They make USB to Serial converters that *should* `do the job' for you.
The reason I say *should* `do the job' is that some brands / models work with some apps and others won't. I've had friends who've had to try as many as 6 - 7 different ones before they found the `correct' one. The main reason for this is that not all of the converters `replicate' all the pins of the serial port. Quite a few of them only replicate 5`Ground' (SG), 3 `Transmit Data' (TD), and 2 `Receive Data' (RD). (The other `pins' are 1 `Data Carrier Detect' (DCD), 4 `Data Terminal Ready' (DTR), 6 `Data Set Ready' (DSR), 7 `Request To Send' (RTS), 8 `Clear To Send' (RTS), and 9 `Ring Indicator' (RI).) While *some* `data' cables for scanners don't use any more than the first three I mentioned there *are* others, the GRE cable for the PRO-92, 2067, 96, and the new 2096 is one that `springs to mind' immediately, that do. Obiviously if one has an actual DB9 to DB9 serial cable or DB9 to some proprietary connector cable they may also be using some of those other `pins', too. One way, though not always, one can tell if the converter converts USB to `true' serial is *if* they mention a `use' of power from the USB port and/or there are more than just 2/3, some of the *really cheap* units will use the `shell' of the connector for the ground which IMNSHO is *very* `sleazy' of them, pins available in the DB9 connector. Having said the preceding the best way, `still' / `unfortunately', to find out if it'll work is usually buying and then trying. Sometimes `ya gets lucky' and the first one you buy and try works, other times... {WAN GRIN!}
*Personally* *my* `opinion' is why the @#($$(($@ do they *not* supply *at least* COM 1 and COM 2 as *at least* DB9s!? I don't mind if they also supply a couple USB port, too. It's just that even with the `apparent' `push?' towards USB there is *still* a lot of things out there that uses, and in some cases actually *needs*, a `true' serial port. (Just *try* running a `real!' BBS with USB modems sometime, `fer instance'! [Yeah, there *might* be some software out there that *might* do so but, *if* one wants to use `quality' BBS software, IE: Like TBBS 2.3M[16] for example, a `full function' serial port is *necessary* since the software uses *all* the `pins' and what they `report'.])
Just an `Olde Fart's' 2¢ worth. {GRIN!}
