Where's my serial port?

--->
> I have two label printers that use serial ports - but my new Vista HP
> Pavilion doesn't have any. Is there some connecting cord I can
> purchase to get the job done?

Here are some solutions:

http://www.moxa.com/land/USB_to_Serial_Hubs.htm?_kk=usb%20to%20serial&...=a3e93a

http://www.bestlinknetware.com/store-detail.asp?categoryID=15&subcategoryID=15

http://www.easysync-ltd.com/

Google is your friend.

Questor

On Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:15:36 -0500, whs <guest.DeleteThis@unknown-email.com>
wrote:

>
>Here is an explanation and a picture of a serial port. Look at your
>machine whether you have one of those. Usually they are present. 'Serial
>port - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia'
>(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_port)

Thanks - but I KNOW what a serial port looks like - and I don't have
one on my notebook.

On Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:14:54 -0400, Questor <Questor DeleteThis @minimoe.com>
wrote:

>--->
>> I have two label printers that use serial ports - but my new Vista HP
>> Pavilion doesn't have any. Is there some connecting cord I can
>> purchase to get the job done?
>
>Here are some solutions:
>
>http://www.moxa.com/land/USB_to_Serial_Hubs.htm?_kk=usb%20to%20serial&_kt=a3e93a3f-0ccb-4490-b238-7d5b8e98e32b&gclid=CJ-e0rmaxZ0CFRHxDAodYn_trw
>
>http://www.bestlinknetware.com/store-detail.asp?categoryID=15&subcategoryID=15
>
>http://www.easysync-ltd.com/
>
>Google is your friend.
>
>Questor
Thanks for the information.

"whs" <guest DeleteThis @unknown-email.com> wrote in message
news:e1c81a14333fc59be0b4e8b1889612f9@nntp-gateway.com...
>
> Here is an explanation and a picture of a serial port. Look at your
> machine whether you have one of those. Usually they are present.

Very few new machines come with a serial port these days. Some
have a header on the motherboard but no cable to the outside
of the case. You have to buy a header-to-DB-9 cable.

Tom Lake

"Tom Lake" <toml_12953.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ey$noV5TKHA.4364@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
> "whs" <guest.RemoveThis@unknown-email.com> wrote in message
> news:e1c81a14333fc59be0b4e8b1889612f9@nntp-gateway.com...
>>
>> Here is an explanation and a picture of a serial port. Look at your
>> machine whether you have one of those. Usually they are present.
>
> Very few new machines come with a serial port these days. Some
> have a header on the motherboard but no cable to the outside
> of the case. You have to buy a header-to-DB-9 cable.
>

In fact most laptops and netbooks these days DO come with a serial port -
for connecting projectors.

"Gordon" <gordonbparker RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:eF0T5H%23TKHA.4484@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>
> "Tom Lake" <toml_12953 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:ey$noV5TKHA.4364@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>
>> "whs" <guest RemoveThis @unknown-email.com> wrote in message
>> news:e1c81a14333fc59be0b4e8b1889612f9@nntp-gateway.com...
>>>
>>> Here is an explanation and a picture of a serial port. Look at your
>>> machine whether you have one of those. Usually they are present.
>>
>> Very few new machines come with a serial port these days. Some
>> have a header on the motherboard but no cable to the outside
>> of the case. You have to buy a header-to-DB-9 cable.
>>
>
> In fact most laptops and netbooks these days DO come with a serial port -
> for connecting projectors.
>
>
Of the last 6 notebooks I've had (personal and business), only one of them
had a serial port. Of the 8 or 9 projectors I've worked with, none used a
serial port to connect to a notebook; they all used either a VGA port or
composite video.

SC Tom

On Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:58:48 +0100, "Gordon" <gordonbparker.DeleteThis@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>
> "Tom Lake" <toml_12953.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:ey$noV5TKHA.4364@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> >
> > "whs" <guest.DeleteThis@unknown-email.com> wrote in message
> > news:e1c81a14333fc59be0b4e8b1889612f9@nntp-gateway.com...
> >>
> >> Here is an explanation and a picture of a serial port. Look at your
> >> machine whether you have one of those. Usually they are present.
> >
> > Very few new machines come with a serial port these days. Some
> > have a header on the motherboard but no cable to the outside
> > of the case. You have to buy a header-to-DB-9 cable.
> >
>
> In fact most laptops and netbooks these days DO come with a serial port -
> for connecting projectors.



