"PC Serial Interface" what am I missing?

[Weedo]

So I bought HP Tuner, brought the laptop out to the car, went to plug it into the laptop, and the Tuner cable is a "female" end, which is what my laptop has. Am I missing some parts? Shouldn't it be a "male" end to plug into the "female" end of my laptop?

FYI: I have a brand new Toshiba Satellite 3Ghz...

It just seems odd that the hardware I have doesn't just plug into the laptop.

Help! What am I missing (either physically or mentally)!! ;D

[Screamn03]

Serial is a male end, if you computer has a serial port it will be male. Sounds like you don't have a serial port on your laptop, instead you're looking at an external monitor port (or something similar to that). You either need to get a serial card to plug into the card slot on the laptop or get a serial to usb converter.

[Weedo]

Wow, thanks for the FAST reply! I guess I would have assumed this would have come with the HP Tuner package??? Seems odd that I have to go out and buy adapters. Must be the HPT hardware is only made for older laptops....

If the "serial" end is the "male" end. What is the "female" end called that comes with the hardware? Instead of a "serial to USB converter" won't I need a "female end to USB converter"?

Again, thanks for the help and quick response. I'll have to head to the computer store tomorrow.

[Screamn03]

Can't recommend any of these because I haven't used them myself but I've heard good things from others.

http://www.quatech.com/catalog/rs232_pcmcia.php
http://sewelldev.com/usbtoserial.asp
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=261218
http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/USA19HS/

I'm using a PCIMA-II serial card that I got at Fry's Electronics. It was about $125.00. I went that route because I've heard that some serial-usb adapters can have problems, not what I need when flashing my computer.

[Weedo]

I can't believe we're all dropping $500 for this and it doesn't come with adapters to work with any of the newer laptops. Does that make sense? Now we have to drop another $125 or so???

Sorry, venting... thanks for the links!

[Screamn03]

You don't have to spend the 125 for the card, most people just get the serial-usb adapter and it works fine.

The male end is the computer side, the female end is the cable side. The female cable plugs into the male end on the computer. That female thing you have on your computer is for something else, on my HP ZD7xxx series notebook it's for plugging in an external monitor.

As far as why it doesn't come with HPT I don't really know because I don't work for them, they would have to answer that one. I understand you frustration though having almost everything you need and not being able to use it because you need a stupid adapter. Don't worry, once you get it going it will be worth it. ;D

-Mike

[Screamn03]

[s]BTW: I believe this is the card I got:[/s]
http://shop1.outpost.com/product/191...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Correction:
This is the card I have which is made by SocketCom:
http://www.socketcom.com/product/SL0700-004.asp

[Weedo]

Yep, I'm sure that's for an external monitor.

So the adapter I'll buy will have a male end and a USB end. The male end of the adapter will plug into the female end of the HPT cable. Then the other end of this adapter is USB which I'll plug into the laptop.

Sound correct?

Oh, and cool on not having to spend $125...

[Screamn03]

That all sounds correct to me.

[Weedo]

Cool, have a good night! Time for a beer after all that hard work... ;D

[Screamn03]

You have a good night also, I'll have to hold off on the beer until Jan when I turn 21. I just put that in the IOM (I owe me) pile until then.
you-><-me Pepsi ;D

[Weedo]

LOL! Cool, I'll buy you a Pepsi!

[Scooter70]

I use the cheapie USB->serial that I bought at Best Buy (I don't recall the brand, but it's not Belkin). The only problem that I have is that it has a hard time (sometimes) connecting when I try to Flash. Once it connects, it never drops the connection. It's never given me any problems when connecting with Scanner.

YMMV,
Matt

[ozorowsky]

hey guys, I need the serial to usb converter, but which to get? according to manual, we start with female end, the plug male end into adapter, and then you get male adapter to male OBDII conn. I'm confused.

[corpsvette]

Hey Ozo,

Looks like you are just starting out like myself. I got the Keyspan 19HS and it seems to be working like a charm. I saw a few on Ebay I bid on but the price was way over with shipping. I went to pricewatch.com and goodle and found one with shipping for $32 but I don't remember the company now since I ordered it a while ago in anticpation of the software. Good luck.

[Magic_Chicken]

I got my Keyspan at CompUSA for $40.

[ozorowsky]

what is keyspan? I just need a female serial to usb adapter right?

[Magic_Chicken]

Keyspan is the company that makes the adapter.

This one works (for me).

http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...amp;pfp=SEARCH

[ozorowsky]

ok, will check into it. Hope it works. I was soooo disappointed. It came while I am at work, and I had my wife bring it to me. She got here, and I coulnd't connect it to my laptop. Going first thing tomorrow to see what best buy has.

[jamnut]

I'm running a Pcmcia to serial card in my laptop. Forgot the name brand, but it just ordered it off of newegg.com for like $50. I don't trust the usb to serial cables.