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Certain type of an adapter

strep3241

strep3241

Senior member
My dad has a Heatwatch system(google it for more info) that uses a different type of connection. It kind of looks like a vga connection but different. It is a 9 pin female connection, 5 on top and 4 on bottom. The new computer I just built for him does not have that type of connection. I am looking for a adapter that will allow it to hook up via a usb port. I will try to get a clear pic of it.

Here is the connection I am talking about, http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/330219620-DB9-SVGA-VGA-Female-to-Female-Gender-Changer-Adapter-F-to-F-F-F-wholesalers.html

I am looking for an adapter that will allow me to connect that to a usb port.

Will this work, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812339013&cm_re=db9_adapter-_-12-339-013-_-Product

I would like to find something a little cheaper and that doesn't have a cable.
 
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I bought an adapter cable off of ebay for like 5 bucks.

I can not get this to work with our equipment though. It does not communicate properly through the usb port.

I emailed the company of the equipment and they said I may have to purchase a 9 pin inverse converter. Does anybody know what a inverse converter is and where I can get one? I emailed them back about where to get one and they have not replied back.
 
You are looking at a serial connector (very standard 10 years ago.) They cannot always be converted to USB because of timing problems. The cable you have ID'd last is worth a shot. What are you connecting to? Laptop or desktop?
 
If you want it to work over USB you need a true usb to serial converter, most of the cheap ones don't implement the protocol well. Do a search for 'FTDI USB SERIAL' . FTDI is the closest you will get to serial and I haven't found a single thing that doesn't work with it. If the cable doesn't say it is FTDI chipset don't buy it.
 
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corkyg said:
You are looking at a serial connector (very standard 10 years ago.) They cannot always be converted to USB because of timing problems. The cable you have ID'd last is worth a shot. What are you connecting to? Laptop or desktop?
Click to expand...

I realize this is old tech. That cable I linked to is basically the same thing I have right now which doesn't work. I am connecting to a desktop.

Modelworks said:
If you want it to work over USB you need a true usb to serial converter, most of the cheap ones don't implement the protocol well. Do a search for 'FTDI USB SERIAL' . FTDI is the closest you will get to serial and I haven't found a single thing that doesn't work with it. If the cable doesn't say it is FTDI chipset don't buy it.
Click to expand...

So the one I linked to is no good then? What will that cable work with? I have a cable just like that one and tried it with a 9 pin mouse on three different computers and it would not work. What are these cables designed for?
 
Modelworks said:
If you want it to work over USB you need a true usb to serial converter, most of the cheap ones don't implement the protocol well. Do a search for 'FTDI USB SERIAL' . FTDI is the closest you will get to serial and I haven't found a single thing that doesn't work with it. If the cable doesn't say it is FTDI chipset don't buy it.
Click to expand...

^ Truth. I personally don't get why it is so hard to build a good serial port to USB adapter.
 
I second the FTDI recommendation

Also, make sure you have the drivers installed and it shows up in device manager, once you have the USB to serial properly installed you will see a new com port in the system, again use device manager to see which com port it is and then change whatever software you are using to use the com port from the USB converter.

The cable you have now sounds like either drivers are not installed, or you didn't choose the right com port, or it is plain broken.
 
C0BRA99 said:
I second the FTDI recommendation

Also, make sure you have the drivers installed and it shows up in device manager, once you have the USB to serial properly installed you will see a new com port in the system, again use device manager to see which com port it is and then change whatever software you are using to use the com port from the USB converter.

The cable you have now sounds like either drivers are not installed, or you didn't choose the right com port, or it is plain broken.
Click to expand...

For the cable I have now, the drivers are installed and it shows up in device manager as working properly. How do I go about making the software use the right port? I did not see any options for that.

I am thinking it is a bad cable because I could not get it to work with a 9 pin mouse either or it is just the wrong type.
 
memoryram said:
For the cable I have now, the drivers are installed and it shows up in device manager as working properly. How do I go about making the software use the right port? I did not see any options for that.

I am thinking it is a bad cable because I could not get it to work with a 9 pin mouse either or it is just the wrong type.
Click to expand...

You do have to install a serial mouse driver in most of the new versions of windows. The serial ports are not plug an play.
 