No, that's not a serial port. It's a video port, for connecting a
projector or external monitor.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

On Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:50:45 -0400, "Tom Lake" <toml_12953.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>
>"whs" <guest.TakeThisOut@unknown-email.com> wrote in message
>news:e1c81a14333fc59be0b4e8b1889612f9@nntp-gateway.com...
>>
>> Here is an explanation and a picture of a serial port. Look at your
>> machine whether you have one of those. Usually they are present.
>
>Very few new machines come with a serial port these days. Some
>have a header on the motherboard but no cable to the outside
>of the case. You have to buy a header-to-DB-9 cable.
>
>Tom Lake

Thanks. So if I buy this cable, where, on my notebook, do I plug it
in?

--->
> On Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:50:45 -0400, "Tom Lake" <toml_12953.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> "whs" <guest.TakeThisOut@unknown-email.com> wrote in message
>> news:e1c81a14333fc59be0b4e8b1889612f9@nntp-gateway.com...
>>> Here is an explanation and a picture of a serial port. Look at your
>>> machine whether you have one of those. Usually they are present.
>> Very few new machines come with a serial port these days. Some
>> have a header on the motherboard but no cable to the outside
>> of the case. You have to buy a header-to-DB-9 cable.
>>
>> Tom Lake
>
> Thanks. So if I buy this cable, where, on my notebook, do I plug it
> in?

I don't think you really want the answer: on the notebook motherboard.

This would mean you have to open the case and search for a header that
may (or may not) be there. I think Tom was thinking desktop. I peeked
into my desktop and did indeed find a header marked COM1. It was a
10-pin DIP header (two rows of 5 pins).

I doubt very much if you would find one on your notebook motherboard
even if you opened it up.

I'd still go with a USB to COM cable.

Questor

On Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:13:50 -0400, Questor <Questor.DeleteThis@minimoe.com>
wrote:

>--->
>> On Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:50:45 -0400, "Tom Lake" <toml_12953.DeleteThis@hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> "whs" <guest.DeleteThis@unknown-email.com> wrote in message
>>> news:e1c81a14333fc59be0b4e8b1889612f9@nntp-gateway.com...
>>>> Here is an explanation and a picture of a serial port. Look at your
>>>> machine whether you have one of those. Usually they are present.
>>> Very few new machines come with a serial port these days. Some
>>> have a header on the motherboard but no cable to the outside
>>> of the case. You have to buy a header-to-DB-9 cable.
>>>
>>> Tom Lake
>>
>> Thanks. So if I buy this cable, where, on my notebook, do I plug it
>> in?
>
>I don't think you really want the answer: on the notebook motherboard.
>
>This would mean you have to open the case and search for a header that
>may (or may not) be there. I think Tom was thinking desktop. I peeked
>into my desktop and did indeed find a header marked COM1. It was a
>10-pin DIP header (two rows of 5 pins).
>
>I doubt very much if you would find one on your notebook motherboard
>even if you opened it up.
>
>I'd still go with a USB to COM cable.
>
>Questor

Thanks. I understand USB - but what kind of port does a COM cable plug
into? It sounds like a stupid question but I never ran into this
before. I have these two label makers that I don't want to replace
with newer ones just because of the Serial port they require.

<rmo555.TakeThisOut@cox.net> wrote in message
news:77kpd59vc89l3jlgsndmu7ugkje5tpui4o@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:13:50 -0400, Questor <Questor.TakeThisOut@minimoe.com>
> wrote:
>
>>--->
>>> On Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:50:45 -0400, "Tom Lake" <toml_12953.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> "whs" <guest.TakeThisOut@unknown-email.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:e1c81a14333fc59be0b4e8b1889612f9@nntp-gateway.com...
>>>>> Here is an explanation and a picture of a serial port. Look at your
>>>>> machine whether you have one of those. Usually they are present.
>>>> Very few new machines come with a serial port these days. Some
>>>> have a header on the motherboard but no cable to the outside
>>>> of the case. You have to buy a header-to-DB-9 cable.
>>>>
>>>> Tom Lake
>>>
>>> Thanks. So if I buy this cable, where, on my notebook, do I plug it
>>> in?
>>
>>I don't think you really want the answer: on the notebook motherboard.
>>
>>This would mean you have to open the case and search for a header that
>>may (or may not) be there. I think Tom was thinking desktop. I peeked
>>into my desktop and did indeed find a header marked COM1. It was a
>>10-pin DIP header (two rows of 5 pins).
>>
>>I doubt very much if you would find one on your notebook motherboard
>>even if you opened it up.
>>
>>I'd still go with a USB to COM cable.
>>
>>Questor
>
> Thanks. I understand USB - but what kind of port does a COM cable plug
> into? It sounds like a stupid question but I never ran into this
> before. I have these two label makers that I don't want to replace
> with newer ones just because of the Serial port they require.

A COM cable is a serial cable. The converter allows you to plug your serial
cable(s) from the printer(s) to a USB port on your notebook. There are
drivers that allow Windows to see them as serial ports, thus allowing you
printers to work. We had to do a similar conversion on our UPS station at
work with a serial label printer (until UPS finally sent us a USB label
printer).

