I have a new laptop, an IBM R40. Like many new laptops these days, it has no serial port. I have an IBM USB Serial Port Adapter part number 22P9035 and FRU number 22P9036. This is basically a device that connects to the USB on the laptop and the other end provides one serial port and one parallel port.
I cannot get any of my Cisco devices to respond using the USB adapter and Absolute Telnet (2.13). (there is no text displayed in Absolute Telnet). Carriage returns move the cursor down, but no text appears. I tried turning Echo on and off, but that did not help.
The USB adapter itself is working, because Hyperterminal works fine. It may be helpful to know that the Serial port shows up on Com4 when connected to the USB port. I configured Absolute Telnet to use Com4 with 9600 8-N-1 none just like I did with Hyperterminal.
I purchased 10 copies of Absolute Telnet, and think it is the best telnet app available, but I sure would like to use it with the new laptops! Please help.
[size=1][ June 25, 2004, 10:21 AM: Message edited by: Brian T. Pence ][/size]
Hi ksteele,
I am using BAFO BF-810 USB to Serial adapters (two of them) without any problems. They show up as COM3: and COM4:. So, some USB-adapters seems to be supported at least... 🙂 Using a Dell D600 (with a COM1: but I need more ports for my work so I bought USB-adpaters) with Windows XP and the drivers provided from BAFO.
Cheers,
/msa
The USB serial port adapters tend to be a bit quirky because the serial interface to the application is a simulated one. The first suggestion I always make is to check and see if your drivers are the latest ones. Here is the link to the IBM website:
<broken link removed>
The current driver version is 1.4.0.0 released on March 5, 2002. Please let me know if this has any effect. If not, we'll go to the next step.
I downloaded the driver you suggested. I compared it to the driver I was using, and they were both the same version, 1.5.0.0. The web site claims it is 1.4.0.0, but when you check the properties of the file, it reports 1.5.0.0.
I went ahead and overwrote the old driver with the fresh copy I downloaded and it fixed the problem. I guess my driver was corrupt.
Thanks for the help.
I am still having issues with my IBM USB to serial port adapter. It has stopped working again and reinstalling the drivers does not help.
HyperTerminal works fine.
Absolute Telnet reports it is connected in the bottom status bar, but not text is displayed on the screen.
Brian, I am willing to purchase a new USB to Serial Adapter, but would like to know if there is a model that you recommend.
I've used the Belkin one, but I can't remember the exact model.
First, though, I'd like to try to investigate the source of your problem before saying that new hardware will fix it... Has anything changed in your environment that may have affected you? Did you, for example, install a newer version of AbsoluteTelnet when the problem started?
Brian
What's new or changed here is the laptop and serial adapter. Previously, I used a Gateway laptop that had a serial port built-in.
The old Gateway laptop was replaced by this IBM R40 laptop with the IBM Serial Port Adapter part number 22P9035 and FRU number 22P9036.
I'm using Absolute Telnet Version 2.13
Ok, sorry. I was under the impression that we had worked through that issue successfully and then you began experiencing a recurrence of the problem. You're saying now that the problem was never really fixed? It *has* been awhile.
Can you try with the latest version (3.63)...
Brian
Yes, this is the same problem I had previously. Originally, reinstalling the drivers seemed to have fixed it, but the same issue has returned. I have reinstalled drivers again to no avail. After the problem returned, I started using hyperterminal, but I just can't deal with the limited functionality of hyperterminal anymore.
I'll try the new version and report back.
I installed 3.63. I am still experiencing the same issue.
Since hyperterminal works with the IBM USB Serial Adapter, I made sure the configuration was the same. Both hyperterminal and Absolute are using COM6 9600,8,N,1.
Ok, ok..
This is the point where IBM starts to tick me off!!! 😉 I really hate it when something works in another app and not in mine. Hate it. HATE IT!!
This kind of problem is a bugger to debug remotely. I'm not even sure where to begin. At this point, I feel that I need to go and order one so I can see this problem for myself. Most places want almost $200 for this thing, but I was able to find one for $60 by looking a little harder. Hopefully, I can replicate this problem once the part arrives. Ahh.... the things I do for my users! 😉
I must admin $200 is a bit high of an asking price. You can get a keyspan USB/serial adapter for around $35 if the serial port is what you're interested in. The IBM part *does* also have a parallel port if you need it as well.
The part will arrive in a couple of days. I'll let you know my progress along the way. I've been through this same process with another user who used the keyspan adapter and we finally discovered the issue. I'm sure it will be the same here.
Meanwhile, if you want to experiment with other adapters, please let me know your results.
Brian
I really don't want to see you spend any money on this...maybe I'm doing something wrong.
I don't need the parallel port. If there is a serial adapter that you have confidence in, I'll be glad to order one. I don't like this bulky IBM adapter anyway. Can you make a recommendation?
I could even send you my IBM to test with...if you can send it back.
Oops.
Already ordered it.
Really, I don't have confidence in ANY of them. I've *used* a Belkin one and Keyspan. If you do a little reading on google and deja, you'll see lots of software having problems with these guys because the just fundamentally don't (can't)always operate 100% the way a serial port would.
Driver differences can be a factor because the serial interface is simulated on the PC side. The only way to be sure one will work is to get it and try it.
Brian
DRAT!!! Perhaps I do need your serial port adapter after all. Perhaps I can trade you for a Keyspan one?
Dear Impact Computers Customer:
The item that you requested is on Back Order and we have no exact ETA
(Estimated Time of Arrival). Although we have made every attempt to get
the merchandise, we have not been able to do so.Therefore, we have to cancel your order.
We hope that you can understand the limitations of the market of supply
and demand and that you will visit us in the future for any of your
computer or electronic needs.Regards,
Fabian R.
Customer Service
Brian,
This belongs to my school district, so I may need it back, however, I'll be glad to do a temporary swap so we can test each adapter.
Please send me an email so we can exchange shipping addresses.