For the mouse, how would I get the driver for it if I don't have the cd for it?

I am trying to hook up a device called Heatwatch. Most of you are probably not familiar with it, it is a dairy program. I have the cd for it but I do not see anything on there about a driver.
 
Since it is a desktop, why not put in a real serial card with the proper serial port and forget the adapter?
 
I did not think about that. Would it be garaunteed to work that way? Does it make a difference which one I should buy? Does it need to have the FTDI chipset or is that only if I was connecting to a usb port?
 
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Just look for a PCI to Serial Port Card at Newegg that has good reviews.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...E&PageSize=100


That Heatwatch technology is interesting.

HeatWatch II is a revolutionary second generation product that is transforming the reproductive results of A.I. breeders. The system utilizes unique radio frequency technology that:

Catches every cow in heat, recording the date, time and duration of every mount
Saves time, labor, semen, and money
Provides the optimum time for insemination
Makes for fewer services per conception
Gets more A.I. calves earlier in calving period
Produces a more uniform set of calves
Click to expand...
 
imagoon said:
You do have to install a serial mouse driver in most of the new versions of windows. The serial ports are not plug an play.
Click to expand...

Well then explain this to me. If I plug the 9 pin mouse directly into the port, it will work without having to do anything. If it works directly, then it should work with the usb adapter cable without having to install anything. Unless the cable is bad.

I am going to check with a local computer shop and see if he has a pci card with 9 pin connections. I hate to buy something else online and it not work either. If he doesn't have one, I guess I will take a chance and buy a PCI card online.
 
memoryram said:
Well then explain this to me. If I plug the 9 pin mouse directly into the port, it will work without having to do anything. If it works directly, then it should work with the usb adapter cable without having to install anything. Unless the cable is bad.

I am going to check with a local computer shop and see if he has a pci card with 9 pin connections. I hate to buy something else online and it not work either. If he doesn't have one, I guess I will take a chance and buy a PCI card online.
Click to expand...

Now you have me confused. If you have a serial port, why do you need the usb to serial adapter?

Anyway the older serial mouse's driver often needs to be told what serial port the mouse is attached to.

Also something else to throw out there. Serial is not a straight 1 to 1 connection. A serial mouse should work on the cable (assuming it the driver is installed and pointing at the serial port). The heatwatch system however may not be wired the same way and may need a crossover cable (or in some cases a completely custom cable) to actually connect. The DB9's might not be able to just "connect together."
 
imagoon said:
Now you have me confused. If you have a serial port, why do you need the usb to serial adapter?

Anyway the older serial mouse's driver often needs to be told what serial port the mouse is attached to.

Also something else to throw out there. Serial is not a straight 1 to 1 connection. A serial mouse should work on the cable (assuming it the driver is installed and pointing at the serial port). The heatwatch system however may not be wired the same way and may need a crossover cable (or in some cases a completely custom cable) to actually connect. The DB9's might not be able to just "connect together."
Click to expand...

Sorry for the confusion, the Dell 2400, which he is currently using, has a serial port connection. I just built a new rig for him that does not have a serial port connection.

I was just trying to mouse out on the Dell 2400.
 
memoryram said:
Here is one I am looking at:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-004-_-Product

I noticed it says you can plug it into the PCI slot without turning off the computer. How is that possible? And it also says for 5 volt PCI slot only. Are all PCI slots 5 volts?
Click to expand...

Some machines support PCI hot swap. PCI can be 5 volt or 3.3volt. Check the system board slow notches to determine support on that board. 5volt is pretty rare now though.

link:

http://thebs413.blogspot.com/2005/11/agp-agp-pro-pci-and-pci-x-voltage.html
 
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According to the link, 5 volt is pretty common. It says the notch for 5 volt is towards the front of the case and that is how most PCI slots are, right?

I went ahead and bought the PCI card I linked to. Hopefully it will work.
 
memoryram said:
According to the link, 5 volt is pretty common. It says the notch for 5 volt is towards the front of the case and that is how most PCI slots are, right?

I went ahead and bought the PCI card I linked to. Hopefully it will work.
Click to expand...

Note that the article is from 2005. I don't consider PCI "common" anymore. Pure 5 Volt is not that common any more. I would have recommended opening the case and checking personally.
 
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