+dencor Posted February 12, 2004 Posted February 12, 2004 I would like to get a USB Serial adapter to use with my laptop, and Magellan Meriplat. I have seen prices from $112, to $29. Magellan has one for $42. I was wondering if any one works better than another, and what is a good source at a reasonable price. Thanks, Frank Quote
+kayakanimal Posted February 12, 2004 Posted February 12, 2004 I would like to get a USB Serial adapter to use with my laptop, and Magellan Meriplat.I have seen prices from $112, to $29. Magellan has one for $42. I was wondering if any one works better than another, and what is a good source at a reasonable price. Thanks, Frank I resell this one from USB Gear. Have resold over 500 of them They work GREAT! $33 Quote
+SandRaven Posted February 12, 2004 Posted February 12, 2004 I have a refurbished Belkin for $12 + S/H, works great with my garmin geko 201 and dell 1100 paste the link below as ONE line. http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage...oduct_Id=137355 specs: USB PDA Adapter (Refurbished) Part # F5U109rw This product has been restored to the exact original specifications by Belkin. This product comes with the same manufacturer warranty and technical support as new products. Refurbished items have been returned to us for various reasons: use in field tests, use in sales displays, and cancellations. They are then cleaned, quality checked and tested. Refurbished products are not available to resellers. Due to fluctuating supplies of refurbished parts, Belkin cannot guarantee the ship date for orders containing refurbished parts. You will be notified via email when your order is shipped. Handheld PC users like their info handy, within reach and easily accessible at all times. Keeping in touch with clients and remembering important meetings is vital.The Belkin USB Serial Adapter provides one DB9 Serial Port and is the easiest and most convenient way to connect your handheld personal digital assistant to your PC or Macintosh computer. Attach your PDA to your PC through USB. Transfer data or perform HotSync® functions quicker with Plug-and Play convenience. Eliminates need to attach, re-attach, and install your serial mouse. Advantages • Status LEDs monitor data transfer activity • Works with PalmPilot organizers and other popular handheld PDAs • Lifetime Warranty • Plug-and-Play simplicity: The DB9 Serial Port of the built-in device cable connects to the PDA and the USB connector connects to the computer. • Completely portable- weighs an astounding 1.8oz. • Built-in USB Device Cable • Compatible with Windows® Me, Windows® 98, Windows® 2000, Windows XP, and Mac® up to OS 9.xx • Compatible with any of the Wireless Belkin Internet Connection Kits Quote
+sk8rdi16 Posted February 12, 2004 Posted February 12, 2004 i have used a keyspan usb adapter. they make good stuff, and is mac compatible! pat Quote
+Volwrath Posted February 12, 2004 Posted February 12, 2004 Wouldnt it be better to get a USB SD Card reader? No slams please! *gulp* Quote
sheepdog43 Posted February 12, 2004 Posted February 12, 2004 Radio Shack has one that works as well. Though its about $40. Quote
sheepdog43 Posted February 12, 2004 Posted February 12, 2004 Wouldnt it be better to get a USB SD Card reader? No slams please! *gulp* You could for adding software, but with a serial adapter you can hook the GPS to your laptop for ther uses, such as in car navigation. Quote
+Renegade Knight Posted February 12, 2004 Posted February 12, 2004 I started looking today for the same reasons. No serial on my laptop. I found a different belkin. http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage...oduct_Id=139766 Which is the only one that I know of that does 5-bit FSK. Quite frankly I'm not sure that's important to a GPS or most legacy Serial Devices but it's important in the Ham Radio world where they actually use the entire ability of the Serial chip that controls the port. It's bulkier and so I'll probably go with the cable belkin. It would be nice to know if it also supports the 5-bit FSK. Quote
+JetSkier Posted February 12, 2004 Posted February 12, 2004 Wouldnt it be better to get a USB SD Card reader? No slams please! *gulp* Not a slam, but he'll still need a cable to upload/download waypoints. I got my cable at Best Buy for around $30 and it works great! JetSkier Quote
+mblitch Posted February 13, 2004 Posted February 13, 2004 I got one from CompUSA for about $29. They generally have them in their PDA section. Just get the least expensive one they have. Quote
+st_richardson Posted February 15, 2004 Posted February 15, 2004 I have seen prices from $112... Anyone trying to steal that much should be shot or at the very least have their cable wrapped around their neck. Was it gold plated? I don't remember what I paid for mine but take one of the suggestions above and keep the price under $40. Quote
+thesanctuary Posted February 16, 2004 Posted February 16, 2004 Has anybody tried these cables with Mapsource? Have you had any problems? Quote
EagleI Posted February 16, 2004 Posted February 16, 2004 (edited) I bought one on eBay for $4.55. Of course shipping was $9! Here's a current auction on the same cable. It works great with my MeriGreen/Mapsend Topo/Winbook/XP Pro. Edited February 16, 2004 by EagleI Quote
