PCMCIA cards will never let you down
for having not enough bandwidth. Old
USB1 is only like 1MBPS and while this
might suffice for orderly transfers
once it gets rolling, it's not good
for real time I don't think.

I think I've used Eiger Labs PCMCIA
cards once - I think it was a 56K modem
and it fried the first time I hot-
plugged it. Maybe they're better now,
but often the cheapest isn't the best.
And everybody is trying to be cheapest.

Why not just use the native serial port out
the back? Doesn't this laptop have one?

 

thanks for the info, no it doesnt, pretty much every new laptop does not come with a serial port.

 

That must have been my post you saw. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

I haven't tried the Belken adapter yet, but I'm really liking the idea of a PCMCIA based solution. It would be less bulky than any of the USB-serial adapters.

Jimmyblue: You'd be hard pressed to find a new(er) laptop with a serial port any more. I almost bought a new laptop over a year ago, and none of them had serial ports. I just bought a new one today. I didn't see any new ones with serial ports on them. Hell, a lot of them are coming without 3.5" floppy drives now, too.

 

George,

I would highly recommend the Keyspan unit. Each Belkin model I tried had an issue with either read rates with LS1Edit or connectivity issues with A-tap.

If you go with a PCMCIA serial port make sure you spend the extra $ and get a ruggedized version that has the cable molded into the card. If you don't it will be very easy to break the cable/card connector.

Tim

 

i have a belkin serial adapter and it gives me fits trying to connect to autotap and takes forever to upload a new edit file..

i saw on the edit list that a pcmcia card adapter was available and checked them out on ebay, seem more affordable than the usb adaptors..

so are they cheaper AND work better? if so why? and whats your favorite one? eiger labs/silicom?

thanks! btw im running windows me oh an hp laptop

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Tim Sloper:
<strong> George,

I would highly recommend the Keyspan unit. Each Belkin model I tried had an issue with either read rates with LS1Edit or connectivity issues with A-tap.
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thanks, Tim... I haven't even opened the Belkin yet, so I think I'll just return it to Best Buy. I'll drive over the bridge this weekend and pick up the Keyspan unit from CompUSA and use my neighbor's car as a guinea pig. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

keyspan's the name and comp usa's the place

thanks!

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by MIGHTYMOUSE:
<strong> keyspan's the name and comp usa's the place
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Not around here... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

I went to the local CompUSA store here in Jacksonville, who showed a quantity of 2 on hand. Unfortunately neither one was anywhere to be found. I'm just going to order one, since I'm not in a terrible hurry (since my car isn't back together yet).

I even tried RadioShack, Circuit City, and Office Max. Staples and Office Depot don't have it in their online catalog either. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" />

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by jimmyblue:
<strong> PCMCIA cards will never let you down
for having not enough bandwidth. Old
USB1 is only like 1MBPS and while this
might suffice for orderly transfers
once it gets rolling, it's not good
for real time I don't think.

I think I've used Eiger Labs PCMCIA
cards once - I think it was a 56K modem
and it fried the first time I hot-
plugged it. Maybe they're better now,
but often the cheapest isn't the best.
And everybody is trying to be cheapest.

Why not just use the native serial port out
the back? Doesn't this laptop have one? </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Actually the serial port could only ever do about .3 megabits, so usb 1 or 1.1 is plenty. The belkin adapter is mostly designed for PDAs. I use the USB to serial adapter from B&B electronics (makers of Autotap) and I've used it with many different serial devices including ATAP and EDIT flawlessly, just make sure you get the latest driver off their page.

-Dave

 

dam comp didnt have the pcmcia cards in stock at all so i got the keyspan serial to usb adapter.. the guy said the belkin one i had was only for pda's and this keyspan one is made specially for laptops to have a fully funtional serial port..

we'll see, it was $50

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by GeorgeC:
<strong>
Jimmyblue: You'd be hard pressed to find a new(er) laptop with a serial port any more. I almost bought a new laptop over a year ago, and none of them had serial ports. I just bought a new one today. I didn't see any new ones with serial ports on them. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Dell Inspiron 8200 - I have one (P4/2.2/1Gig Ram/Radeon900064meg/60gigHD/CD-RW+DVD/1600x1200UXGAscreen) - I liked it so much I recently sold my desktop and ordered a dell 20" flat panel to use as a secondary display. Only downside is it's a bit bulky (just under 8lbs) - but then that doesn't bother me at all. And the serial port works great <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

In regards to the original question Tim Sloper pretty much hit everything up!

Chris