Usb/serial port adapter for laptop datamaster

I just got a new laptop cause my old one took a crap. I installed datamaster on it. On the new compter there is no comp serial port to plug my cables in. So I bought a usb/serial adapter. Hook it up and run datamaster. Comp port 4 is high lighted. I go to test connection, and I'm getting a message that the it connecting to the adapter but not getting a signal from the ecm. The same if I try to record. I talked to a few people and they said they had the same resultes. Does anyone have or know of a fix for this?

This PCMCIA to RS 232 adapter will work with everything as it gives you a true comm port.
Those usb adapters work through timing to get the data into the laptop and that doesn't work for some of our programs.
I have one of these cards and it works with LT-1 Edit and Autotap.
Carputing recommends these for any laptop without a comm port.
Sometimes you can find different brand adapters on EBay for 50.00 or so but I haven't seen any lately.

http://www.superlogics.com/pcmcia-serial-cards/rs-232-card/ssp-100/49-952.htm

Here's a cheaper one

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3710&item=6750866704&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

O.k. I bough a different adapter and now it's giving me a message that "The ALDL adapter is working and unknow data was detected, this may be an unsupported PCM type." Does anyone know how to get around this or what is causing this? I did not have any of these problems with my old notebook. I need some help with this please.

Anyone have an answer for this?

Did your old notebook have windows 98? I just recently had a problem with windows xp. But i didn't get the same error you had. I'm new to this tuning by computer thing but thought maybe windows xp has issues.

Did your old notebook have windows 98? I just recently had a problem with windows xp. But i didn't get the same error you had. I'm new to this tuning by computer thing but thought maybe windows xp has issues.
Yep old note book was windows 98. New notebook is xp. I've heard of others getting it to work.

i am having hte same exact problem!!! Some one please help.

edit. also went from windows 98 to xp, and am also using a usb serial cable. i'm going to try to do it with a windows 98 laptop, through the usb. that should clear thigns up.. i'll post the result in like 10 minutes.

i am having hte same exact problem!!! Some one please help.

edit. also went from windows 98 to xp, and am also using a usb serial cable. i'm going to try to do it with a windows 98 laptop, through the usb. that should clear thigns up.. i'll post the result in like 10 minutes.

No results?

I have a cable from AKM w/ a usb adaptor and it did not work either. It realized it was connected but wouldn't get any information. I looked this topic up on here and alot of people are saying the Belkin F5U103 is supposed to fix that and work. So I ordered one. I'm on Windows XP also. I hope that is not the problem otherwise I just wasted some more money :(

sorry, the other laptop has windows xp on it as well.

No results?

I have a cable from AKM w/ a usb adaptor and it did not work either. It realized it was connected but wouldn't get any information. I looked this topic up on here and alot of people are saying the Belkin F5U103 is supposed to fix that and work. So I ordered one. I'm on Windows XP also. I hope that is not the problem otherwise I just wasted some more money :(
I think thats the one madZ28 had said he used on his page. I'm going to get one to. Hopefully that will work.

I think thats the one madZ28 had said he used on his page. I'm going to get one to. Hopefully that will work.

Yeah. I got mine in the mail yesterday but the car is under the knife right now so I havn't got a chance to try it out. I'll post back up and let you know when the car is up and running again.

I'm going to bring the other one back to the store and order the other one tomorrow. It better work. I'll let you know .

oh man good luck

i bought a PCMIA for it, and i did something inthe settings to get it to work, i DONT remember what though... good luck...

i will be owned if i have to format this thing, cuz i lost the cd for the drivers for it, and forgot how to set it up

Here we go...I already went through this dilemna. First off if you are using a Belkin F5U103 usb to serial adaptor, its ok to use for datamaster or freescan, but do not use it on lt1edit or tunercat, because I lost connection while uploading a file with this adaptor, and many else have also, which will cause permanent damage to the PCM. I tried all other adaptors also, IOgear, and a different belkin, all with no luck. The Belkin F5U103 worked ok, but for no more than 1 minute, and it would freeze up and I would get a Blue fatal error screen. In datamaster, you have to go to setup and select "handshake" or something like that, and that will force the data interaction. I now purchased this PCMCIA card:

PCMCIA Serial Card (http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=520863)

This one works fine, perfect, no problems! Hope this helps guys. BTW I have a Belkin F5U103 adaptor for sale as well..