+2LuknF8 Posted February 17, 2004 Posted February 17, 2004 Why do I always find relevant info after I have ordered what I need? I need to hook my MeriColor to my iPAQ. SO I just paid the $40+ for what I need (I hope). The only comfort is that Magellan is pretty good about delivering what is needed when you need it. Ah, well, at least I can send it bask if it doesn't (+S/H)... Quote
PyreFlos Posted February 28, 2004 Posted February 28, 2004 Just out of curiousity, could any one point out how (or where to find info on) wiring one up yourself. I don't really care to buy a $60 serial to usb cable from Garmin & could probably put one together faster & cheaper than I could order one. - Pyre Flos Quote
+Cherokeecacher Posted February 28, 2004 Posted February 28, 2004 Wouldnt it be better to get a USB SD Card reader? No slams please! *gulp* You could for adding software, but with a serial adapter you can hook the GPS to your laptop for ther uses, such as in car navigation. Off topic a bit, but if someone can “markwell” this, that would be great. I did a search for “gps and laptop” and found nothing. How do you use a GPSr and laptop, together, for navigation? It would be great to use the larger screen, for the sake of my passenger/co-pilot’s eyesight. What, if any, additional software is needed? You know, everything that is needed. MeriGold w/firmware 5.xx Thanks in advance Quote
+MMAD Posted February 28, 2004 Posted February 28, 2004 A port replicator will work, a few more $ but fairly versitile. Dan Quote
sweetguy Posted February 28, 2004 Posted February 28, 2004 I tried the Belkin cable to connect my Garmin III GPS to my new laptop which lacks a serial port. The Belkin caused my laptop to freeze every time I attached it -- even after installing the included software. Anybody know of any other method to connect to a laptop without a serial port? Is there a PCMCIA card that provides a serial port? Wayne Quote
+IV_Warrior Posted February 28, 2004 Posted February 28, 2004 Off topic a bit, but if someone can “markwell” this, that would be great. I did a search for “gps and laptop” and found nothing. How do you use a GPSr and laptop, together, for navigation? It would be great to use the larger screen, for the sake of my passenger/co-pilot’s eyesight. What, if any, additional software is needed? You know, everything that is needed. MeriGold w/firmware 5.xx Thanks in advance Well, first you get a program like Microsoft Streets and Trips, Delorme Street Atlas or something like that, that'll accept input from your GPS. Then, if your laptop only has USB ports, you get a serial to USB cable, so you can hook your GPS to your laptop. Open the mapping program, and find the option for "GPS Tracking". It'll pop an icon on your screen showing your location. Since these programs do auto routing, you can input the address you want to head for, input your starting location, click the "get directions" type button, and follow the highlighted route. Quote
vagabond Posted February 29, 2004 Posted February 29, 2004 Just out of curiousity, could any one point out how (or where to find info on) wiring one up yourself. I don't really care to buy a $60 serial to usb cable from Garmin & could probably put one together faster & cheaper than I could order one.- Pyre Flos what you really need is the drivers, the cable is nothing. I have been using a SIIG unit for about 6 months and it works great paid under $30.00 for it with the drivers Quote
+GeckoGeek Posted February 29, 2004 Posted February 29, 2004 Just out of curiousity, could any one point out how (or where to find info on) wiring one up yourself. I don't really care to buy a $60 serial to usb cable from Garmin & could probably put one together faster & cheaper than I could order one.- Pyre Flos It's not that simple. You'd have to locate the custom chips that do the real grunt work of protocol translation. (It's not just a cable. The electronics are just compact enough to fit in the plug. And it's not just a level translator like many serial adapters.) You're better off buying a cheap one then trying to buil it yourself. Quote
+HappyFrog (& gang) Posted March 1, 2004 Posted March 1, 2004 Has anybody tried these cables with Mapsource? Have you had any problems? I use this cable with Mapsource and my Garmin Etex all the time. It works great. Quote
PyreFlos Posted March 1, 2004 Posted March 1, 2004 It's not that simple. ...It's not just a cable. I was afraid of that, some things you can cross-wire, some you can't. Thanks anyway. - PF Quote
sheepdog43 Posted March 1, 2004 Posted March 1, 2004 I tried the Belkin cable to connect my Garmin III GPS to my new laptop which lacks a serial port. The Belkin caused my laptop to freeze every time I attached it -- even after installing the included software. Anybody know of any other method to connect to a laptop without a serial port? Is there a PCMCIA card that provides a serial port? Wayne Mine defaults to the same I/O's as the touchpad. Start troubleshooting there. Everytime it recieves a co-ordinate from the GPS, the mouse cursor goes off the screen. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.