Understanding the Serial Cable to USB: What is it?

USB to Serial Adapter (RS232)

A USB to Serial adapter, also known as an adapter cable, is an easy way to add one or more RS232 serial ports to a computer. On this page you will find our RS232 versions with one, two or four serial ports in one converter, which means that you can add up to four serial RS232 ports to one computer.

The installation process is relatively easy. First you download the drivers for the USB to serial adapter from our website. Then unzip the downloaded file and install the drivers on your computer by clicking on the installation file. Once the installation is complete you can connect the USB to serial adapter to your computer and the operating system (Windows or Mac) will create a virtual COM port which will show up in Device Manager.

Definition and Purpose

A USB to serial adapter is a device that converts a USB signal to a serial signal, allowing users to connect serial devices to a computer via a USB port. The primary purpose of a USB to serial adapter is to provide a connection between a computer and a serial device, such as a printer, scanner, or GPS device, when the computer does not have a built-in serial port. This makes it an essential tool for modern computers that lack native serial ports, enabling seamless communication with a wide range of serial devices.

GOOD	BETTER	BEST
USB Serial Adapter PRO	USB Serial Adapter Ultimate	USB Serial Adapter Thunderlinx™

The USB to Serial Adapter - Generally

A USB to serial adapter, also referred to as a USB serial converter or RS232 adapter is a small electronic device which can convert a USB signal to serial RS232 data signals. RS232 is the type of signal which is in many older PCs and is referred to as a serial COM port.

A USB to serial adapter typically converts between USB and either RS232, RS485, RS422, or TCP signals, functioning similarly to a serial cable. However, some USB to serial adapters have other special conversion features such as custom baud rates, high-speed or other.

Even the USB to serial adapter RS232 standard is an older communication protocol it is still used by many modern serial RS232 devices in both business and consumer markets and is also often used for personal and office serial devices. More recently most new computers do not have a built-in COM port so a USB serial adapter is often used for connecting many types of serial devices to a computer. A standard USB to serial adapter is a very useful device for connecting equipment such as printers, scanners, scales and GPS devices, but also most business and consumer equipment can be connected to a computer by using an industrial grade adapter.

The USB serial adapter is made in different versions and grades, the 1-port adapter is very popular and one of the most commonly used adapters. Two to four port adapters are also frequently used if the user needs more than one serial port. Multi-port adapters can be connected to a computer by using just one USB cable, where after the computers operating system will create multiple virtual COM ports. Grades range from standard consumer grade to industrial grade and even mission critical grade adapters. Most consumer grade USB serial adapters are not optically isolated or protected against high voltage spikes however most industrial grade adapters are optically isolated which means they are protected against voltage spikes and surges, ground-loops and most other voltages which potentially can damage the adapter or the connected serial devices.

The serial RS232 protocol has existed since the early 60’ties so you may wonder why it is still being used today. The reason is that it is a very reliable way of data communication and it is fairly easy to understand for engineers so it’s easy to develop and program new devices. Another reason is that since the serial protocol has existed for such a long time, many devices already have the serial protocol built-in so its easy to integrate new devices with old devices.

A USB to Serial adapter is an easy way to add one or more RS232 serial ports to a computer. On this page you will find our RS232 versions with one, two or four serial ports in one converter, which means that you can add up to four serial RS232 ports to one computer.

The installation process is relatively easy. First you download the drivers for the USB to serial adapter from our website. Then unzip the downloaded file and install the drivers on your computer by clicking on the installation file. Once the installation is complete you can connect the USB to serial adapter to your computer and the operating system (Windows or Mac) will create a virtual COM port which will show up in Device Manager.

How to install and use a USB to Serial adapter (RS232)

If you have a device with a serial port and you need to connect it to a computer, then you can use a USB to Serial adapter, since most modern computers doesn’t have a native serial port. A USB adapter can also be used in industrial applications to facilitate RS-232 modem control in challenging environments. Only computers in the old days had a serial COM port. Fortunately modern computers has USB ports which can be used for converting serial data from USB to serial RS232 and also from serial to USB, almost all converters will convert data in both directions.

