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Parallel port to Serial Port Adapter

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krazybob

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I just picked up an IBM Thinkpad in excellent condition. But missing is the serial port I was assured that it had.

Can I use a parallel port (M) to serial port (M) adapter plug to program Motorola mobiles and HT's? Any gotchas doing this?
 

KK4JUG

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A serial port transmits data one bit at a time. A parallel port transmit data 8 bits (1 byte) at a time so I seriously doubt it. It seems almost no computers come with serial ports anymore. It's all gone to USB
 

krazybob

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Understood and why I asked. Is there a USB-Serial adapter that works? It seems that each device has a different driver. Like software to program HT's of various brands uses one cable/driver and another cable requires a different driver. I've got an Astro Spectra mobile to program. A MSF5000. A couple of MT2000's. A couple XTS's HT's. Is there one USB-serial that works?
 

SCPD

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Motorola had reccomended the iogear usb to serial converter back during the xts beginning. I recall we used a few when we had a few machines missing a serial port during a switch over and never had a issue but it was short lived as we went to other directions. Of course it was using legit serial cables not any of the fly by night ones. But I have heard hams saying they never had a issue. You will need to make sure the drivers are installed correctly and assigned usb port. Not hard. But the iogear serial to usb I recall worked on the xts and xtl as a last resort Motorola had reccomended if no serial ports were available and you did not order the oem usb cable or had machines lacking serial and had oem serial cables around. However they did not reccomended any firmware or ibutton updates being thrown through the iogear. Only reading and writing of the codeplug basic data.

The model at time back then for the (xts and xtl) was the GUC232A. As for other brands or models never tried or they did not specify other then the xts xtl. Maybe someone else could chime on using other late models or brands they programmed using it. I sure wouldn't try a APX with it though. But that is my thought.
 
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krazybob

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Thank you both for your replies. I have a box of USB adapters, each with a different driver. This will make a nice programming PC that will replace the 386 with the tiny screen...

Let me ask, though. I have a the programming RIB that comes with an active parallel-to-serial adapter. It runs on 9v or an adapter. Would this work? Hell. my head hurts. I don't remember how to even plug into the MSF it's been so long. Total brain fade.

kawa-rib.jpg
 

KK4JUG

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That plug on the left looks like a printer port.
 

toolman60

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The cable that came with my 4008e rib was db 25 on the pc end so it should do just fine on the db25 on the thinkpad.
 

clbsquared

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The Astro Spectra and the MT2000 are the only radios you will need a RIB for that's in the list of radios you mentijned. The other radios will program straight from a USB to Serial converter connected to the programming cable. The RIB in the photo you posted is a Kawamall RIB and not an OEM RIB. And to answer your question, yes, serial to serial and the DB25 end to the radio.

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clbsquared

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If it's an Astro Spectra mid power it's the accessory connector. Which is a DB15 if I'm not mistaken. High power spectra are the DB25 to the right of the control head port and an Astro Spectra Plus is through the mic port

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clbsquared

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The more I think about it, I might be wrong on the direction of connectors on the RIB. I'll have to verify it in the morning when I have access to my RIB.

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krazybob

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LOL. Its OK. I can't remember either !!!

It's DB9 from the laptop to the RIB to the DB25 but I forget where it plugs in. The SSCB or the MRTI.

I have the test set and they plug into their respective RX and TX ports.
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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It is a parallel cable to a RJ45 that I think is underneath the faceplate.

s-l225.jpg
That cable requires a RIB box.

Motorola RIB always required a 9 or 25 pin RS232 to 15 pin custom cable. The 15 pin connector is on the PC side of the RIB box. The 25 pin connector is on the radio side.

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Thunderknight

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Just to eliminate any confusion that I think may be in this thread. SERIAL ports came in two flavors on the PC, a 9 pin (DB-9) and 25 pin (DB-25). Adapters between the two sizes were common. 25 pin serial fell out of favor and in the "later years" of serial ports most were 9 pin.
Parallel ports came in a 25 pin (DB-25) and 36 pin (Centronics). The 36 pin was usually on equipment like printers.
On the PC chassis, serial (9 or 25 pin) connector was normally a male connector, and parallel connector female.
Just because a device has a particular DB connector does NOT mean it is serial or parallel. DB connectors are used for a whole variety of interfaces. One can not assume a particular interface by the size or gender of the connector.
 

krazybob

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Thanks. 30 years building computers and its real helpful to know that. Now I wonder if anybody can answer the question as to whether or not there is a parallel to serial adapter that actually works.

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