USB to RS-232 adapters

[Penta]

Does anyone have any experience with any of the many adapters that appear to be available for this purpose?
I am attempting to set up a laptop or desk-top as a chart plotter and they all seem to now come only with a USB port rather than the old RS-232 type while both of my Furuno GPS units are RS-232 output.
I obviously want to purchase an adapter that has some track record in this application.
Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks
John Tones* " Penta "

 

[Doc]

I got mine at Sealevel Systems several years ago. It still works great. Seems like it was about $70 then.

www.sealevel.com

 

[Capn Chuck]

You can buy one from Radio Shack, Best Buy and many others. You need to make sure the drivers are available and compatible with your operating system. Chuck

 

[Penta]

Thanks to both of you. Yes, there are all kinds of places that have them the question I have is do they ALL work as advertised - that's why I wanted to hear from guys that had them working and what brand they were.
Doc - thanks, I will look them up and see what they have now.
John

 

[Capn Chuck]

If the drivers are correct, I have not found any that do not work. Chuck

 

[Steppen]

The unit that I have had the most luck with is the Keyspan USA-19HS. This is the unit that Rose Point Software, maker of Coastal Explorer, recommends. I have had excellent service on both XP and Vista machines. I believe you might have to download a driver for use with Windows 7. Here's a link to the Rose Point website which details those USB/Serial adapters that work and those which are "problematic".

<a href="http://coastalexplorer.net/support/hardware/USB">http://coastalexplorer.net/support/hardware/USB

</a>



-- Edited by Steppen on Thursday 21st of October 2010 03:42:30 PM

 

[Penta]

Step - thanks for the info. I just purchased a USBGear adapter as recommended by Rose Point, figured that if it was good enough for them it would do me fine. Now all I need to do is bite the bullet and buy a lap-top May just use a desk top to start with as the wheelhouse has space for it and I am also thinking of adding a second monitor on the upper bridge rather than packing equipment back and forth plus there is no weather protection up there. That in itself may decide whether its a lap or desk unit.
Thanks to everyone for the information.

John Tones "Penta"

 

[Gulf Comanche]

John:
Before you spend money on a new notebook, laptop, etc. , check out the Dell auction site. They bring in business leased notebooks etc., refurb them, and auction them off. Last*notebook I bought had all the bells and whistles from 3 years ago which runs Coastal Explorer quite nicely, spent $230 as I recall. I have no connection whatsoever w/ Dell.
Mike
Baton Rouge

-- Edited by Gulf Comanche on Thursday 21st of October 2010 06:35:29 PM

 

[Penta]

Mike - hey, thanks a lot for the tip regarding the Dell auction site. I had no idea that they had such a thing and after looking at what they are offering I can see myself saving a whole lot of money on a system. It's also great that they are sort of selling pieces rather than the normal "complete" systems as this way I can add what I need real easy.
Thanks again to you and all the rest of the gang who gave info.
John
"Penta"
Sidney, BC

 

[sunchaser]

Penta I have two GPS inputs to my laptop. One is via a pin connector (SITEX) which required a download. The other is*part of *the AIS input (Simrad) via USB. I can plug in one or both to the computer for the GPS signal. My point - if you want to download AIS into Nobletec you won't need to fuss with a pin connector.