usb vs serial cable

[attibow]

I just purchased a bc246t, and I want to hook it up to my pc but I don't have a hook up for a serial cable. Will a usb cable work the same as a serial cable?

 

[captclint]

I just purchased a bc246t, and I want to hook it up to my pc but I don't have a hook up for a serial cable. Will a usb cable work the same as a serial cable?

You have to get the right one: if you have a new PC or lap top, you will need a serial to USB converter from Uniden http://tinyurl.com/2cqyu4 or Radio Shack: http://tinyurl.com/2gpbsp . Another source is http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10311&cs_id=1031104&p_id=2276&seq=1&format=2, for quite a bit less. It is reported to work.

 

[35delivery]

I found that using a usb to serial adaptor and the Uniden serial cable supplied with the scanner to be the best solution. I use the Cablemax usb to serial adaptor. You can read about it and or purchase at

http://www.usbgear.com/computer_cable_details.cfm?sku=765288&cats=461&catid=199,601,461

At $23.89 it's rather expensive but it's drivers are very well documented and work flawlessly. It uses the FDTI FT232BM chip. Be sure to download the latest driver from the FDTI website at

http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

Use version 2.02.04 released July 3, 2007. It does support VISTA although I'm using it on XP. My actual setup is a 396T, Windows XP, and Uniden BCD396T UASD. It installed and worked perfectly the first time with no errors

 

[attibow]

Thanks for the info.

 

[VE3RADIO]

I got very lucky... i work in IT and we were throwing out some really decent older laptops.. p4 1.8 etc.. 1 gb ram.. with a serial port.. i was all over that trash!

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

Would this work for the BCT8 scanner as well? I have one arriving in the next couple of days, and being that my computer is only about 2 months old, it doesn't have a serial port, and from reading the owners manual I downloaded, it looks like it could be a pain in the butt to program by hand. ( btw, the computer is running vista )

I found that using a usb to serial adapter and the Uniden serial cable supplied with the scanner to be the best solution. I use the Cablemax usb to serial adapter. You can read about it and or purchase at

http://www.usbgear.com/computer_cable_details.cfm?sku=765288&cats=461&catid=199,601,461

At $23.89 it's rather expensive but it's drivers are very well documented and work flawlessly. It uses the FDTI FT232BM chip. Be sure to download the latest driver from the FDTI website at

http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

Use version 2.02.04 released July 3, 2007. It does support VISTA although I'm using it on XP. My actual setup is a 396T, Windows XP, and Uniden BCD396T UASD. It installed and worked perfectly the first time with no errors

 

[thewenk]

Would this work for the BCT8 scanner as well? I have one arriving in the next couple of days, and being that my computer is only about 2 months old, it doesn't have a serial port, and from reading the owners manual I downloaded, it looks like it could be a pain in the butt to program by hand. ( btw, the computer is running vista )

That cable will work with the BCT8. Also, here is a link to a USB/Serial cable that is cheaper and also has Vista driverss. I have one of these cables on order and should be here today or tomorrow.
http://www.byterunner.com/byterunner/product_name=Y-105/user-id=/password=/exchange=/exact_match=exact

Dave