Serial Port Expansion VIA PCMCIA card

[dominicv]

Good evening Folks,

Has anyone ever used a PCMCIA card in order to add 2 or 4 more RS-232 ports to your computer.

If so, any complications.


Thanks

Dom

[Dazed and confused]

Dom,
I use their PCI equivlent in desk tops without any problems. I've also used USB to RS232 DB9 adaptors without issues, but they can be a little tricky. I can't say I've used PCMCIA cards for I/O but I don't see why that would be a problem other then price. I currently use two dual PCI RS232 DB9 adaptors in two desktop systems without complications. I've been using them for years.

Greg

[Steve Horn]

No PCMCIA cards in use here. AM currently using several USB/RS232 dongles but they are problematic. HB and Windows (XP)seem to lose track of the serial port assignments after Windows (apparently) is auto-updated. Never have determined the exact cause. Got tired of rebooting for WInXP to reestablish the port assignments so I bought a 4 port PCI serial card ($50). Have yet to install but that should eliminate the USB/RS232 issues.

[Richard Naninck]

2 x PCI card with each 6 RS232
3 x USB -> Serial
1 x PCIe with 4 RS232
1 x PCIe with 8 RS232 ports.
1 x RS232 on the mobo
3 x Virtual com port through the ftd2xx chip for UIRT, RFXCom and FS20
So a total of 28 true ports and 3 virtual with a COM number up to 33 and all with no problems and reboot safe (even the USB ones)

No PCMCIA though

[dominicv]

Good evening All,

I was wondering about the performance of the PCMCIA RS-232, simply because I am using a laptop.

The USB RS-232 dongle does seem somewhat problematic, the alternative is the PCMCIA route.

Saw some PCMCIA version on e-bay for about $ 30.00 for a 2 x RS-232 ports.


Dom

[Richard Naninck]

You won't see performance issues because of the low baudrates vs interface bus speeds. RS232 data (even @ 115K) is considered low data rate.

[dominicv]

Hey Richard,

So I guess the PCMCIA expansion route is the way to go.

I was reading your message, I couldn't beleive the number of RS-232 port you have, I am surprise you don't end up with com. port conflicts after a while.

Dom

[Richard Naninck]

I guess I would/could have problems when I add more then three USB -> Ser ports. The drivers of maybe even the IRQ seem to conflict. It took me awhile to get the third going without conflict and since I don't accept error in my system I am leaving the USB option again and went ahead to buy true com port extensions on PCIe. I had two slots still avail on my mobo and now I have three com ports spare for future use. But no conflicts whatsoever so if you ever want to go above 30... no problem

[dominicv]

Richard,

Originally I figured I would buy a used laptop to take care of HOUSEBOT, since the computer must remain on, a laptop would consume less energy.

Maybe I should have used my PC instead, could have had all kinds of serial ports, Oh Well!!!, what is that old saying " Damn if you do " and " Damn if you don't "

Dom

[Richard Naninck]

Another saying would be:

Doesn't matter how far you have walked the wrong path. Turn around and go back.... Buy a PC and configure it so that it doesn't consume too much power..

[Steve Horn]

Likely cheaper too. Most of us HB users I suspect use a desktop-platform type PC. Don't need a WHOLE lot of horsepower.

[dominicv]

I was able to get the laptop for $ 90.00, which is obviously an older version, but still came with XP.

Dom

[Steve Horn]

Nothing wrong with that! But I wonder how hot it'll get running 24x7. The Dell NB I use for incidental stuff runs hot after awhile - fans kicking on and off all the time. But it's old (like me), so maybe that's to be expected I guess. Not sure I'd want to use it for HB full time. But let us know how yours works out. Or maybe someone else here can report on using a NB/LT for a HB server. I do use several old Fujitsu tablet PCs (running Win2k) for HB remotes and they work 24x7 great.

[dominicv]

Hey Steve,

It has been running for 24/7 for about a month.

Mind you, it is a Sony VAIO, LOL.

Actually I had never thought of the heat being a factor, I kept on thinking of the energy consumption.

Go figure, my usual of the track ideas.

Before I forget, I met a guy on e-bay the other day, he is sending me a list of items he has for sale, over 60 Z-Wave modules from Intermatic to Leviton, and thermostats, and controlers, etc.

I will post it, just in case someone is interested, it may be my opportunity to switch to Z-Wave, we shall see.

Speaking of age, my first modules had BSR written on then, and David Rye from X-10 was in diapers, does that make us about the same age.

Dom