After searching here, on Google and at Corvetteforum.com for several hours I still haven’t found the answer I’m looking for so here it goes...
I have plans to build a 2 transistor aldl cable which uses a 9-pin serial connection that my laptop cannot use. And after researching I have found very conflicting information as to whether or not a usb to serial adapter will work for data logging so I was wondering if by using a usb end on my data cable I would save all the drama of working and not working adapters. And if so would it be as simple as just plugging the wires to the right spot on the usb plug? I’m including the plans I have for the data cable as well as a pin out of both the usb and 9-pin connectors

Thanks to AGENT 86 (corvetteforum) for this one


And please don’t make fun of my wonderful paint skillz!

 

No, can not go directly from serial to USB.

RBob.

 

unfortunately, this is very true...

but there have been a few posts with links to serial-USB convertors that work.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/diy-...32-serial.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/dfi-...ome-grown.html
post 8

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/diy-...erial-usb.html
post 7

they all seem to be based on the FTDI chip, and i happen to be investigating to see if the FTDI "ChiPi" will work as well, since it's about ~$18.

 

This is why I bought a Moates' ALDL Xtreme. By the time I bought a good Serial to USB converter with the MAX232 cicuit, it would almost be equal to the ALDL Xtreme, and still not guaranteed not to have issues.

I have had no issues with my ALDL Xtreme.

 

actually, going directly through Parallax, you can get one for 17.87 shipped...

 

I tried the diy cable and failed. I used the same schematics as above and got a hold of a usb to serial. I had no luck with it working with vista. I ended up getting a moates cable later on. I would recommend just getting the moates cable then you will have your cig lighter for an invertor for charging your laptop.

 

USD....

By the time I get something like that here is is easily double, especially if I buy it locally, and like I said, still no guarantees it will work reliably.

 

So I guess the only really reliable way to do this is to buy the cable from moates or aldlcable.com? The whole adapter thing kind of scares me... too many horror stories on all the boards. So which pre=made cable is better or is there any difference besides price?

 

i had the one from aldlcable.com... until i broke the living hell out of the USB end. so i decided to take it apart in an attempt to fix it. didn't go so well since it's almost entirely SMD. did reverse-engineer enough of it to confirm that it is a 2-transistor design though. and uses the FTDI FT232RL chip. it's mind-numbingly simple.

no idea what the moates setup uses though.

 

Moates cable is easy to use and works every time.

 

I went with the Moates ALDL Extreme over the ALDLcables, because of a couple reasons, even though it is a few dollars more:

-I had already bought other items from Moates, so I knew I would get it promptly.
-I knew it would work
-If either cable broke, the USB or ALDL connection end, I could replace that part, and not need to replace the entire set-up.
-If I did have any issues with the cable, Moates would look after me.

 

I am using the above 2 transistor circuit with a Micro Connectors USB to Serial adapter I bought from Fry's. It works great and I have had no trouble what so ever with it. If you are having trouble, the most likely problem is the serial to USB adapter. The first adapter I bought from RS did not work.