when I tried to download the current map it said "File
and Power Commander version incompatible".

Googling suggests this means the software can't find the PCIII on the
selected port, which definitely doesn't apply in my case (the TPS
reading on the screen changed with throttle movement, & I could read
the hardware info from the PCIII). So I'm a bit stumped now.

--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger (FOYRNB) '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

Indeed, although everyone seems to think they will work.

That'll be fun
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 TS 156 TS S2
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

It would've if it had worked. The garage is just out of range for the
wireless router though, & I couldn't be arsed to dig out a crossover
cable. So I lugged a monitor down to the garage instead!

--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger (FOYRNB) '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

Most modern (ish) stuff shouldn't really need a crossover, you know....
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 TS 156 TS S2
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Really? I didn't know that, no.

--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger (FOYRNB) '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

We had exactly the same problem, but I can't remember how
we fixed it...

I think it's something to do with the map being hand programmed?
It doesn't like trying to download a hand programmed map compared
to one that has been adjusted through software.