Re: [time-nuts] usb serial converter
Just a side note here should it ever come up, those usb serial converters don't work in DOS. DOS doesn't support USB. You can kind of get them working in the so-called DOS window of 32 bit windows, but many DOS apps won't work because DOS allowed from direct control of the port and windows gets in the way.
For a while, I was getting away with a Socketcom pcmcia serial port and open DOS (or maybe Free DOS, I forget. My next notebook had cardbus which I guess needs a 32 bit driver.
Over the years I have picked up various Socketcom serial cards at flea markets or surplus shops should anyone wish to know what operating systems support them. I also have the DOS TSRs to run the cards. Socketcom never had them on their website, so I had to buy a used card on ebay to get the software.
One of the annoying things is Dell provides a hardware serial port if you buy a docking station, but no way to just get a serial port by itself using the docking port. Well at least that I know of.
From: lists@lazygranch.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 1:25 AM
To: "Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement"
time-nuts@febo.com
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] usb serial converter
Just a side note here should it ever come up, those usb serial
converters don't work in DOS. DOS doesn't support USB. You can kind of
get them working in the so-called DOS window of 32 bit windows, but many
DOS apps won't work because DOS allowed from direct control of the port
and windows gets in the way.
You might like to try UserPort:
http://www.embeddedtronics.com/design&ideas.html
which allows Windows programs full access to the ports you might need.
I've used it to allow access to the parallel port bits under Windows XP.
Cheers,
David
SatSignal software - quality software written to your requirements
Web: http://www.satsignal.eu
Email: david-taylor@blueyonder.co.uk
One of the annoying things is Dell provides a hardware serial port if you
buy a docking station, but no way to just get a serial port by itself using
the docking port. Well at least that I know of.
I have a Dell laptop (Latitude 430) that came with a MediaBase. It's another
layer that clips on and plugs into the docking-station connector. It makes
the laptop a bit thicker but still looks like a laptop.
Mostly, it has a CD-ROM reader, but it also includes a DVI connector,
parallel port, and serial port. (and maybe a few more USB connectors) I
haven't taken it apart to see if there are any chips inside. The connector
has lots of pins so maybe all the silicon is in the laptop. But maybe it's
something like a PCI connector with a chip in the MediaBase.
--
These are my opinions, not necessarily my employer's. I hate spam.
Back in the day, we used something like that. Basically we were trying
to bit bang SMBus coms. But that only worked for win2k. Ultimately we
just put a uP on a demo board with a real serial port. You can only
kludge so much before you appear flaky to your customers.
On 6/14/2011 9:56 PM, David J Taylor wrote:
From: lists@lazygranch.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 1:25 AM
To: "Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement"
time-nuts@febo.com
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] usb serial converter
Just a side note here should it ever come up, those usb serial
converters don't work in DOS. DOS doesn't support USB. You can kind of
get them working in the so-called DOS window of 32 bit windows, but
many DOS apps won't work because DOS allowed from direct control of
the port and windows gets in the way.
You might like to try UserPort:
http://www.embeddedtronics.com/design&ideas.html
which allows Windows programs full access to the ports you might need.
I've used it to allow access to the parallel port bits under Windows XP.
Cheers,
David
I see I have that option, but it looks a bit clunky. I didn't want the
DVD player I got with the notebook in the first place, let alone another
one. ;-)
I've worked my way around needing the true serial port with different
software. The cardbus came in handy because I needed a line level input
for the sound card, so it all worked out in the end.
If it isn't obvious to everyone, MS set up the WOW (Windows on Windows)
in their 64 bit win 7 OS, to only fall back to 32 bit software. Hence no
need for a 16 bit driver on the cardbus. Then again, maybe 32bit win7
still supports 16 bit code, so they should have a driver.
On 6/14/2011 10:48 PM, Hal Murray wrote:
One of the annoying things is Dell provides a hardware serial port if you
buy a docking station, but no way to just get a serial port by itself using
the docking port. Well at least that I know of.
I have a Dell laptop (Latitude 430) that came with a MediaBase. It's another
layer that clips on and plugs into the docking-station connector. It makes
the laptop a bit thicker but still looks like a laptop.
Mostly, it has a CD-ROM reader, but it also includes a DVI connector,
parallel port, and serial port. (and maybe a few more USB connectors) I
haven't taken it apart to see if there are any chips inside. The connector
has lots of pins so maybe all the silicon is in the laptop. But maybe it's
something like a PCI connector with a chip in the MediaBase.
Just to set the record straight about DOS not supporting USB :
http://bretjohnson.us/
Christopher
On Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 20:25, lists@lazygranch.com wrote:
Just a side note here should it ever come up, those usb serial converters
don't work in DOS. DOS doesn't support USB. You can kind of get them working
in the so-called DOS window of 32 bit windows, but many DOS apps won't work
because DOS allowed from direct control of the port and windows gets in the
way.
For a while, I was getting away with a Socketcom pcmcia serial port and
open DOS (or maybe Free DOS, I forget. My next notebook had cardbus which I
guess needs a 32 bit driver.
Over the years I have picked up various Socketcom serial cards at flea
markets or surplus shops should anyone wish to know what operating systems
support them. I also have the DOS TSRs to run the cards. Socketcom never had
them on their website, so I had to buy a used card on ebay to get the
software.
One of the annoying things is Dell provides a hardware serial port if you
buy a docking station, but no way to just get a serial port by itself using
the docking port. Well at least that I know of.
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.
Looks like a 3rd party program, not part of a DOS distribution.
Have you successfully used these third party programs with a prolific chipset?
-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Quarksnow cquarksnow@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:09:18
To: lists@lazygranch.com; Discussion of precise time and frequency measurementtime-nuts@febo.com
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] usb serial converter
Just to set the record straight about DOS not supporting USB :
http://bretjohnson.us/
Christopher
On Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 20:25, lists@lazygranch.com wrote:
Just a side note here should it ever come up, those usb serial converters
don't work in DOS. DOS doesn't support USB. You can kind of get them working
in the so-called DOS window of 32 bit windows, but many DOS apps won't work
because DOS allowed from direct control of the port and windows gets in the
way.
For a while, I was getting away with a Socketcom pcmcia serial port and
open DOS (or maybe Free DOS, I forget. My next notebook had cardbus which I
guess needs a 32 bit driver.
Over the years I have picked up various Socketcom serial cards at flea
markets or surplus shops should anyone wish to know what operating systems
support them. I also have the DOS TSRs to run the cards. Socketcom never had
them on their website, so I had to buy a used card on ebay to get the
software.
One of the annoying things is Dell provides a hardware serial port if you
buy a docking station, but no way to just get a serial port by itself using
the docking port. Well at least that I know of.
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.