Installing the drivers

The first thing you need to do when connecting a USB to serial RS232 adapter to your computer is to install the drivers for the adapter. Drivers are a small collection of files which will be installed on your computer. These files will tell the operating system how to use/communicate with the USB to serial adapter's hardware and how to convert the data.
The drivers can be downloaded for free from our website here:

Drivers for the USB to Serial adapter

The download consists of a zip file. To install the drivers simply unzip the downloaded file and navigate to the folder with the operating system you are using, then run the exe file with the driver installation program.

Once the drivers are installed successfully you can connect the USB end of the USB to Serial adapter (RS232) to your computer's USB port and the adapter is ready to use.

Accessing and using multiple virtual COM ports

To be able to access and use the virtual serial COM port created by the drivers and Windows, you need to find out which COM port number has been assigned by Windows.
With the USB to Serial adapter connected to your computer you open Windows Device Manager and click on the "Ports (COM & LPT) tab. Under this tab the all COM ports in your computer will be listed. In the example below, COM port 25 is the virtual serial COM port for the USB to Serial adapter. The two other COM ports are native COM ports in this example.

If you right-click on the virtual RS232 COM port and click on Properties, you will be able to see the serial port's settings, and under Advanced you will be able to change the COM port number assigned to the USB to serial adapter. The COM port number can be any number between 1 and 255, as long as it's not already in use by the system.

Types and uses

As mentioned earlier, there are several types of USB to Serial adapters. Here are the overall categories / types:

• USB to Serial RS232 adapter

• USB to Serial RS485 adapter

• USB to Serial RS422 adapter

• Multi-port USB to Serial adapters

• Isolated USB to Serial adapters

• Industrial grade USB to Serial adapters

Obviously, a USB to Serial RS232 adapter is used for communicating with a RS232 serial device and a USB to RS485 / 422 adapter is used for communicating with a RS485 or RS422 device respectively. Adapters that combine all three interfaces into one adapter is also available, so you don't need three individual adapters if you have three different types of devices.

Multi-port adapters are USB to serial adapters which has more than one COM port. It can be for example two, four, six, eight, sixteen or even thirty-two COM ports in one adapter. The ports can be either the same type (RS232) or a combination of RS232, RS485 and RS422 ports.

Isolated USB to Serial adapters are designed not only to convert data but also to isolate the connected devices from each other. For example, if you want to isolate your computer from the connected serial device for safety reasons. Isolation makes sure that if there are voltage spikes, surges, ground-loops or other voltages that can damage either the computer or the device, then they are isolated from each other, which will protect at least one of the devices.

Serial Port Connectivity

Serial port connectivity refers to the ability of a device to communicate with a computer through a serial interface. Serial ports use a single wire to transmit data one bit at a time, making them a reliable choice for many industrial and commercial applications. USB to serial adapters provide a convenient way to connect serial devices to computers that do not have built-in serial ports, ensuring that older and specialized equipment can still be used with modern systems.

Choosing the Right Adapter

Choosing the right USB to serial adapter depends on several factors, including the type of serial device being connected, the operating system of the computer, and the desired level of performance. Some key considerations include:

• Compatibility: Ensure the adapter is compatible with the computer’s operating system and the serial device being connected.

• Speed: Choose an adapter that supports the desired baud rate and data transfer rate.

• Isolation: Consider an adapter with optical isolation to protect against voltage spikes and surges.

• Number of ports: Select an adapter with the required number of serial ports.

By taking these factors into account, users can select the most suitable USB to serial adapter for their specific needs, ensuring reliable and efficient communication between their computer and serial devices.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Common issues with USB to serial adapters include:

• Driver installation problems: Ensure the correct drivers are installed and updated.

• Connection issues: Check the adapter and serial device connections, and ensure the adapter is properly configured.

• Data transfer errors: Check the baud rate and data transfer rate settings, and ensure the adapter is properly configured.

• Compatibility issues: Ensure the adapter is compatible with the computer’s operating system and the serial device being connected.

By following these troubleshooting steps, users can quickly identify and resolve common issues with their USB to serial adapter, ensuring smooth and reliable operation.

