I bought an ALDL cable from TPI Parts in order to datalog only to discover that my mom's pretty much new Dell doesn't have a serial port. After thinking about it, wouldn't most modern laptops lack them? I mean, nothing's serial anymore and space is fairly limited.

Is there some kind of conversion cable I can use? I found this but I have no idea how well it would work.

 

i bought a serial to usb adapter and it works fine. got it off ebay for like $7

 

Thanks, that's exactly what I wanted to hear

 

Good luck on those USB to serial converters. Some work, some dont. Save you reciept or dont spend alot on it.

 

moates has a ALDL cable to usb 50+30$? I think..........

/N.

 

looks like I will try ebay if I do buy one. I think it would be fine as long as you install a driver that emulates a serial port though. It looks like most converters come with this.

This seems ideal but the website is down? www.moates.net right?

 

$15 at the local junk/discount computer store for a USB converter.

Works fine with everything except for ALDL logging with TunerPro. TunerPro with work with the emulator and the USB converter though.

Most of the time a USB converter is not the problem and the software using it was not designed for the higher COMM ports or signal settings.

 

some of us had luck with radio shack adapter. moates aldl cable requires no adapter. i would go that way. support the vendors on this site. great people and will return the favor to you some day.

 

I am not familiar with PROM burning, but I do work in a computer field, and have also run into problems with the lack of serial ports on new computers. Unfortunately, it rather is hit or miss with the serial/usb adapters. The one we have at works will work with some equipment, but not with others.

 

???? moates doesn't come up as a TGO supporter like you do.
I would buy one local and try it with all the RS-232 devices and software that you own. That way you can return it if it doesn't work. If you buy it off of the internet then you have to ship it if it will not work with all your software and/or hardware.

 

i suggest buying from moates <u>DIY Fuel-Injection Tools:</u><br>Created by an EFI enthusiast for EFI enthusiasts like you! : Moates.Net he guarantees his products work or he will take the return EVEN if its user error preventing them from working and thus far i have had perfect performance from his software and hardware, although my cars software and hardware i would have to say is quite crummy!!

 

Not entirely true. Often the problem is that the chipset that the converter uses doesn't support strange baud rates (like 2400 or 8192). They may be made to work if the software has configurable baud rates (for instance, 4800 works in place of 2400 for 160-baud acquisition).

A search on this forum should bring up data on which converters work. Moates' USB interface is also a solution, though it can be a bit pricey (but worth it!).

 

Yeah, you are right. Some don't do non-standard bauds. 8192 is impossible on a PC box.

 

Seems like I just said this in another thread but the Moates ALDL1 has worked 1st time every time for me. I just need to figure out the connections on it and use it to run my EBL system. I have a usb/serial converter (IO Gear....from Walley world). It works but can be quirky if you plug it in too soon after computer start up.

 

Thanks for the input everyone. I think I'm going to do it the 'right' way and just buy the stuff from moates. Can't wait to find out what's making my engine die at 4,000 rpm. Look for another post in a week or two asking for advice reading the data

 

Has anyone tried a PCMCIA serial card in their laptop?

Are they better than the USB-serial adaptors?

Ben.

 

I just run old laptops, that way if one gets run over, or dropped, is easy to write off. There's just no need to run a $$$ laptop, when a $75 *junker* will do. Not to mention, you have to lock the car every time you leave it with a $$$ laptop sitting out in plain view, crooks know what to look for, and what to ignore.