Power Commander II compatibility question with USB cable

I am hoping one of the computer genius's on the board will know how to answer this question. I wanted to use my new lap top that only has USB to send data maps to a PC II. I ordered this cable http://www.meritline...---p-36588.aspx and I hoping that the computer will recognize the PC II. Has anyone else tried this will success or will I have to obtain an ancient laptop with a 9 pin male serial port? :computer-noworky:

I haven't tried this but I'm fairly sure the PC2 software isn't going to connect to the USB port. It's written to map to the serial port. I keep an ancient laptop around for 1) a spare and 2) just for my PC2 serial connection.

If it does work though, let us know!

I want offer a caveat, I haven't tried this. However, there are two parts to your question, First will the physical connection work? Yes, with high certainty. USB/serial adapters have a high reliability. The second part is the sticky one and I can't answer it because it relates to the software that PowerCommander uses to communicate with PCII. If the software will only recognize serial ports on your laptop, then I don't see that this will work. Virtually all communication software has limits in the ports it will or won't recognize. If the software will access the USB port, then you have a good chance of this working. The only other potential software glitch is if PC changed their protocols for transferring data between PCII and later units. My best guess is probably not as their is little value in optimizing the protocol for a small transfer. Let us know how it works out.

[image: View Post]Greek71, on 08 July 2010 - 09:06 AM, said:

I am hoping one of the computer genius's on the board will know how to answer this question. I wanted to use my new lap top that only has USB to send data maps to a PC II. I ordered this cable http://www.meritline...---p-36588.aspx and I hoping that the computer will recognize the PC II. Has anyone else tried this will success or will I have to obtain an ancient laptop with a 9 pin male serial port? :computer-noworky:

Hi - I have a PCII, and I've used it successfully with a USB/Serial converter. It works just as it would with a serial port (I know because I have two laptops - one old one with a serial port only, and a newer one with only USB. Results are the same.

[image: View Post]Greek71, on 08 July 2010 - 09:06 AM, said:

I am hoping one of the computer genius's on the board will know how to answer this question. I wanted to use my new lap top that only has USB to send data maps to a PC II. I ordered this cable http://www.meritline...---p-36588.aspx and I hoping that the computer will recognize the PC II. Has anyone else tried this will success or will I have to obtain an ancient laptop with a 9 pin male serial port? :computer-noworky:


I would say yes, usually those type of adaptors set up an emulated serial port so that software designed to communicate via a serial port can do so. This is just from my experience in using these adaptors to set up network switches and routers, I have not used a Power Commander at all.

PM me your address I will send you my old usb to serial connector cord, I used it for this very thing. Laptop ubs to a pc2

[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 08 July 2010 - 06:15 PM, said:

PM me your address I will send you my old usb to serial connector cord, I used it for this very thing. Laptop ubs to a pc2

wait you already ordered a cable, then its just a matter of the right drivers, microsucks probably has one built in.

[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 08 July 2010 - 06:17 PM, said:

[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 08 July 2010 - 06:15 PM, said:

PM me your address I will send you my old usb to serial connector cord, I used it for this very thing. Laptop ubs to a pc2

wait you already ordered a cable, then its just a matter of the right drivers, microsucks probably has one built in.


Thank you for the offer Miguel but yes the cable should be here by Friday or Saturday. I am glad it worked for you and hopefully on Saturday morning I will have everything installed and working. One of the IT guys at work might even give me an old IBM from the junk pile so I might use that just for bike tinkering. :biggrin:

[image: View Post]enzed_viffer, on 08 July 2010 - 05:15 PM, said:

Hi - I have a PCII, and I've used it successfully with a USB/Serial converter. It works just as it would with a serial port (I know because I have two laptops - one old one with a serial port only, and a newer one with only USB. Results are the same.

Wow, I'm surprised, that's great.

[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 08 July 2010 - 06:15 PM, said:

PM me your address I will send you my old usb to serial connector cord, I used it for this very thing. Laptop ubs to a pc2

I'll take it if you want to get rid of it? I won't need to drag out my old XP laptop anymore.