Solve : RS232 port?

1.	Solve : RS232 port?
Answer» I have just bought new software for my laptop, it's for DIAGNOSTICS on cars. The software has been configured to use a rs232 (db9) socket on the laptop to conect to the OBD2 on the car, the only THING i have on my laptop is USB's and the 25pin printer port. Is there a way around this? many thanks.USB to Serial Port connector?I have got the computer conected to the car, its just when i go in to the program an try to comunicate with the car i get a dialog box comming up and asking whitch port i whant to use, i usually get a choice of three ports depending on the program, com1,com2 and COM3 there is nothing there about USB's. would it be possible to get a adapter for it to fit on the 25 pin printer port? and will it work?Regarding the software you bought: Does it have a webpage? Got any links you can post here? Is a shareware version downloadable? ...just on the outside chance that somebody might spot something in the config/docs/webpages about how to get your software to point at a USB port instead of a com port. Yes these are some of them: http://www.scantool.net/software/scantool.net/index.shtml http://www.auterraweb.com/dyforwi.htmlIf the software can be configured to use LPT1, you can purchase a parallell to serial converter. Windows has a built in feature that works for printers but I don't know if it would work for your software. It allows output to LPT1 to be redirected to a USB port.Quote Yes these are some of them: http://www.scantool.net/software/scantool.net/index.shtml Check out: http://www.scantool.net/products/index.php?cPath=5&osCsid=46f2e0ac3abe53f490ba1298b4ba4146 There are several cables on that page. See: http://www.scantool.net/products/product_info.php?cPath=5&products_id=23 It says: Quote USB to RS232 Converter P/N: 120701 USB to RS232 Converter Click to enlarge Quantity: $12.95 The USB to Serial converter allows ElmScan interfaces to be used with laptops that do not have a serial port. This product is based on the Prolific Technology PL-2303 USB to serial converter chip. For best results, be sure to download the latest drivers from the Prolific Technology website. I don't think they'd be selling the cable if it was not possible to use it with their software. I have not read every word there - maybe I'm mistaken. Quote http://www.auterraweb.com/dyforwi.html This looks to be commercial software only. I did see a place there where you can email them. If this is the software you bought, if it were me I'd expect a reply to an email inquiry. Have you emailed them and asked? Btw, the ScanTool software looks to be free. Thank you for mentioning it. I sort of WANTED to find free OBD software, and hadn't put much effort into looking around. If and when you get it working, would you mind posting again to let us know how it works, if you like it, etc., etc. ? If you learn of any other OBD free software out there, let us know too. Thanks. Also check out: http://www.scantool.net/products/product_info.php?cPath=8_6&products_id=32 Quote Description The compact and durable ElmScan 5 USB scan tool supports all OBD-II protocols, features automatic protocol detection, and ships with a number of compatible programs. It will install as a virtual COM port on any USB 1.0 compatible computer. I have bought the cable and software from different places,I will look in to this, i'll let you know what HAPPENS! Thanks for your help http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=USB+to+RS232+adapter There's 1,680,000 possibilities.

Answer»

I have just bought new software for my laptop, it's for DIAGNOSTICS on cars. The software has been configured to use a rs232 (db9) socket on the laptop to conect to the OBD2 on the car, the only THING i have on my laptop is USB's and the 25pin printer port. Is there a way around this?
many thanks.USB to Serial Port connector?I have got the computer conected to the car, its just when i go in to the program an try to comunicate with the car i get a dialog box comming up and asking whitch port i whant to use, i usually get a choice of three ports depending on the program, com1,com2 and COM3 there is nothing there about USB's. would it be possible to get a adapter for it to fit on the 25 pin printer port? and will it work?Regarding the software you bought:
Does it have a webpage? Got any links you can post here?

Is a shareware version downloadable?

...just on the outside chance that somebody might spot something in the config/docs/webpages about how to get your software to point at a USB port instead of a com port.
Yes these are some of them:

http://www.scantool.net/software/scantool.net/index.shtml

http://www.auterraweb.com/dyforwi.htmlIf the software can be configured to use LPT1, you can purchase a parallell to serial converter. Windows has a built in feature that works for printers but I don't know if it would work for your software. It allows output to LPT1 to be redirected to a USB port.Quote

Yes these are some of them:

http://www.scantool.net/software/scantool.net/index.shtml

Check out:
http://www.scantool.net/products/index.php?cPath=5&osCsid=46f2e0ac3abe53f490ba1298b4ba4146
There are several cables on that page.

See:
http://www.scantool.net/products/product_info.php?cPath=5&products_id=23
It says:
Quote

USB to RS232 Converter
P/N: 120701
USB to RS232 Converter
Click to enlarge
Quantity:
$12.95
The USB to Serial converter allows ElmScan interfaces to be used with laptops that do not have a serial port. This product is based on the Prolific Technology PL-2303 USB to serial converter chip. For best results, be sure to download the latest drivers from the Prolific Technology website.

I don't think they'd be selling the cable if it was not possible to use it with their software.
I have not read every word there - maybe I'm mistaken.

Quote

http://www.auterraweb.com/dyforwi.html

This looks to be commercial software only. I did see a place there where you can email them. If this is the software you bought, if it were me I'd expect a reply to an email inquiry.
Have you emailed them and asked?

Btw, the ScanTool software looks to be free. Thank you for mentioning it. I sort of WANTED to find free OBD software, and hadn't put much effort into looking around.
If and when you get it working, would you mind posting again to let us know how it works, if you like it, etc., etc. ?

If you learn of any other OBD free software out there, let us know too. Thanks.

Also check out:
http://www.scantool.net/products/product_info.php?cPath=8_6&products_id=32

Quote

Description

The compact and durable ElmScan 5 USB scan tool supports all OBD-II protocols, features automatic protocol detection, and ships with a number of compatible programs. It will install as a virtual COM port on any USB 1.0 compatible computer.

I have bought the cable and software from different places,I will look in to this, i'll let you know what HAPPENS!

Thanks for your help http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=USB+to+RS232+adapter

There's 1,680,000 possibilities.

Solve : RS232 port?

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