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Serial Port RS232 requirement in T400 Notebook

Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:13 pm
by msy100
I am using T400 notebook Model 6475-11G
I want to use the serial port. Please let me know how to use that facility by using the Serial / Parallel Port Bay Adapter or using the Dock or port replicator
Further, can any one let me the exact part model/part number for the odcking solution for T400

Re: Serial Port RS232 requirement in T400 Notebook

Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:31 pm
by bill bolton
msy100 wrote:I am using T400 notebook Model 6475-11G
I want to use the serial port.
Serial ports are a bit problematic now a days in mobile computing, as few are implemented in hardware UARTS.

What exact level of serial port functionality do you really need?

Cheers,

Bill B.

Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:52 pm
by tylerwylie
There's an ultrabay card that provides a serial/parallel port for the T60 isn't there? Wouldn't that work in this as well?

I use a usb-serial converter with my T61 to configure networking equipment, and as a dial-in serial port with minicom.

RE: serial port

Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:10 pm
by truk
The t6x ultrabay devices are parrallel ATA based where the t400 ultrabay is serial ATA based, and they are not compatible. I have a serial port on my advanced dock and a usb adapter off ebay, but I've never used either.

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:50 am
by msy100
I need to connect Serial Devices such as Serial Printer, Serial Port Connectivity to electrical devices.

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:00 am
by Harryc

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 4:47 pm
by bill bolton
msy100 wrote:I need to connect Serial Devices such as Serial Printer, Serial Port Connectivity to electrical devices.
Since you don't seem to know what you actually need other than a "serial" port, the only way you are going to find out whether the emulation approach will be adequate for your needs is to try a USB to serial adapter and see if it works for you (or not).

Most USB serial ports use some sort of emulation of a USART chip which may or may not achieve your desired goal. The emulation for the RS-232C Tx and Rx signal lines usually works adequately but emulation of the RS-232C control signal lines, especially the less frequently used ones, often do not work the same way as with a physical USART.

Cheers,

Bill B.