My new laptop does not have a serial port. I tried a USB serial adapter and that would not connect to the odb1 pcm. Is there a certain PCMCIA to serial card that works well?

Hal

 

There are only a few USB to serial adapters that will work. Instead of getting a PCMCIA card (any should work) why not just get a USB adapter that works?

I got the Keyspan usa19hs from amazon for under $30. Works great for everything.

 

Thanks Mike but I already ordered a pcmcia card off ebay for under $11. I'll report back if it works or not. I did read here somewhere that the usb does not always work and it could screw up the pcm if it fails at the wrong time.

Hal

 

It should work just fine.
I've probably done 100+ writes on 10 or so cars with my homemade cable using that USB adapter, and I've never had any issues.

 

Oddly enough the pcmcia serial adapter worked for Tunercat but not Freescan or Datamaster. I think it's an address issue because the addresses are wrong (FD0F... which is not correct). I guess I'll have to check out that Keyspan usa19hs.

Hal

 

Are you using one of AKMcables boxes? If so, he has a suggestion for a pcmcia to serial card that does work, on his site

 

Yes, I am using a AKMcable. Just tried a Belkins USB to Serial which didn't work. I can't seem to find the link you are referring to?


Hal

 

http://www.akmcables.com/trade-up.htm

bottom half of the page,

"For USB to RS232, I've had the most success with the Belkin F5U103 adapter. There are a lot of adapters that DO NOT WORK. For example, the Belkin F5U109/409 adapters - they are based on a different chip set - and they do not work. The ones from Radio Shack do not work. I've heard the Keyspan units work. I'd try to stick with the Belkin F5U103 if at all possible if you go this route. They can be found on ebay. "

 

Thanks! I was on the wrong site, another that sold AKM Cables.

I;m going with the Keyspan 19HS that others have mentioned worked. I could only find one of the Belkins for sale and from what I read it can cause a lot of problems. I'll post back if it works. I decided against exchanging my serial cable for the USB because they don't work as well for TunerCat.

Hal

 

I sold my serial cable and bought one of the AKM usb boxes. Works fine for me. Compaq with XP and a new HP with Vista. I run TC, Datamaster and a Dynojet wideband

 

I thought I read about people locking their PCM when downloading Tunercat files even with the AKM USB port sometimes?

Hal

 

I always do a read before re-flashing the pcm, just to make sure. But I always did that with the serial cable too.

 

Well I got the Keyspan 19HS and it stopped working with Freescan when I hit WOT (wtf?). I then used a pcmcia serial adapter that didn't work before and now it can record full Freescan passes no problem (again, wtf?). So maybe it's just the drivers that Keyspan installs that makes the serial port adapters work better? I'll be trying Datamaster once I set up a little more with Freescan (only got so many free Datamaster trys left). I'll report back how that works with the adapters.

Hal

 

Hal, you have a PM

 

Did you install their virtual com port drivers? Does it do it EVERY time you go WOT? or do you just have a loose wire lol