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General discussion

Cannot make USB to RS232 Adapter Cable drivers work...!!!

Aug 21, 2007 2:44AM PDT

Very frustrating. I have an old Kenwood shortwave radio that provides computer connectivity via RS232. However, my computer only has USB. Try as I might, I cannot get the USB-Serial adapter cable drivers to install correctly in XP. I have even tried additional drivers for other makes of adapter cable with the same result. There is always an exclamation point next to the USB-to-Serial Bridge and Human Interface Device entries in Device Manager and no new COM port is apparently created/opened. Trying to update or reinstall the drivers from there only gives some useless message akin to "can't find information on hardware" or "can't find software." Until this link is functional, I cannot determine if the RS232 communication from the radio is working. Maybe a separate RS232 card is the answer. I know that compared to other problems in this forum, mine is trivial. But hey, I'm compulsive and would sure like to play with the radio on the computer. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Discussion is locked

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I own the Belkin, Cable2Go and other...
Aug 21, 2007 2:54AM PDT

Makes of this adapter. Microsoft has NEVER supplied the drivers so your method of using the Microsoft device manager should not work.

Try this. Use the drivers from it's maker.

Also, if you had the make and model I might have the link to the driver or if it's that other obscure brand I own I have the driver for that one. -> In closing there is no generic driver.

Bob

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I have to admit, I cheaped out...
Aug 21, 2007 3:48AM PDT
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Try brands I used.
Aug 21, 2007 4:00AM PDT

I've used the Belkin, the Cable2Go with great results. The KFI you noted is not a true USB to COM port adapter but a " PDA/Modem " adapter. You can see this unit at http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=USBTOSERIAL&cat=CBL

"NOTE: This cable is not recognized as a standard COM port which can be used by a terminal program. It can only be used for a modem or a Human Interface Device (HID)"


Sorry you have the wrong adapter.

Bob

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Thanks for the info...
Aug 21, 2007 4:37AM PDT

I'll look into the Belkin and Cable2Go cables. I never quite figured out serial connections when they were all there was, but apparently I should have.