Texecom RS232 PC-COM cable

[Northbeach]

Hi folks.
Just a quicky hopefully.

I've ordered a Texecom RS232 PC-COM cable to link my laptop (running Wintex) to my Texecom Premier Elite 24 panel (I have a bit of a mammoth thread on that subject).

This cable has a 9 pin female end (the laptop end) but the port on the laptop (in fact any laptop in the house) is a female 15 pin VGA.
Has anybody successfully managed to just use an adaptor (VGA to RS232 male-male) to connect the cable up?

Something like this:

There are also RS232 top USB adaptors...

The other option would be to try and return it and replace with the more costly USB COM cable, but I'm hoping I don't have to use that.

I'm fairly sure an adaptor would be fine, but you never know...especially as this isn't an ordinary RS232 cable.

Mank thanks.

 

[GalaxyGuy]

The cable you've ordered looks like an SVGA to VGA cable for an old monitor. The 15 way D-Type on your laptop is for video. Most laptops don't offer an external RS232 port anymore, so you'll need to get the RS232 (9 way D-Type) to USB adapter. Be careful, as many of the cheap Ebay offerings do not work with Windows 7 onwards.

 

[Northbeach]

Thanks galaxyguy - not sure if you referring to the pic I posted (which is the adaptor), but just in case here's the cable I've got:

Aye - the port on the laptop is the 15 pin female VGA I would connect to an external moinitor and the connector on the texecom is 9 pin female.

So would you suggest the 9pin (male) to USB adaptor would be preferable to the 9 pin (male) to 15 pin (male) as per the the image in my original post?

There's not much info on this on the net unfortunately (being quite specialised I guess).

Many thanks.

 

[GalaxyGuy]

Yes, get the USB adapter. I believe the Texecom lead is basically a level converter, converting TTL to RS232. You'd then need to convert RS232 to USB with the Male to USB adapter.

You can buy a cheap USB to TTL and do this:
http://cybergibbons.com/alarms-2/programming-a-texecom-premier-elite-12-w-using-a-ftdi-cable/

 

[Northbeach]

Yes, get the USB adapter. I believe the Texecom lead is basically a level converter, converting TTL to RS232. You'd then need to convert RS232 to USB with the Male to USB adapter.

You can buy a cheap USB to TTL and do this:
http://cybergibbons.com/alarms-2/pr...remier-elite-12-w-using-a-ftdi-cable/[/QUOTE]

I saw something similar (perhaps the same post) a short while ago and I'd normally give something like that a go (love hacks!) but I have time constraints and more concerned about getting the programming or the panel right. There were a few discussions suggesting that cable (as referred to in that link) might contain 'jiggery pokery' that would render any hacks quite difficult.

So - although that link relates to a 'mocked up' cable I presume I can just source a USB adaptor, attach it to the Texecom cable and commence programming via USB (rather than PC-COM)?

This would be far easier (and cheaper) than returning the cable (at cost) and purchasing the more expensive 'offiical' USB cable.

Just a quick glance brings this one up for a couple of quid (and reputedly works with Windows 7):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/USB-RS232-C...1&sr=1-2&keywords=usb+to+rs232+serial+adaptor

Sound good to go?!

Many thanks.

EDIT - Hmm...those cheaper cables £2-3 get a little battering over the more expensive (£12) ones. Unchartered territory for me - cheap HDMI cables haven't (so far) ever been an issue (they either work or don't) but I'm pretty clueless when it comes to linking this software to an alarm panel.

 

[Mr Gear]

Looks similar to one I purchased which works fine with the PC COM and Win 7.

For a couple of quid nothing to lose really and can always return it if you need to. Make sure you purchase from a UK seller or you'll be waiting a while for the slow boat to arrive!

 

[Lectrician]

The VGA port on a PC or laptop is not a COM port, and can't be used as such.

You need a USBS to serial converter, which allows serial kit to be connected to a USB port, but you would be better getting the USB COM cable.

 

[cybergibbons]

I wrote the post about connecting with an FTDI cable. A lot of the very cheap USB->Serial cables have problems connecting to anything slightly non-standard. The genuine FTDI cables are better. That's not to say the cheaper ones won't work though.

 

[Northbeach]

Cheers folks.
Think I might take a punt on the cheapy USB and see what happens, otherwise I'll have to pay to return the pc-com cable then pay another £15 for the USB version (I still may contain and up doing that).

Many thanks for the advice...took my eye off the ball when ordering this cable !