Operating instructions

1892 1335 - Orion Radio Modem Operating Instructions - v2.9 / Aug 2009 85
APPENDIX D: SERIAL TO USB ADAPTOR
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 running the GUI to the Orion.
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 plugging the
adaptor into the host computer’s USB port, insert the installation disc into the PC’s 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 Command Centre PC and the Orion
With the USB Serial Port Adaptor plugged into the PC USB port, connect the cable from the
Orion serial port to the USB adaptor serial port, and turn the power supply on to the Orion.
Checking Correct Operation
Run the GUI. From the list of ports in the top left corner, select the number of the COM port
found in the previous procedure.
When the GUI sends data to the unit, the red LED on the adaptor flashes. When the unit
replies, the green LED on the adaptor flashes.
Provided this is so, the GUI can be used in the normal way described in this manual.
If the green LED fails to flash, this is probably because the GUI is not set to the same protocol
as the unit (default: 38400bps with no parity).