USB to Serial Adapter works with some but not other uses?????

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jarredsdad
  • Start date Start date
J

Jarredsdad

Hello Windows World!

I'm an HVAC Tech who is pretty computer savy and carry a laptop with me on
the job to "talk" to various HVAC systems.

I have a Dynex DX-UBDB9 USB to Serial adapter. All drivers are up to date,
even got a new one from windows update not long ago.

When I had an XP laptop everything worked fine. Now, I have a Vista laptop
and everything is not fine.

Here's the problem. I use a program to get information from several types
of Trane equipment. It's called LitePort, and it basically translates the
blinks of an LED on a circuit board into real information I can use for
troubleshooting. This worked under XP and works under Vista.

Well that's really not a problem as it works. Info comes in from the serial
device is translated.

However, I also have programs to talk to and program devices from Johnson
Controls. These are basically computers controlling HVAC equipment. It's
kind of an opposite internet connection, in that you Upload from and Download
to the component.

There is some info I can get from the controller (other computer) but I cant
open up full communications, which basically screws me.

Why doesn't this work?

Could it be because Vista doesn't come with Seriaal Keys?

Might something like SKeys help?
 
Jarredsdad said:
Hello Windows World!

I'm an HVAC Tech who is pretty computer savy and carry a laptop with me on
the job to "talk" to various HVAC systems.

I have a Dynex DX-UBDB9 USB to Serial adapter. All drivers are up to
date,
even got a new one from windows update not long ago.

When I had an XP laptop everything worked fine. Now, I have a Vista
laptop
and everything is not fine.

Here's the problem. I use a program to get information from several types
of Trane equipment. It's called LitePort, and it basically translates the
blinks of an LED on a circuit board into real information I can use for
troubleshooting. This worked under XP and works under Vista.

Well that's really not a problem as it works. Info comes in from the
serial
device is translated.

However, I also have programs to talk to and program devices from Johnson
Controls. These are basically computers controlling HVAC equipment. It's
kind of an opposite internet connection, in that you Upload from and
Download
to the component.

There is some info I can get from the controller (other computer) but I
cant
open up full communications, which basically screws me.

Why doesn't this work?

Could it be because Vista doesn't come with Seriaal Keys?

Might something like SKeys help?
Click to expand...


I worked a couple of summers at a control systems engineering company when I
was a student, a decade ago. I mostly worked at the 'bureau' where we
controlled (mostly Trend outstations) through the internet. I did have to
go on site a couple of times to dial in directly using a laptop with serial
connection a couple of times, but that was the job of the field engineers.
A lot the work that the company was doing those days was replacing older
outstations in fear of the millennium bug, lol. The company was booming, so
they were in desperate need of people who knew about computer networks.

Well, anyway. Did your old XP laptop have a proper serial port? Those USB
serial converters are not 100% compatible.
Click to expand...

ss.
 
Not Me said:
I'd be tempted to ask Johnson Controls what their criteria is, they may
have a patch.
Click to expand...

Yeah, maybe the software is designed to work with XP's built in serial
support, and not third party support that you would have to use with Vista.

ss.
 
Why doesn't this work?
Click to expand...

I also use a laptop to talk to serial devices. USB-Serial adaptors
are a crapshoot. Most are designed to support ONLY PDA's or ONLY modems
and don't really pass a full range of signals. Some work perfectly with
one pc and not at all with another.

My solution was to pick up an old Thinkpad T23 for 200 bucks. It's
got a real serial port and is very thin and light. Also if it walks away I
won't be heartbroken. Any old laptop of similar vintage would do, a dell
600 or whatever.
 
the wharf rat said:
My solution was to pick up an old Thinkpad T23 for 200 bucks. It's
got a real serial port and is very thin and light. Also if it walks away
I
won't be heartbroken. Any old laptop of similar vintage would do, a dell
600 or whatever.
Click to expand...

Ha. I was going to suggest that too, but a ThinkPad X31 (or X32)
ultracompact. I have one, and an X40 (which does not have a serial port).
They are small enough to carry everywhere you go.

ss.
 
Synapse Syndrome said:
Ha. I was going to suggest that too, but a ThinkPad X31 (or X32)
ultracompact. I have one, and an X40 (which does not have a serial port).
They are small enough to carry everywhere you go.
Click to expand...


