I'm switching over to a new laptop and, as with most laptops these days, it has no serial (DB-9) ports. In trying to run my 1999 Capn charting software, it only knows to look for the COM 1 port (the serial port) while I can only offer it 1 of 3 USB ports. The Capn website does not address this issue and their BB files holding user commments are being changed over, and not available. Surely someone has stumbled onto this before me. How do you reconfigure older Capn software to look to a different port? Many thanks... Jack
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Bill Bell
USB to Serial Converter
You could get a USB to Serial Converter for about $25 to $30. It then would give a COM port to connect your GPS to. Search the WEB for USB Serial Converter. Bill
You could get a USB to Serial Converter for about $25 to $30. It then would give a COM port to connect your GPS to. Search the WEB for USB Serial Converter. Bill
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Jack Tyler
No, Bill...not that simple...
The issue I'm asking about is not the mechanical interface - I have 3 serial/USB adapters! - but rather the addressing of the chosen USB port so it is seen by the software. E.g. our Ham email program allows us choose from within that program a COM port and then we search around until we can figure out which USB port relates to what that software thinks is that COM Port. In the Capn, they seem to make an unalterable assumption that there is always a serial COM 1 port - no settings within the software to see that, change it, etc. Or at least, that's what my search tells me so far. The current Capn website offers a way to redefine the port to which the software looks (by doing it within Windows Explorer in their GPS.INI file vs. within the Capn software) but unfortunately that file is not present in the earlier versions of Capn like my 1999 version. Jack
The issue I'm asking about is not the mechanical interface - I have 3 serial/USB adapters! - but rather the addressing of the chosen USB port so it is seen by the software. E.g. our Ham email program allows us choose from within that program a COM port and then we search around until we can figure out which USB port relates to what that software thinks is that COM Port. In the Capn, they seem to make an unalterable assumption that there is always a serial COM 1 port - no settings within the software to see that, change it, etc. Or at least, that's what my search tells me so far. The current Capn website offers a way to redefine the port to which the software looks (by doing it within Windows Explorer in their GPS.INI file vs. within the Capn software) but unfortunately that file is not present in the earlier versions of Capn like my 1999 version. Jack
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Debra B
do they have an upgrade path?
or do you have to buy new? Most SW vendors let you upgrade for a nominal fee. Given the new features, and bug-fixes it may be worth it.
or do you have to buy new? Most SW vendors let you upgrade for a nominal fee. Given the new features, and bug-fixes it may be worth it.
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Hannah
been there, done that
Had the same problem trying to connect my gps and my Pactor 2 modem to my Compaq laptop. Since you only have one serial port to connect the cheapest solution is to go to Best Buy and they have a serial to usb converter. It's about $49 and worked just fine. I found by process of elimination that it put me on Com 4 but yours could vary. It took awhile but when I finally got all the lingo straight it works like a champ. Let me know if I can help more. Hannah
Had the same problem trying to connect my gps and my Pactor 2 modem to my Compaq laptop. Since you only have one serial port to connect the cheapest solution is to go to Best Buy and they have a serial to usb converter. It's about $49 and worked just fine. I found by process of elimination that it put me on Com 4 but yours could vary. It took awhile but when I finally got all the lingo straight it works like a champ. Let me know if I can help more. Hannah
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Bill Bell
USB is not a COM Port
The Capn is looking for a COM Port from 1 to 8 (at least mine does). The USB port is not a COM port. You do need to convert the USB port to a COM port for the Capn to work. The simple converters will give you a DB9 connector and Windows will see it as a COM port. Bill
The Capn is looking for a COM Port from 1 to 8 (at least mine does). The USB port is not a COM port. You do need to convert the USB port to a COM port for the Capn to work. The simple converters will give you a DB9 connector and Windows will see it as a COM port. Bill
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Jack Tyler
To Bill & Hannah...
