USB - RS232 (9 pin) adapter

swain90 · 24 Feb 2017 at 12:37

Hi All,

Just a quick query, I'm after a USB to Serial RS232 (9pin) adapter.

The main use is for re-flashing some Belkin KVM switches, and using a cisco console cable & hyper terminal to reconfigure some switches.

I was just wondering if there is a specific type of adapter which I'd require or would something cheap and cheerful from an auction site?

Cheers

Swain90

Habakkuk · 24 Feb 2017 at 19:24

Something cheap & cheerful should be fine - there are specific chip-sets that are used that have better compatibility with windows or linux, but for what you want this shouldn't matter.

Rozzy85 · 24 Feb 2017 at 23:05

Is this for a desktop or laptop? If it's a desktop then the motherboard most likely already has a Serial header. A serial IO bracket can be had for under £2 with no need to worry about compatibility or any possible driver issues.

hornetstinger · 24 Feb 2017 at 23:12

Rozzy85 said:
Is this for a desktop or laptop? If it's a desktop then the motherboard most likely already has a Serial header. A serial IO bracket can be had for under £2 with no need to worry about compatibility or any possible driver issues.

Don't think many have that, I think my old Socket 939 had Serial. But X58 doesn't.

I use a prolific one (probably a clone) for programming a universal remote control. Had to search for drivers, as I believe with the fakes some drivers don't work.

Rozzy85 · 24 Feb 2017 at 23:19

My X99 board has two.

But yeah, you'd obviously have to check beforehand. Low end boards may not even come with one anymore.

swain90 · 25 Feb 2017 at 08:25

Thanks for the replies, it's for a laptop.

Sounds like it's mainly a chipset thing for OS compatability then.

I shall order something cheap and cheerful later today!