More than 1 USB to serial possible?

[OzRob]

Before I buy yet another USB to serial converter has anyone managed to get two of them to work together on the same Windows 7 laptop? If you have a link to a place that sells them would be greatly appreciated.

I even have two Prolific converters that have the same hardware ids (VID_067b&PID2303&REV_300). The new one will not work with the software that I have been using with the older one. When I install drivers that I found will work with the newer one I can not get either converter to talk to Robofocus...:bashcomp:

[RickS]

There's always the option of a USB to dual or quad serial. You can probably find them at lots of places, but here's one source: https://www.lindy.com.au/online/arrshop.exe?anonymous=true&cat=e2

Cheers,
Rick.

[kustard]

I use multiple USB to RS232 converters at work. Two or more prolific based converters will often cause issues so I ended up buying a few different brands to see which ones would work together. So far I have an STLab (Prolific) and a Belkin (Belkin) which work together nicely.

[mithrandir]

There are few manufacturers who make USB devices with more that one hardware id. They normally give them different part numbers so you can tell them apart. Even then, I've never seen more than two versions listed.

The "different manufacturers" or "multiple serial to USB" options are more likely to work.

[[1ponders]]

I have a Keyspan 4 port serial to USB and another Belkin single USB to Serial adapter. There were some problems initially connecting to some of the serial devices as the com ports were given numbers like 12, 13, 14, etc. I just renamed the Com ports so that ran from 1 to 5 and have never had a problem since


Oh and yes I experimented with running both at the same time from different USB ports. Np.

I did have issues running them from a Hub

[OzRob]

Thanks guys, I might get a Belkin adapter and hope for the best.

[gary]

Hi Rob,

Though some have luck with the Belkin, unfortunately such success is
not universally true. We have been in a position to receive reports from a very
substantial user base who have tried all sorts of USB Serial Adapters.
The one that consistently comes up trumps is the Keyspan, so you might
want to look for one there in Thailand.

We get people explicitly asking for the Keyspan based on its reputation for
reliability in all fields of endeavour, including mission critical applications in places
such as hospitals, ocean going yachts and mines.

No problem in using more than one adapter at a time and Keyspan
also make multi-adapters which then only occupy one USB port.

The Keyspan also comes with drivers that work with Windows 7.

[OzRob]

Thanks Gary. I see that a single port Keyspan is about the same price as the Belkin so I might just give that a go.

I have given up finding stuff like this in Thailand. I couldn't even get an adapter to run my laptop on 12v!!! I ended up getting one when I was back in Australia in February. I have a friend coming to visit soon and he is used to bringing stuff for me...:D

[Gerald Sargent]

I normally use 3 proflic serial to usb converters and have no
problems. Just remember that on XP each usb port has a
number to which the serial port is related. In device manager
one can change these as required. Some serial ports come up with
very high numbers and this is easily dealt with in device mamager.
Gerald.

[higginsdj]

Keyspan adapters are the most reliable.

[Louwai]

I run XP Pro rather than W7 & I have 3 individual serial to USB adaptors. Each is on a seperate USB plug.

1 for the mount ctrl, 1 for the Kendrick heater ctrlr & 1 for the FeatherTouch focuser ctrlr.
They all work well.
I tried to get them all to work thru a USB hub plugged into 1 USB socket, but no-go.

[marki]

Multiport USB to Serials are the go.