Ongoing pursuit of a cheap USB/Serial adapter...

[pconroy]

the saga continues...

Previously, I tried a very inexpensive, eBay bought, Hong Kong shipped, $1.99 USB to Serial adapter.  While it worked with my old Garmin GPS under Windows and Linux - it did not work with my CM11A or my Lacrosse Weather Station.

With another $5 burning a hole in my pocket, I tried one that said it had "Prolific PL-2303HX controller, excellent compatibility" chip inside.

See http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-RS-232-Serial-DB9-Adapter-MAC-Linux-Win-7-/270578333268?cmd=ViewItem&pt=AU_Laptop_Accessories&hash=item3effb9b654#ht_3174wt_859

The good news is that this one works under XP - the CM11A and the weather station seem to be working fine, although they've only been running for a couple of hours.

<Edited to say - with everyone's help - its working under Linux too: Ubuntu 10.04 and 9.10>


One more thing - by default the adapter stuck itself at COM5 (/dev/ttyS4).  That's not a problem for me, but you might want to make sure your software either supports COM5, or you play around in Device Manager and see if you can move it down to COM4, perhaps!

[Msradell]

I've been using one of those for quite awhile to communicate with my Ocelot, it's been working very well.  I'm using it on a new laptop running Windows 7 x64.

[Charles Sullivan]

pconroy:
A lot of these el-cheapo adapters don't support the serial status lines at all, and Linux support for some Prolific chipset versions is problematic.

If you have Heyu installed, see the description of 'heyu port_line_test' in the "EXPERIMENTAL STUFF" section of man page heyu(1).

[pconroy]

Chas-  yeah...  I was hopeful seeing this one work beautifully under XP.
So it's for sure the Linux driver, not the device.

I'm OK running XP on the box.
I *wish* it was Linux, but it'll do for now.

[Charles Sullivan]

Chas-  yeah...  I was hopeful seeing this one work beautifully under XP.
So it's for sure the Linux driver, not the device.

I'm OK running XP on the box.
I *wish* it was Linux, but it'll do for now.

Did you run the test?   Until you do you can't be sure.  The CM11A can be operated without serial status lines but the CM17A requires them.

[pconroy]

Ok - I will when I get a chance.

[Brandt]

I use the $15 FTDI one from Parallax

[pconroy]

Ok - I will when I get a chance.

Charles - interesting. port_line_test shows CD, DSR and CTS toggling nicely.
RI (pin 9) doesn't - stays clear.


I'll have to look at my code that opens the port.

[pconroy]

I use the $15 FTDI one from Parallax

Brandt - this one?

http://www.parallax.com/Store/Accessories/CablesConverters/tabid/166/CategoryID/40/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/378/Default.aspx

thanks - patrick

[pconroy]

Chas-  yeah...  I was hopeful seeing this one work beautifully under XP.
So it's for sure the Linux driver, not the device.

I'm OK running XP on the box.
I *wish* it was Linux, but it'll do for now.

Did you run the test?   Until you do you can't be sure.  The CM11A can be operated without serial status lines but the CM17A requires them.

Where's the embarrassed icon???

Charles - heyu seems to be controlling the CM11A fine thru the adapter.
It's clearly my code................................

[Brandt]

I use the $15 FTDI one from Parallax

Brandt - this one?

http://www.parallax.com/Store/Accessories/CablesConverters/tabid/166/CategoryID/40/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/378/Default.aspx

thanks - patrick

Yep, that's the one I use with my cm11a

[Charles Sullivan]

Chas-  yeah...  I was hopeful seeing this one work beautifully under XP.
So it's for sure the Linux driver, not the device.

I'm OK running XP on the box.
I *wish* it was Linux, but it'll do for now.

Did you run the test?   Until you do you can't be sure.  The CM11A can be operated without serial status lines but the CM17A requires them.

Where's the embarrassed icon???

Charles - heyu seems to be controlling the CM11A fine thru the adapter.
It's clearly my code................................

Patrick,
Try running 'heyu fon Hu' to send an RF signal with a CM17A Firecracker.  (It doesn't matter if you don't actually have one attached.)  If the adapter doesn't support the serial status lines required for the CM17A, Heyu will display an error message to that effect.

[pconroy]

Pass the eggs! I need some more on my face!!!
And I'll take some humble pie as well!     


It;s working - under Ubuntu 10.04 and 9.10. 

Your port_test forced me to go back and retrace my steps.  I'm still not sure what I did wrong - I suspect I screwed up the permissions on /dev/ttyUSB0 -- but whatever it was it's gone.

So this little $5 USB/Serial adapter is working for me, on XP and Ubuntu Linux -- and it's receiving commands from the CM11A and my weather station.  Both HeyU and my software are working with it.



My thanks to you guys for the help!!!
Now I can unplug XP and run Linux on the lil' laptop!   

[Charles Sullivan]

Patrick,
I'd still appreciate knowing the results of either the port_line_test or even running just 'heyu fon Hu' with your $5 adapter. ("Hu" being any Housecode|unit address, e.g., A1.)

The only way I can provide knowledgeable advice to others is by having feedback from users like you.

[Brandt]

Patrick,
I'd still appreciate knowing the results of either the port_line_test or even running just 'heyu fon Hu' with your $5 adapter. ("Hu" being any Housecode|unit address, e.g., A1.)

The only way I can provide knowledgeable advice to others is by having feedback from users like you.

On that note, I have a cm17a inline with my $15 ftdi parallax adapter as well as the cm11a and the fon and foff commands work perfect. I suppose you already knew that seeing how it is FTDI based...