RS232 - RS485 / RS422, Port-Powered WITH LED INDICATION LIGHTS

Now in stock, our new RS232 - RS485 / RS422 Port-Powered converter with LED indication lights for Power, TX and RX. This is usually only seen with externally powered converters. 

 Our skillful engineer has carefully re-designed the standard RS232 to RS485 / RS422 circuitry and been able to optimize the conversion circuitry and add indication lights powered by the internal communication lines using an amplifier. 

 Overall, this re-design makes the data conversion much more reliable and error-free, and makes the converter more user friendly due to the indication lights. The user can easily see when the converter has power and data is on the TX and RX lines. Very useful when troubleshooting or simply just to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Check it out on our website here:

https://www.usconverters.com/rs232-rs485-422-converter-adapter
 

How to connect a Blutronium serial to Bluetooth adapter to Raspberry Pi (or any other Linux distribution)

The following actions are performed in a console window on Raspberry Pi. The Blutronium serial to Bluetooth adapter is not attached physically to the Raspberry Pi, it is only connected to the Raspberry Pi over Bluetooth.

1. Edit the file /etc/systemd/system/dbus-org.bluez.service to configure the serial port profile. Issue the command:
   sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/dbus-org.bluez.service
   and add -C to the line ExecStart=/usr/lib/bluetooth/bluetoothd, and add the line ExecStartPost=/usr/bin/sdptool add SP, so that we end up with:
   ExecStart=/usr/lib/bluetooth/bluetoothd -C
   ExecStartPost=/usr/bin/sdptool add SP
   in the file. Write the file out (CTRL-O) and exit the editor (CTRL-X). Reboot the computer.
   
   
2. Using the bluetoothctl utility, pair and trust the Blutronium device. Note that the device is seen as one device, not two. Take note of the Bluetooth address of the Blutronium, which will be needed in the next step.
   
   
3. Perform the following command, and leave it running it its own console window:
   sudo rfcomm connect 0 <bdaddr>
   where <bdaddr> must be replaced by the Bluetooth address of the Blutronium seen in step 2 above.
   
   
4. At this point, any terminal emulator or other serial-port-capable program that can be configured to talk with /dev/rfcomm0 will be able to communicate with the Blutronium device attached to the other computer.
   You can use Putty or Minicom on the Raspberry Pi to talk to the computer attached to the Blutronium device.

Check it out on our website:

http://www.usconverters.com/connect-blutronium-serial-Bluetooth-adapter-to-linux-raspberry-pi

New Serial WiFi Adapter with lots of features.

When communicating wireless with a serial device (RS232, RS485 or RS422), using Wi-Fi is a popular and easy way of doing it. The reason it has gained in popularity is that it is reliable, easy to set up and often the infrastructure is already existing at most locations. The days with pulling cables for serial devices are over :-)

Years ago the serial to WiFi adapters that were available had limited functions, limited communication range and were kind of unreliable in general. Most of the new serial Wi-Fi adapters available on the market today have so many functions and features that they will work with most serial devices and applications. The Wi-Fi part of the adapter is in many cases as good, or better, as any other Wi-Fi device such as a WiFi router.

Here at U.S. Converters LLC we can now offer a new generation of serial Wi-Fi adapter, the USCHF2211:

It is an ideal solution for most devices and applications such as CNC program transfers and control (due to it's software flow control (XON/XOFF) feature), general industrial automation systems and most other communication needs.

Check it out at our website:

http://www.usconverters.com/rs232-serial-wifi-adapter

Connecting a CNC to a PC wireless over WiFi

This guide describes how to wireless connect a CNC machine to a PC using WiFi, thereby being able to send programs from the PC to the CNC machine.

To be able to send programs to your CNC machine over WiFi you will need to connect a Serial to WiFi Converter such as the WF5000B from U.S. Converters LLC to your CNC machine. This will allow you to communicate with your CNC from a PC for up to 300 feet. As in any regular WiFi network you can use signal repeaters/boosters or Access Points to extend the range.

