How can I add a DB9 serial port to a laptop?

Question

I have a device I need a 9 pin serial port to configure. How can I add this capability to my laptop?

score 8 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 11 '11 at 04:22

8

Use a USB Serial adapter. Something like this.

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edited Oct 11 '11 at 04:22

Gareth

19,080

answered Jul 30 '09 at 16:34

Kirill V. Lyadvinsky

5,315

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 30 '09 at 16:36

1

Alternatively depending on the age of your laptop there are PCMCIA to Serial adapters.

answered Jul 30 '09 at 16:36

Marko Carter

306

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 30 '09 at 16:37

1

You can get serial port cards that plug into an expresscard or PCMCIA slot. (e.g. this one)

answered Jul 30 '09 at 16:37

ConcernedOfTunbridgeWells

1,894

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 25 '10 at 05:10

I do not recommend using simple 1 port adapters. In my job I got lot o trouble using low quality one port USB Serial adapters. We now use RocketPort 4 port RS232 to USB. It's much more reliable and faster then these single port solutions based on FTDI chips.

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Jul 30 '09 at 16:36

0

A USB to Serial adapter like this one:

You did not mention an OS, but this one will work for windows and it is the best one I have found for OS X.

http://www.amazon.com/Keyspan-Speed-Serial-Adapter-USA-19HS/dp/B0000VYJRY

answered Jul 30 '09 at 16:36

Troggy

10,259

How can I add a DB9 serial port to a laptop?

5 Answers5