Hannah, I wonder if you've had the same experience I just did. In playing 'musical USB ports', I did finally stumble across one which my Cap'n software 'saw' as COM 4. It plotted my exact position from my GPS and everything was sweetness and light. The next time I used that port, nada/zilch/zip - it didn't "see any GPS data" as it likes to say. Any suggestions? Bill, you state "You do need to convert the USB port to a COM port for the Capn to work. The simple converters will give you a DB9 connector and Windows will see it as a COM port." I think you mean 'stick a dangle on the DB-9 coming from the TNC or GPS, stick it into a USB port and the computer thinks it's a COM port." Is that right? I ask because I wondered if you were suggesting there is a way to 'define' a USB port as a COM port, something entirely different. Thanks to you both for your replies...this thing continues to drive me batty! Jack
Hannah, I wonder if you've had the same experience I just did. In playing 'musical USB ports', I did finally stumble across one which my Cap'n software 'saw' as COM 4. It plotted my exact position from my GPS and everything was sweetness and light. The next time I used that port, nada/zilch/zip - it didn't "see any GPS data" as it likes to say. Any suggestions? Bill, you state "You do need to convert the USB port to a COM port for the Capn to work. The simple converters will give you a DB9 connector and Windows will see it as a COM port." I think you mean 'stick a dangle on the DB-9 coming from the TNC or GPS, stick it into a USB port and the computer thinks it's a COM port." Is that right? I ask because I wondered if you were suggesting there is a way to 'define' a USB port as a COM port, something entirely different. Thanks to you both for your replies...this thing continues to drive me batty! Jack
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Bryce Grefe
USB and COM ports
There was a letter in the newest PS regarding this problem. Apparently, in addition to the problems you are experiencing, the NEMA data rate is very slow for a USB and the USB often doesn't "see" the data. The fix was to buy a PCMI serial port manufactured by Socket. Hope this helps. Bryce S/V Spellbinder H410
There was a letter in the newest PS regarding this problem. Apparently, in addition to the problems you are experiencing, the NEMA data rate is very slow for a USB and the USB often doesn't "see" the data. The fix was to buy a PCMI serial port manufactured by Socket. Hope this helps. Bryce S/V Spellbinder H410
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Victor Robert
Check Windows config
Check the windows configuration of your USB/COM port. The driver may allow you to assign a specific COM address to the device (i.e. COM1), as long as that address is not already in use by another device, such as the internal modem. Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel /System/Hardware/Device Manager
Check the windows configuration of your USB/COM port. The driver may allow you to assign a specific COM address to the device (i.e. COM1), as long as that address is not already in use by another device, such as the internal modem. Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel /System/Hardware/Device Manager
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Jack Tyler
Thanks again; here's Chapter II...
Thanks to Bryce - I hadn't heard about the data rate issue. OTOH I hear widely different reports on adapter 'dangles' depending on what is being 'adapted', so it isn't surprising to hear that a given product worked well in a given application when another did not. Victor, I did go to your recommended device manager a few days ago and did not find my USB 'dangle', which I found strange since I had to install it. At least I thought of that possibility (not something I can always claim with computers...). I'll check again. However... I uninstalled Cap'n, reinstalled it, plugged in all the dangles (TNC for ham email; remote mouse; NMEA data from GPS - shoot, where'd all my USB ports go!?), and then rebooted the computer. And wouldn't you know...THIS time it sees the same data that the last 4 times it didn't! If that sparks any additional comments, let 'er rip 'cause tomorrow may be a whole different story. ('Digital' was supposed to be 1's and 0's, right? Why do I have a computer that behaves "analog-like"?) Thanks again, Folks... Jack
Thanks to Bryce - I hadn't heard about the data rate issue. OTOH I hear widely different reports on adapter 'dangles' depending on what is being 'adapted', so it isn't surprising to hear that a given product worked well in a given application when another did not. Victor, I did go to your recommended device manager a few days ago and did not find my USB 'dangle', which I found strange since I had to install it. At least I thought of that possibility (not something I can always claim with computers...). I'll check again. However... I uninstalled Cap'n, reinstalled it, plugged in all the dangles (TNC for ham email; remote mouse; NMEA data from GPS - shoot, where'd all my USB ports go!?), and then rebooted the computer. And wouldn't you know...THIS time it sees the same data that the last 4 times it didn't! If that sparks any additional comments, let 'er rip 'cause tomorrow may be a whole different story. ('Digital' was supposed to be 1's and 0's, right? Why do I have a computer that behaves "analog-like"?) Thanks again, Folks... Jack
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