Thanks for the input. Thats a good price to for the card. I've got to bring that addapter back and pick up that pcmcia card. Thanks once again.

Here we go...I already went through this dilemna. First off if you are using a Belkin F5U103 usb to serial adaptor, its ok to use for datamaster or freescan, but do not use it on lt1edit or tunercat, because I lost connection while uploading a file with this adaptor, and many else have also, which will cause permanent damage to the PCM. I tried all other adaptors also, IOgear, and a different belkin, all with no luck. The Belkin F5U103 worked ok, but for no more than 1 minute, and it would freeze up and I would get a Blue fatal error screen. In datamaster, you have to go to setup and select "handshake" or something like that, and that will force the data interaction. I now purchased this PCMCIA card:

PCMCIA Serial Card (http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=520863)

This one works fine, perfect, no problems! Hope this helps guys. BTW I have a Belkin F5U103 adaptor for sale as well..

How's that card work? I looked it up on Google a bit. I see where the RS232 is at for the cable but where does the other end of the card plug into? Does it go onto the mother board of the computer? I'll search around a little more I guess. (Hopefully I can find them for cheaper then $130).

Every laptop has 2 PCMCIA slots on the side for various adaptors.

How's that card work? I looked it up on Google a bit. I see where the RS232 is at for the cable but where does the other end of the card plug into? Does it go onto the mother board of the computer? I'll search around a little more I guess. (Hopefully I can find them for cheaper then $130).

the card works great. The card slips into the PCMCIA port, and the other two cables are to hook up any two serial devices (i.e your cars cable)

the card works great. The card slips into the PCMCIA port, and the other two cables are to hook up any two serial devices (i.e your cars cable)

Thats what it looked like to me. Not to be ignorant, but for us computer illiterate folks, thats the same slot on the side that say a wireless card would go into? Thats what it looks likes to me, just can't find a web site that says that in dummy terms :(

Thanks again for the info. I'm glad I'm not at the LT1 edit yet and destroyed my PCM w/ that Belkin adaptor i bought.

Thats what it looked like to me. Not to be ignorant, but for us computer illiterate folks, thats the same slot on the side that say a wireless card would go into? Thats what it looks likes to me, just can't find a web site that says that in dummy terms :(

Thanks again for the info. I'm glad I'm not at the LT1 edit yet and destroyed my PCM w/ that Belkin adaptor i bought.

yes thats exactly where the card would plug into. Just pretend this card is your wireless card!

On some of these cards when you install it you may have to set the comm port depending on the brand.
Go to control panel, system,hardware, device manager.
Find the card in the tree and right click on it and go to properties. You may have to click on advanced or something else and find a box where you can set the comm port to 1 or 2-3,4 etc.

On some of these cards when you install it you may have to set the comm port depending on the brand.
Go to control panel, system,hardware, device manager.
Find the card in the tree and right click on it and go to properties. You may have to click on advanced or something else and find a box where you can set the comm port to 1 or 2-3,4 etc.

Great info. Thanks a lot!

Deenasty - Thanks for clearing things up

Just order a pcmcia card this morning. Hope it comes soon. Ordered it from CDW.

you should recieve it in about 2 days, they are very fast..

you should recieve it in about 2 days, they are very fast..
Cool! :cool: I have to do some scans.

Just got this serial card from cdw. I go to load this thing up, And then it gives me some bs message that the program does not support windows xp. Now I have to contact the company for a program that works with windows xp. This s#it is really pissing me off.

I don't have this brand of card but it says on their site it should work with xp.
Maybe you can find the right drivers here:

http://www.startech.com/ststore/ItemDetail.cfm?ProductID=CB2S650&tab=c&mt=

oh it does work with XP. I have it working with XP. Call their customer support if you need help, they are wonderful!

