User guide

1892 1139 - RSX Range of Intelligent Modems User Guide - v7.1 / Nov 2007 31
APPENDIX: PCs WITHOUT RS232 SERIAL PORTS (COM PORTS)
Some laptops and PCs are no longer supplied with RS232 serial ports; in this case, a
USB-to-RS232 adaptor can be used to connect the PC to the serial port of your
equipment.
Wood & Douglas have tried a range of adaptors and recommend the EasySync
US232B/LC, which has been tested with Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
v Further information and a downloadable manual can be found at
www.easysync.co.uk/usbrs232_single.html.
Installing the Adaptor
The adaptor is supplied with printed instructions and an installation disc. Before you plug
the adaptor into the host computer’s USB port, insert the installation disc into its CD-ROM
drive, then follow the on-screen instructions for your version of Windows.
When the installation is complete, proceed as follows to find its COM port number:
1. Open the Control Panel (Start, Settings, Control Panel) and open the System control.
2. Select Hardware, Device Manager and expand the Ports (COM & LPT) folder.
3. Find the entry labelled “USB Serial Port (COM n)” and note the number n.
4. Close the Device Manager, System and Control Panel windows.
If there is no USB Serial Port (COM n) entry, remove and re-insert the adaptor in the USB
port. If this fails to clear the problem, uninstall the adaptor and repeat this section.
Connecting the PC to the Equipment.
With the USB Serial Port Adaptor plugged into the PC USB port, connect a serial cable
from the the equipment’s serial port to the adaptor serial port. Turn on the power to the
equipment.
Each time the PC sends information, the red LED on the adaptor flashes. When the
equipment replies, the green LED on the adaptor flashes.