APPNOTE: Using a USB to serial converter with a Ranger Logger

APPNOTE: Using a USB to serial converter with a Ranger Logger.

Last reviewed: April 29, 2008
Article ID: 041130sab

The information in this article applies to:

Pronto for Windows all releases.

Target Audience.

This Article is aimed at:

All Pronto Users.

Communication between a computer and most Ranger or Power Master Data Loggers is over an RS232 link. However some modern laptops do not provide an RS232 port, providing multiple USB ports instead. A USB to serial converter can be used to allow communication. This application note details those serial to USB convertors that have been tested and found to work with Ranger Data Loggers.

Before you start

The System must be running Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 or XP.
Pronto for Windows must be release 5.20 or later.

Selecting a USB to Serial converter.

There are many manufacturers of USB to Serial converters, however there are only a couple of different integrated circuits ( ICs ) available for all these manufacturers. To date only three different ICs have been found in all converters tested, these are listed below.

Converter 1:

Interface chip: PROLIFIC PL2303.

Driver revision XP: 2.7.0.0 (July 2003).

Driver revision 9x: 1.5.0.0 (May 2002).

Correct operation with Ranger 2 and its derivatives on Windows 2000/XP and Windows 9x/ME.

Converter 2:

Interface chip: FTDI FT232

Driver revision XP: 2.2.4.0 (June 2007).

Correct operation with Ranger 2 and its derivatives on Windows 2000/XP.

Previous Driver revision 1.00.2176.0 (Dec 2005) and Driver revision 1.00.2134 (July 2003).

Causes Pronto to hang intermittently on windows XP, but appears to work correctly if unplugged from USB cable between download of each Logger.

Convertor 3:

Interface chip: Magic Component Technology Corp.

Device tested: Belkin F5U109.

Driver revision XP: 1.09.

Results: runs for a few minutes then stops responding.

Recommendations.

It is recommended that you use an converter that uses the Prolific USB to serial converter IC.
Ensure that you are using the most up to date drivers. The Prolific drivers are available here. We have found that converter vendors web sites and the CD ROM's shipped with the converter are not always up to date.

Some recommended USB to Serial converters.

All the converters below are known to use the Prolific IC and work correctly with Pronto and Ranger Loggers.

	IOGEAR GUC232A USB 9 Pin Serial Adapter. Available in US from www.amazon.com
	Unbranded Serial to USB convertor. Available in US from www.sewelldev.com/USBtoSerial.asp
	Branded Radio Shack, Catalog #: 26-183 Available in US from http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=26-183
	Branded Deluo Available in US from http://www.deluo.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=DE&Product_Code=USB2S&Category_Code=USBC
	Unbranded Available in UK from http://www.revealcable.co.uk/Large/1600/aa_1657/aa_1657.htm Or from www.cpc.co.uk order code CS0948966
	also available retail boxed as follows: Available in UK from www.cpc.co.uk order code CS0749666
	Branded as Expansys Available in UK from http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=USB-SERIAL-CONV Order code 101609

Known Issues with USB to SerialConverters.

1) Unreliable communications after COM port number changed using in Windows Device Manager.

If the Port number is changed manually in the Windows Device Manger to (for example) COM1 from COM9, then communication can become unreliable.
It is recommended that you avoid using the COM numbers COM1, COM2 or COM3 for a USB to Serial converter if changing the Port number manually.

2) Unreliable communication at 230400 baud.

The Prolific USB to serial converter allows selection of 230400 baud, however some manufacturers devices distort the output data waveform and communication is unreliable.
The solution is straight-forward: Select a baud rate of 115200 instead.

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