It gave me a message that pc card ox16cf950 has not passed windows logo testig to verify it's compatibiliy with windows xp. Should I run it anyway?

I don't have this brand of card but it says on their site it should work with xp.
Maybe you can find the right drivers here:

http://www.startech.com/ststore/ItemDetail.cfm?ProductID=CB2S650&tab=c&mt=
That's the card I have.

I've loaded lot's of software that said it wasn't windows certified.The instructions from the producer said to go ahead anyways.Not every company has the time/effort/cost to get microsoft's confirmation.
I'd go ahead and do it but maybe you could wait till Deenasty chimes in again as he has it working with xp already.
Or call the manufacturer tomorrow.
I don't think you can do any harm by going ahead anyways.

yes!!! Its in the installation manual!!!!

yes!!! Its in the installation manual!!!!
YEP it's in there. Dam I did'nt even see that. Thanks man !!!!

Yes, hit continue.

Here a bunch of other cards for those interested.

http://search.ebay.com/RS232-SERIAL-PORT-DB9-PCMCIA_W0QQsojsZ1QQfromZR40

Alright! Hooked everything up. Run the car. Run datamaster. Hit get vin . Get message. Unable to establish communications. #%@#* Alright hit test com. Once again get message. ALDL adapter working and unknow data was detected. This may be an unsupported PCM type. :eek: :confused: :confused:
What the #&$*!!!!
Does anyone have an answer for this . I'm back to square one.
NEED HELP !!!! ASAP.....

this is what you need to do:
right click on my computer, click on properties. Click the HARDWARE tab, and click on device manager. Double Click ports, and click the first port listed, but not ESP Printer port. After you double click that, click on the data rate tab. Then click DETECT CRYSTAL FREQUENCY. and your set!!!

In datamaster, make sure under the options tab, under advanced, that Disable CCM Handshake is checked... Please report back!

Thanks I'll try that. I was not sure of what effect that would have, and I was getting really pised. I'll let you know how it goes. :cool:

i have been fighting with this damn thing for two days. Thank you deenasty It finally works. No is just wish i could have those hours of my life back.

Hey for all that effort you could buy something like this just for tuning and scanning your car.
I bought a similar older IBM 380Z 96mb 233 mhz 3.8 gig with ME.
It has a built in comm port for all our stuff and even has 1 usb port.
Cheap laptops can be found on ebay all the time.
I like the older IBMs as they have a nice rugged stiff case.
The PCMCIA cards work well and mine loaded fine on my newer XP toshiba without any problems like some have been having.
Some of the cards have fragile connections where the cable clips into the card so with them you have to be a little more careful than the ones with a rugged port right off the card.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=6758114874&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Hey you guys I just bought one of these PCMCIA to serial adapters from Hong Kong for £16.99 ($31) delivered it works with Windows XP for Freescan and Datamaster. it comes with installation CD all you do is plug it into you PCMCIA slot on your laptop, Windows XP says found new hardware put the CD in your drive and let windows find the software. It will then say your new hardware is ready to use. Oh ye it says somthing about the software it not signed by Microsoft just click continue anyway and your done.

In the UK they sell these adapters for £80 ($146 plus delivery)

Heres the link and he delivers worldwide

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=90717&item=5186154424&tc=photo

It's always nice when you can buy something for much less and it does the job just as well!

Well the one from cdw didn't work. A friend of mine said it's not going to work with windows xp home version. That I should upgrade to XP Pro.

Well the one from cdw didn't work. A friend of mine said it's not going to work with windows xp home version. That I should upgrade to XP Pro.

im running it and it works fine...did you do what I said above?

use have to have service pack 2 with xp home then use the steps above.

im running it and it works fine...did you do what I said above?
I've done it all. There's just something that I'm missing. I unloaded the datamaster program and I'm going to load it up again. When I have a chance. I'll try it again. Ran the datamaster just fine w/my cables on my friends laptop with comm serial port. So I know its not my cables.
Here's the message that I keep on getting when I do a com test.
ALDL adapter working and unknow data was detected. This may be an unsupported pcm type. When I do a get vin. I get a message of unable to establish commmunications.