USB-C Docking station with RS232 Serial?

[chazzy2501]

Asking for a friend.. Our old HP laptops had old docking stations that had native serial, these worked so reliably with the Promethean boards, I'd forgotten what a PITA they can be..

 

I googled the heck out (USB-C with Serial / RS232)of it and they don't seem to exists but I'll ask here just in case.

[synaesthesia]

Not a chance in hell - just have to use a USB to serial adapter as well as the dock

[paulkerton]

Asking for a friend.. Our old HP laptops had old docking stations that had native serial, these worked so reliably with the Promethean boards, I'd forgotten what a PITA they can be..

I'm just impressed that those old RS232 Promethean boards are still functioning and haven't been damaged and blue tack greased out of existence yet.

[chazzy2501]

I'm just impressed that those old RS232 Promethean boards are still functioning and haven't been damaged and blue tack greased out of existence yet.

 

I joined in the summer of 2005, they were old then!

[3s-gtech]

Yeah, you'll need to USB-serial. I have a couple of boards this will affect, but I may be able to shuffle USB Smartboards into their place instead and solve the issue. I'll give the Activboards their due - they're durable!

[Arthur]

If the laptops support Thunderbolt 3 or 4 you could get a TB PCIe expansion chassis and just insert a PCIe serial card.

 

Obviously this would be significantly more expensive than a USB to Serial adapter.

 

e.g.

 

www.scan.co.uk/products/sonnet-echo-express-sel-thunderbolt-3-edition-pcie-expansion-chassis-2x-thunderbolt-connections-40gb or https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/usb-hubs/1862783

 

+

 

www.scan.co.uk/products/startech-2-port-low-profile-pcie-rs-232-serial-card-twin-height-brackets-included

[chazzy2501]

@Arthur Thanks for the giggles. That would totally be overkill, I love it.

[Norphy]

There is something very amusing about the concept of using an interface capable of 40,000,000,000bps for a port which can transmit at 115,200bps at best...

[EddyAllen]

Well I didn't expect to see RS232 here! I have a client who uses RS232 for some older CNC machines and you **can** get RS232 to RJ45 adapters. Its possible to set an ethernet port to run in COM port mode and accept RS232 but I think the chances of it actually working are quite unlikely.

Your best bet would probably be something like this USB to Serial Cable 1.5M, BENFEI USB to RS-232: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics just make sure its converting the correct way as RS232 -> USB wont be the same as USB->RS232

[psydii]

Apparently you can do serial direct over USB-C using an M1 Mac Mini. https://asahilinux.org/2021/03/progress-report-january-february-2021/

 

Though as the author points out, an M1 Mac is quite an expensive 'serial cable'

[EddyAllen]

Apparently you can do serial direct over USB-C using an M1 Mac Mini. https://asahilinux.org/2021/03/progress-report-january-february-2021/

 

Though as the author points out, an M1 Mac is quite an expensive 'serial cable'

 

That is absolutely brilliant

[chazzy2501]

I did not know about ethernet to serial Anyone tried one of these: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/bluetooth-adapters/7694157/?cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-google-_-PLA_UK_EN_Computing_%26_Peripherals_Whoop-_-Bluetooth+Adapters_Whoop-_-7694157&matchtype=&pla-333604047326&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi7yCBhDJARIsAMWFScNyRBbage1GGa4t7jjiDPfTtFU55F0_1dYDuHZNfNca3Aib1c8zBCsaAvD_EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

@psydii thanks for the most expensive solution so far!

[bald_pig]

Anyone tried one of these: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/bluetooth-adapters/7694157/?cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-google-_-PLA_UK_EN_Computing_%26_Peripherals_Whoop-_-Bluetooth+Adapters_Whoop-_-7694157&matchtype=&pla-333604047326&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi7yCBhDJARIsAMWFScNyRBbage1GGa4t7jjiDPfTtFU55F0_1dYDuHZNfNca3Aib1c8zBCsaAvD_EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Now this is the kind of cursed connector I'm here for!