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Description of Serial connector needed

Serial port on PCs

Serial port on PCs

The serial port, which is considered a legacy connector, on PCs is a male connector, meaning you will need a female connector to plug into the PC.
 
Allen said:
The serial port, which is considered a legacy connector.
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Thanks, Allen. With that information I was able to tell the folks on the Commodore forum how to make an accessory to protect their computers against static.

When you said that that is a legacy connector, it made me wonder if there is any way to use an old style mouse with a modern computer. I seem to remembers seeing a nine pin serial to PS/2 connector adaptor. Do you think that that would work?

I want to build a "sleeper" system in an IBM PC/AT case (that is missing it's electronics - I won't destroy an AT to make this).

Thanks again,
Sean
 
Using serial ports on modern PCs

Using serial ports on modern PCs

Because USB ports have superseded serial, parallel, and PS/2 ports, these older ports are considered "legacy." Legacy meaning outdated computer hardware, but still functional. Many newer desktop PCs don't include these legacy ports, and I haven't seen a new notebook computer with such ports.

You can use the serial port on a modern computer as long as you have the right software (applications and drivers). I haven't used a serial port for 10 years, so I can't say how it can work with today's computers. Previously, I connected two PCs with serial ports using a null modem cable (9-pin female connectors on both ends of the cable). I did this to play deathmatches on Doom.

You mentioned "serial to PS/2 connector adaptor." I assume you mean connecting a PS/2 mouse to a serial port? Adapters are available both ways, but sometimes they don't work. Recently, I could not get a PS/2 mouse connected to a serial port (using an adaptor) to work in DOS. The mouse driver couldn't see a mouse on the serial port. It must have been a compatibility issue with the adaptor.

You shouldn't have any problems connecting a serial mouse to a serial port (without an adaptor) on today's computers.
 
Allen said:
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Recently, I could not get a PS/2 mouse connected to a serial port (using an adaptor) to work in DOS. The mouse driver couldn't see a mouse on the serial port. It must have been a compatibility issue with the adaptor.

You shouldn't have any problems connecting a serial mouse to a serial port (without an adaptor) on today's computers.
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Yes, AFAIK a serial mouse still works on a serial port (if your system has one).

But the PS/2 > Serial adapters only work with dual-mode mice such as many Logitechs; the normal adapters only convert the pinout but don't actually convert PS/2 signals to serial.

m
 
Allen said:
You mentioned "serial to PS/2 connector adaptor." I assume you mean connecting a PS/2 mouse to a serial port? Adapters are available both ways, but sometimes they don't work..
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What I had in mind was to use the original Microsoft mouse for the IBM PC, with a 25 pin serial connector, with a brand new computer.

Allen said:
You shouldn't have any problems connecting a serial mouse to a serial port (without an adaptor) on today's computers.
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I will ask the builder to include a serial port on the computer.

Thanks Allan and Mike,
Sean
 
I believe there are a bunch of serial to USB adapters, which implement RS232 in various degrees of portability. By the way, I used the serial port on my newish (2006) PC as late as last year, and has a serial cable waiting for any time I need to plug in my C2N232I.
 
I've seen both PCI and PCI Express serial port cards. So if you get a motherboard thats modern enough to not have any at all, its not that expensive to buy a card if you wanted the actual ports.
 
I was of the impression that you could only use an adaptor for USB to serial. Wouldn't the reverse require some sort of alteration to the BIOS ? Would older BIOS's even support that ?

If so that would solve a lot of problems of attaching a GPS receiver to my older LTs and Notepads, since the older serial GPS devices are becoming harder to come by, while USB GPS devices are plentiful.

Lawrence

carlsson said:
I believe there are a bunch of serial to USB adapters, which implement RS232 in various degrees of portability. By the way, I used the serial port on my newish (2006) PC as late as last year, and has a serial cable waiting for any time I need to plug in my C2N232I.
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Err, I meant that by using an adapter, you could in theory connect an old, serial device to a new computer only equipped with USB. Not the other way around. Actually, the level of compatibility varies from adapter to adapter I've heard.
 
Micom 2000 said:
I was of the impression that you could only use an adaptor for USB to serial. Wouldn't the reverse require some sort of alteration to the BIOS ? Would older BIOS's even support that ?

If so that would solve a lot of problems of attaching a GPS receiver to my older LTs and Notepads, since the older serial GPS devices are becoming harder to come by, while USB GPS devices are plentiful.

Lawrence
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PCMCIA?

m
 
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