Have a few ?'s on port replicators

[Clinth]

I have a Toshiba satellite 1735. would like to get a serial port some how. I found this USB Mobile Expansion Hub by Targus. If I use this would the serial port be seen as a com port? So software the is setup to use serial port for communication would work? If not any product out that I can use to emulate a com ports. I need one to talk to some instruments at my plant and would love to use this newer/ lighter laptop for the work.

Thanks,
Clinth

 

[samagon]

give the edgeport a shot, they are expensive, but they work. we have one of their 4 ports here and we are running a master radio at 9600 (receiving data from two radios in the field) a modem at 19200, a CDPD modem at 9600, and a straight serial connection(9600). all with no problems.

we had another device that was a similar port expander that we got for like $80 but it didn't work so well for anything more than testing the connection with hyperterminal. the edgeport is about $100 per port and I know that they have a 4 and 8 port unit (so $400 and $800), and I know someone who is using one in the field as well.

they work like a charm.

only thing I don't recomend is going into the registry and changing the port numbers, this may not cause a problem but some softwares will not work right with it.

 

[Clinth]

Thanks for the input. i'll look them up.

clinth

 

[jschuk]

If you only need a serial port and nothing else, you can also look for a serial PCMCIA card.