Programming laptop?

Jay794 · 8 Dec 2012 at 19:45

Long story short, my Dad needs a laptop which can interface with all manner of machinery, he's an electrician and needs a laptop with the right ports to talk to Siemens machines, mitzibishi machines etc....

I think it needs a certain type of port or something, from what I've seen of his work he currently uses a VAIO with a USB cable and adapter, but every time he goes to connect it to a machine, he has to manually reconfigure the USB port and change it to USB001 or USB002 and then tell the laptop that the siemens machine is connected to USB001.

I am not an electrician so I'm sorry for the lack of details, just wonder if such a thing exists called a Programming laptop? That's what he called it

MartynB85 · 8 Dec 2012 at 19:47

Sound like he needs something with a com port.

Jay794 · 9 Dec 2012 at 09:01

Do they even make laptops with com ports anymore? isn't everything USB?

L33 · 9 Dec 2012 at 10:30

Sounds like it could be a software issue (not saving which COM port is selected) rather than a hardware issue?
What software/hardware is he using? Putty with a USB to Serial adapter by any chance?

GeX · 9 Dec 2012 at 11:24

MartynB85 said:
Sound like he needs something with a com port.

I think you mean serial port.

Laptops with serial ports are few and far between, sounds like he just needs a decent USB to serial cable (FTDI chip) - and needs to plug it into the same USB port every time he uses it.

Jay794 · 9 Dec 2012 at 15:15

I've tried that and every single machine I've tested it on I've had to actively tell the laptop to save it every single time lol.

Not using Putty, i've no idea what the software is lol

bertles86 · 10 Dec 2012 at 21:27

I should imagine he is in need of a serial port for RS232/485.

Some Dell Latitudes still have the port, otherwise find a laptop with a PCMCIA slot and buy a Serial PCMCIA card, more reliable than the USB version.

Solat · 10 Dec 2012 at 21:46

There are a couple of software alternatives you might consider :

1.
Devcon from OSR can perform various tweaks to devices in device manager. I am not certain it will let you set the setting you need but might be worth a try : http://www.osronline.com/DDKx/ddtools/devcon_86er.htm#ddk_example_33_install_a_device_tools

2.
Alternatively AutoHotKey should be able to automate the change you are currently performing manually so it is a simple key press or run of a script. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoHotkey

Note : Unfortunately both of those apps can be a bit involved if you have not used them or anything similar before

If none of that does the trick then bertless86 suggestion of a PCCard/PCMCIA to Serial might be more reliable.

Finding laptops with 'legacy' ports on board tends to put you into some of the higher priced niche kit unfortunately. e.g. Panasonic Toughbook with 9pin serial port : http://www.panasonic.com/business/toughbook/fully-rugged-laptop-toughbook-31.asp#specs