[aprssig] NEW laptop for APRS with a Serial Port?

[Stephen H. Smith]

KENT HUFFORD wrote:
> Yes..
>
> Timewave sells the PK-232 with a USB interface.
>
> As a matter of fact, Timewave sells a USB interface to REPLACE the db25 in
> the PK-232. 


This is a big nothing...   They are just putting a USB-to-serial 
converter inside the box instead of in the cable.    You STILL have to 
install a driver to create a virtual COM port (most likely identical to 
the ones that come with many USB-to-serial dongles) for serial-port 
oriented programs on the PC (i.e. terminal programs, PK-Gold, PC 
PakRatt, etc) to be able to use it.   


This driver will be subjec to the same compatibility issues as external 
USB -to-serial dongles; i.e. erratic behavior with certain flavors of 
Windows & USB host ports, COM numbers above COM4 that older programs 
can't access, changing COM numbers when you plug into a different port, 
problems if a USB hub is inbetween the device and the computer, etc.


--

Stephen H. Smith    wa8lmf (at) aol.com
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