Oh, and of course run XP on that older laptop, as Vista will be a dog, and
has no standard serial support.

ss.
 
Synapse Syndrome said:
I worked a couple of summers at a control systems engineering company when I
was a student, a decade ago. I mostly worked at the 'bureau' where we
controlled (mostly Trend outstations) through the internet. I did have to
go on site a couple of times to dial in directly using a laptop with serial
connection a couple of times, but that was the job of the field engineers.
A lot the work that the company was doing those days was replacing older
outstations in fear of the millennium bug, lol. The company was booming, so
they were in desperate need of people who knew about computer networks.

Well, anyway. Did your old XP laptop have a proper serial port? Those USB

ss.
Click to expand...

Exactly right. They often seem not to adhere
100% to the RS-232 spec, which states that signal
levels need to swing both positive AND negative from
0 Volts. They often just go from 0 to +5, which
is not spec.

The most reliable I have used are based on the Prolific
PL-2303 chip, like this one:

http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/SearchDetail.asp?productID=2066

I used this on a Vista laptop to connect to my cell
phone and Globalstar sat phone with no problems.

I guess you will just have to try multiple adapters until:

a) you get one that works
or
b) you try them all and none of them work.
 
No, your missing the point. It worked on XP but only half way on Vista.

The software works with 95 upto XP. The work Laptop is 98 and has a serial
port.

Why does Vista allow minimum funtionality? Why can't the USB to Serial have
2 way communications.
 
From: "Jarredsdad" <[email protected]>

| Hello Windows World!
|
| I'm an HVAC Tech who is pretty computer savy and carry a laptop with me on
| the job to "talk" to various HVAC systems.
|
| I have a Dynex DX-UBDB9 USB to Serial adapter. All drivers are up to date,
| even got a new one from windows update not long ago.
|
| When I had an XP laptop everything worked fine. Now, I have a Vista laptop
| and everything is not fine.
|
| Here's the problem. I use a program to get information from several types
| of Trane equipment. It's called LitePort, and it basically translates the
| blinks of an LED on a circuit board into real information I can use for
| troubleshooting. This worked under XP and works under Vista.
|
| Well that's really not a problem as it works. Info comes in from the serial
| device is translated.
|
| However, I also have programs to talk to and program devices from Johnson
| Controls. These are basically computers controlling HVAC equipment. It's
| kind of an opposite internet connection, in that you Upload from and Download
| to the component.
|
| There is some info I can get from the controller (other computer) but I cant
| open up full communications, which basically screws me.
|
| Why doesn't this work?
|
| Could it be because Vista doesn't come with Seriaal Keys?
|
| Might something like SKeys help?

It isn't necessarily the OS.

I have personnel using Dell Latitude D410 notebooks with WinXP and provided them with both
USB to Serial Adapters and D410 media bays which have a DB9 Serial Port (there is no serial
ports on Latitude D10 notebooks). They have to use the serial port to program Harris
Radios. Not unlike what you are doing.

A few just returned from the office and reported the USB to Serial Adapters did not work.
They had to use the serial port on the media bays.

They will soon be upgraded to Dell Latitude D630 notebooks which do have DB9 serial ports
built-in.

I suggest something similar. A notebook that has a DB9 serial port built-in.
 
How so? Hmmn, maybe you are missing the point, as your following questions
ahev already been answered.

What software? So the software does not work with Vista? Isn't that the
problem then?

Vista has no built-in serial support.

You've been told that they do not work very well.
Ooops, it also will work on a Vista machine with a serial port.
Click to expand...

So what does your powers of reasoning tell you?

ss.
 
What it tells me is that for some reason Vista does not support the USB to
Serial in and out. What I want to know is why, and how do I work around it.

Man, I feel like I'm talking to Microsoft!
 
MS considers serial port to be 'old' techology and thus didn't build in
support for it in Vista.
Most OEMs don't include it on new systems anymore.
 
David H. Lipman said:
| USB to Serial adaptors are often problematic. I suggest buying a serial
| port PC Card. Here's one I recently bought and installed for an
engineer
| with similar needs.
| http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16839158019
|
| If you need a PC Express card see
| http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16839158006
|

It is a laptop PC.
Click to expand...


Which is what you need to use PCMCIA and PC Express cards!

No, I thought the same thing for a split second, and did not think of this
solution.

ss.
 

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