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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: CCM on July 21, 2011, 04:10:11 pm

Title: USB to Serial adapter for Optipac
Post by: CCM on July 21, 2011, 04:10:11 pm

The computer died in my buddy's cab.  He has a newer computer that he wants me to put in, but it only has USB ports and he has the older serial Optipac.  Does anyone know if there will be any issues using a usb-to-serial adapter?

Would something like this work?

http://www.staples.com/Staples-USB-to-Serial-Adapter/product_837560 (http://www.staples.com/Staples-USB-to-Serial-Adapter/product_837560)

Title: Re: USB to Serial adapter for Optipac
Post by: mgb on July 21, 2011, 11:21:10 pm

I've never used one with a serial optipac but I've always found the usb to serial devices to work just like any serial port. as long as your drivers are right and your port settings are good, I would think it should be seamless

Title: Re: USB to Serial adapter for Optipac
Post by: Thenasty on July 21, 2011, 11:22:13 pm

maybe cheaper if you just get a PCI serial cards and it has two ports.

Title: Re: USB to Serial adapter for Optipac
Post by: bigster on July 22, 2011, 07:44:33 am

That connector will not work.  The optipac is a usb device, what I did was cut a usb cable and a serial cablke and tape or preferrably solder them together. 

Title: Re: USB to Serial adapter for Optipac
Post by: CCM on July 22, 2011, 08:43:21 am

Quote from: bigster on July 22, 2011, 07:44:33 am

That connector will not work.  The optipac is a usb device, what I did was cut a usb cable and a serial cablke and tape or preferrably solder them together. 

I have an old optipac that is a serial device, similar to this:

Title: Re: USB to Serial adapter for Optipac
Post by: CCM on July 22, 2011, 08:48:19 am

Quote from: Thenasty on July 21, 2011, 11:22:13 pm

maybe cheaper if you just get a PCI serial cards and it has two ports.

doh!  I never even thought of that.   My friend who this is for is a little on the impatient side, so he already went out this morning and bought the adapter at Staples.  If that doesn't work, I'll pick up a PCI card for him.

Title: Re: USB to Serial adapter for Optipac
Post by: bkenobi on July 22, 2011, 09:38:06 am

You can get an adapter for about a buck from dealextreme.  I picked one up for my ODBII reader.  Granted, I have not tried it with Win7 yet, but the docs/comments say it will work fine with the right drivers.

Title: Re: USB to Serial adapter for Optipac
Post by: mgb on July 22, 2011, 11:26:59 pm

I think you'll be fine with the usb to serial adapter

Title: Re: USB to Serial adapter for Optipac
Post by: CCM on July 25, 2011, 05:02:30 pm

Couldn't get the serial adapter to work.  I'm going to pick up a serial PCI card and throw that in.

Title: Re: USB to Serial adapter for Optipac
Post by: AndyWarne on July 25, 2011, 05:18:08 pm

If you drop me an email I can send the pinout of the cable if you want to make one. The Optipac is already a USB device.
andy@ultimarc.com