Serial to USB Work for Hotsync?

[HLxDrummer]

Hey guys,

I know this has been discussed a lot but everytime I search people are talking about how they can't read info from the ECU. What the heck? I thought the converter was used to connect the Palm to a computer?

My laptop has a female serial port (I think to connect to another monitor) and my hotsync cable also has a female connector. Would a serial to USB converter work fine for this application?

What are people doing that the converters won't connect to the ECU, trying to datalog from a laptop?

Thanks!

[StealthCRF]

Originally Posted by HLxDrummer

Hey guys,

I know this has been discussed a lot but everytime I search people are talking about how they can't read info from the ECU. What the heck? I thought the converter was used to connect the Palm to a computer?

My laptop has a female serial port (I think to connect to another monitor) and my hotsync cable also has a female connector. Would a serial to USB converter work fine for this application?

What are people doing that the converters won't connect to the ECU, trying to datalog from a laptop?

Thanks!

its an issue that comes up trying to log w/ a device that doesn't have a serial port and use a USB/Serial adapter. most adapters don't support the ECU's baud rate so only certain adapters may be used (certain model belkin or keyspans work great, the keyspan is vista compatible, the belkins are not)

[kylejw]

Theres a really good chance you're confusing a serial port with a VGA port here. If the port is for an external monitor, it will not fit a serial plug. If there are 3 rows of pins it's likely VGA, if there are 2 it's likely serial.

[HLxDrummer]

Ya, I have a VGA port (female/blue/3 rows) and no serial.

Stealth CRF: What do you mean by ECU? I assume the car's ECU but how come that would be an issue if the laptop is not communicating directly with the car's ECU (going through the Palm instead)? Basically, do people have issues connecting their Palms to the computers, or their car's ECU to the computers, or both?

Thanks a lot for your information, again I know it has been discussed but I don't get what the issue is and don't want to waste money figuring it out lol

[StealthCRF]

Originally Posted by HLxDrummer

Ya, I have a VGA port (female/blue/3 rows) and no serial.

Stealth CRF: What do you mean by ECU? I assume the car's ECU but how come that would be an issue if the laptop is not communicating directly with the car's ECU (going through the Palm instead)? Basically, do people have issues connecting their Palms to the computers, or their car's ECU to the computers, or both?

Thanks a lot for your information, again I know it has been discussed but I don't get what the issue is and don't want to waste money figuring it out lol

the problem I was explaining is when people try to connect the car to the computer that does not have a serial port. the usb to serial adapters don't work for the most part (usually they will connect but won't log data)

[HLxDrummer]

Originally Posted by StealthCRF

the problem I was explaining is when people try to connect the car to the computer that does not have a serial port. the usb to serial adapters don't work for the most part (usually they will connect but won't log data)

Alright, I gotcha Thanks for the help!