Many CNC machines (Fadal, Mazak, Okuma, Haas, Mori Seiki and more) have a serial RS232 port connector; this is usually a female 25-pin connector or a female 9-pin connector (some CNC’s have male connectors instead of female connectors) as shown below:

If your CNC machine has a 9-pin female serial connector then you can connect the WF5000B directly to your CNC with a null modem 9-pin serial cable (included with the WF5000B).
If your CNC has a 25-pin female connector then you will need a 25-pin male to 9-pin female adapter to be able to connect it to the WF5000B:

If the 25-pin connector on the CNC is a male version then you will need a 25-pin female to 9-pin female adapter.

Here is an example of how to connect and mount the Serial WiFi adapter to a CNC lathe:

 

The Setup step by step

Start by connecting the WF5000B to your CNC’s serial port and also turn on the 5VDC power supply to the WF5000B (120VAC/5VDC power adapter is included with the WF5000B).

Once the WF5000B is connected to your CNC’s serial port you can check the CNC’s serial port settings on the user panel. Here is an example screenshot of the settings from a Haas CNC:

Write down the settings, you will need them later. In this example the settings are: 115200, none, 1, 8.

Now turn on the PC. We recommend that you use a PC which has its own WiFi card; if your PC does not have this then you can use a simple USB WiFi dongle to WiFi enable it:

We highly recommend a good quality USB WiFi dongle such as Cisco, Linksys, Asus, Belkin or similar.
Alternatively it is possible to communicate with the WF5000B through a wireless router. Please refer to the section called “How to connect the WF5000B using a wireless router”.

Now your PC needs to find the WF5000B on the wireless network and then you need to configure the WF5000B’s serial port parameters so they match the CNC’s port parameters. This is described below.

Connecting and accessing the parameters over WiFi

First connect to the WF5000B over WiFi using your operating system’s default wireless network manager. In this example we use Windows 7’s wireless manager:

Once your computer is connected successfully to the WF5000B you can open a web browser and enter the WF5000B’s IP address which by default is 10.10.100.254.

A login window will open. Enter the user name and password.
User: admin
Password: admin

The main menu will open from where you can access all the parameters:



In most cases you can keep all default settings except the serial port parameters.
Navigate to the “WiFi-Uart Setting” page and change the baud rate, data bits, parity and stop bits so they match your CNC’s port settings. Click the “Apply” button and reset the WF5000B on the “Device Management” page once you have changed the parameters:

How to create a virtual COM port

To create a virtual COM port in Windows which your CNC software can use to send programs through, you need to use a virtual COM port software. This software can be downloaded for free from www.usconverters.com. The software is called USR-VCOM.

Start the VCOM software and click the “Add COM” button:

Select which COM port number you want to create and set WF5000B’s IP address and port number:

The port will now be created:

Check in Windows Device Manager to see if the COM port has been successfully created:

Now you need to point your CNC software on your computer to the created virtual COM port and select the correct serial port parameters. The port parameters window looks different depending on which CNC software you use. Here is a screenshot of what it could look like (SurfCAM software):

You should now be ready to send programs wireless from your PC to your CNC machine over WiFi.
If for any reason you are unable to communicate or send programs at this point, we recommend troubleshooting by making a loop-back test as described below.

Connecting multiple CNC’s to one PC

The setup procedure for connecting multiple CNC machines to one PC is the same as for connecting one CNC machine to a PC.
One WF5000B must be connected to each CNC. Your PC’s WiFi will search and find each WF5000B. The virtual COM port software for the WF5000B will create a COM port for each WF5000B which your CNC software on the PC can use to send programs through.
Once each WF5000B is connected and setup the user would need to select the correct COM port in the CNC software on the PC to send a program to a specific CNC. Very easy and convenient.

 

How to connect the WF5000B using a wireless router

The setup looks like this:

First set the IP of your wireless connection to the same sub-net as the WF5000B, which is 10.10.100.xxx:

Connect to the WF5000B using an access point. In this example we use a wireless USB network adapter from TP-Link:

Open a web-browser and go to 10.10.100.254, and enter the credentials which is “admin” for both the user name and password:

Go to the “STA Interface Setting” page and click the “Search” button:

In this example the SSID is “Buffalo” and the encryption is AES with WPA2PSK authentication. Select the wireless router and click the “Apply” button:

Check that the wireless router settings are correct, enter the password and click the “Apply” button.