SC Tom

On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:00:02 -0400, "SC Tom" <sc.TakeThisOut@tom.net> wrote:

>
><rmo555.TakeThisOut@cox.net> wrote in message
>news:77kpd59vc89l3jlgsndmu7ugkje5tpui4o@4ax.com...
>> On Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:13:50 -0400, Questor <Questor.TakeThisOut@minimoe.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>--->
>>>> On Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:50:45 -0400, "Tom Lake" <toml_12953.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> "whs" <guest.TakeThisOut@unknown-email.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:e1c81a14333fc59be0b4e8b1889612f9@nntp-gateway.com...
>>>>>> Here is an explanation and a picture of a serial port. Look at your
>>>>>> machine whether you have one of those. Usually they are present.
>>>>> Very few new machines come with a serial port these days. Some
>>>>> have a header on the motherboard but no cable to the outside
>>>>> of the case. You have to buy a header-to-DB-9 cable.
>>>>>
>>>>> Tom Lake
>>>>
>>>> Thanks. So if I buy this cable, where, on my notebook, do I plug it
>>>> in?
>>>
>>>I don't think you really want the answer: on the notebook motherboard.
>>>
>>>This would mean you have to open the case and search for a header that
>>>may (or may not) be there. I think Tom was thinking desktop. I peeked
>>>into my desktop and did indeed find a header marked COM1. It was a
>>>10-pin DIP header (two rows of 5 pins).
>>>
>>>I doubt very much if you would find one on your notebook motherboard
>>>even if you opened it up.
>>>
>>>I'd still go with a USB to COM cable.
>>>
>>>Questor
>>
>> Thanks. I understand USB - but what kind of port does a COM cable plug
>> into? It sounds like a stupid question but I never ran into this
>> before. I have these two label makers that I don't want to replace
>> with newer ones just because of the Serial port they require.
>
>A COM cable is a serial cable. The converter allows you to plug your serial
>cable(s) from the printer(s) to a USB port on your notebook. There are
>drivers that allow Windows to see them as serial ports, thus allowing you
>printers to work. We had to do a similar conversion on our UPS station at
>work with a serial label printer (until UPS finally sent us a USB label
>printer).
>
>SC Tom


Is a COM port also referred to as RS232? I looked these adapters up on
Google and I want to be sure I have the right item.

--->
> On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:00:02 -0400, "SC Tom" <sc RemoveThis @tom.net> wrote:
>
>> <rmo555 RemoveThis @cox.net> wrote in message
>> news:77kpd59vc89l3jlgsndmu7ugkje5tpui4o@4ax.com...
>>> On Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:13:50 -0400, Questor <Questor RemoveThis @minimoe.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> --->
>>>>> On Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:50:45 -0400, "Tom Lake" <toml_12953 RemoveThis @hotmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> "whs" <guest RemoveThis @unknown-email.com> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:e1c81a14333fc59be0b4e8b1889612f9@nntp-gateway.com...
>>>>>>> Here is an explanation and a picture of a serial port. Look at your
>>>>>>> machine whether you have one of those. Usually they are present.
>>>>>> Very few new machines come with a serial port these days. Some
>>>>>> have a header on the motherboard but no cable to the outside
>>>>>> of the case. You have to buy a header-to-DB-9 cable.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Tom Lake
>>>>> Thanks. So if I buy this cable, where, on my notebook, do I plug it
>>>>> in?
>>>> I don't think you really want the answer: on the notebook motherboard.
>>>>
>>>> This would mean you have to open the case and search for a header that
>>>> may (or may not) be there. I think Tom was thinking desktop. I peeked
>>>> into my desktop and did indeed find a header marked COM1. It was a
>>>> 10-pin DIP header (two rows of 5 pins).
>>>>
>>>> I doubt very much if you would find one on your notebook motherboard
>>>> even if you opened it up.
>>>>
>>>> I'd still go with a USB to COM cable.
>>>>
>>>> Questor
>>> Thanks. I understand USB - but what kind of port does a COM cable plug
>>> into? It sounds like a stupid question but I never ran into this
>>> before. I have these two label makers that I don't want to replace
>>> with newer ones just because of the Serial port they require.
>> A COM cable is a serial cable. The converter allows you to plug your serial
>> cable(s) from the printer(s) to a USB port on your notebook. There are
>> drivers that allow Windows to see them as serial ports, thus allowing you
>> printers to work. We had to do a similar conversion on our UPS station at
>> work with a serial label printer (until UPS finally sent us a USB label
>> printer).
>>
>> SC Tom
>
>
> Is a COM port also referred to as RS232? I looked these adapters up on
> Google and I want to be sure I have the right item.

Yes

Questor