Serial connection

[Mountain Goat]

I rather urgently need a serial connection to my laptop (9 pin) to configure a webcam. The only thing which looks like a serial port has 15 pins (extra monitor?).

Is there any workaround or conversion path via USB?

Thanks.

MG

[e-richard]

Only solution I know is to try and buy a 10 year old laptop !

[Alan Knighting]

MG,

Forget your 15 pin serial plugs; they’re for RGB monitors and the like. Serial ports and parallel ports are things of the past.

If your webcam only has a serial port then you should refer your enquiry to the Victoria & Albert Museum.

The answer is - connect your webcam to a USB port. It’s called “plug-and-play�. If your hardware and your software are anything like up-to-date you simply plug it in and it will play (possibly after a bit of fiddling with the settings).

If “plug-and-play� doesn’t work you should go to the website of the webcam manufacturer and download the latest drivers, then “plug-and-play� will work.

Alan

[Mountain Goat]

Thanks, Alan. Unfortunately V & A couldn't help.

Amongst techies using a serial port doesn't seem to raise an eyebrow. It was just a workaround as the webcam can be configured via a browser on the 'net, but for some reason that doesn't work on the domestic network we are using. It's a solid bit of kit, and very different from the eBay cheapo we've had for a couple of years.

BTW, eRichard, there is a serial/USB converter, but obscure supplier.

Not quite ready to release the results to the masses, but will let you know when it's live.

MG

[Alan Knighting]

MG,

Sorry about that. As one who was brought up on RS-232 serial cabling I was trying to be a bit “modern�.

On a serious note, using a USB port I’ve never had any problems with setting up the “video-monitor� software supplied with Webcams.

Alan

[Mountain Goat]

USB? That's a bit advanced for this bit of gear.

Back to the reindeer lights - got to get our priorities right.

MG

[Alan Knighting]

MG,

That's a bit advanced for this bit of gear.

In which case go to the website of the webcam manufacturer and download the latest drivers.

Alan

[kevsboredagain]

You can buy USB/Serial convertors pretty cheap. Once had to get one to delete data from an old GPS device before selling it on eBay because I no longer had a PC with a serial port.