Do not go to the Device Management page and reset the unit yet.

Go to the Mode Selection page, select STA mode and click the “Apply” button.

Now go to the Device Management page and reset the unit.

Click the “Restart” button for the changes to take effect.

After the reboot is complete the “Ready” light will be steady on. If you have entered the correct network settings and password then the converter will now automatically join the network, and the “Link” light will be on.

To check/verify if the adapter has joined the network successfully you may be able to login to your wireless routers admin status page and see the converter:

Troubleshoot by making a loop-back test

To become familiar with the WF5000B or to troubleshoot if something is not working as expected, we recommend making a loop-back test. This will confirm if the WF5000B is working properly and the COM port has been successfully created in Windows.
Disconnect the WF5000B from the CNC’s serial port and carefully use a paper clip or similar to jump the RX (pin 2) and TX (pin 3) pins at the end of the included null modem cable and connect the cable to the WF5000B module’s DB9 connector.
Open AccessPort (can be downloaded for free from http://www.usconverters.com).

Configure AccessPort’s parameters to match the virtually created COM port (the COM port created by the VCOM software), in this example COM 2, and click the OK button:

The port will now open.

Enter a text string in the lower (send) window in AccessPort and click the AutoSend button. The characters should now be sent via virtual COM 2, over WiFi to the WF5000B module, out on the TX pin, back into the RX pin, back over WiFi, back into virtual COM port 2 and should appear in AccessPorts upper (receive) window.

If you remove the jumper at the end of the serial cable connected to the WF5000B the data flow should stop.

The WF5000B obviously should be connected over WiFi to your computer when performing this test.
Making this loopback test will confirm that the COM port has been successfully created and that the WF5000B can send and receive data, ensuring that the module has been setup correctly.

If you try to open the port but it is already in use or otherwise occupied by the operating system you will get the following error message from AccessPort. Using a different port is the easiest solution.

Connecting a CNC to a Computer wireless over WiFi

Windows 10 USB to Serial Adapter | U.S. Converters®

Windows 10 has already been announced by Microsoft, however rumors are that it won't be out until late 2015. Even it will take a while before Windows 10 hits the stores we at U.S. Converters are already working on a new USB to Serial adapter which will be fully compatible with Windows 10. The first adapter will be with a RS232 interface, which later will be followed by a USB to Serial adapter with a combined RS485 / RS422 interface. The adapters will be designed around the FT232RL processor chip from FTDI Semiconductors which is one of the most stable and high performance USB / UART processors on the market. The drivers for this chip are updated frequently to ensure compatibility and reliable performance at all times. Our current adapters are also designed around this chip so our customers can expect the new Windows 10 USB to Serial adapter to also work with all previous versions of Windows. So, one adapter for all versions of Windows! Nice..! Not to mention that it will also work with Linux and Mac. Ok, well that's all we can reveal for now. Until Windows 10 hits the stores we recommend one of our current USB to Serial adapters:

Windows Premium Grade adapter	Windows Professional Grade adapter

Controlling a Telescope from a PC over Bluetooth Using ASCOM

This guide describes how to connect a Celestron telescope mount to your computer over Bluetooth using ASCOM drivers which will allow you to control the telescope mount using standard astronomy software. Our test setup is based on a Celestron telescope GT Mount with NexStar+ hand control and the operating system is Windows 7 64-bit. This setup has been tested and confirmed working with the following: Software: Cartes du Ciel (ASCOM drivers) Starry Night Orion Special Edition astronomy software (ASCOM drivers) PHD2 astronomy software (ASCOM drivers) Stellarium astronomy software (not ASCOM drivers) Note: this setup will NOT work with Celestron NexRemote software Mounts: Celestron CGE Mount Celestron GT Mount Celestron SLT Mount Since most Celestron mounts mainly works the same way we expect that this setup will work with most (possibly all) Celestron mounts variations. Controller: NexStar+ hand control Celestron StarSense Auto Telescope Alignment Accessory

The Setup

The setup looks like this:

Read the full article here:
http://www.usconverters.com/controlling-telescope-PC-Bluetooth-ASCOM