The USB to Serial chipset could be built onto the KIO3. Then the K3 itself would be the USB/Serial adapter. The manufacturer of the chipset would provide the drivers. The FTDI chip would be a good choice. The FTDI drivers seem to work well on OS X and Windows. Not sure about Linux. But, like Julian said, is there any advantage to using a plain USB cable instead a USB cable with a bulge on the end? :-)
David, W4SMT --- On Sat, 11/21/09, Julian, G4ILO <julian.g4...@gmail.com> wrote: > From: Julian, G4ILO <julian.g4...@gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KUSB Adaptor > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Date: Saturday, November 21, 2009, 3:40 PM > > > > David Y. wrote: > > > > I'm really a complete neophyte at this sort of stuff, > but isn't it mainly > > a > > matter of having the correct "drivers"? If a > device isn't recognized when > > using a new operating system, it's usually just a > matter of getting new > > drivers. Unfortunately, some manufacturers > abandon older products, and > > don't provide updated drivers for new systems. > Hopefully, if Elecraft did > > go to a USB alternative, they would still keep up with > the driver > > requirement as new operating systems became > available. > > > Yes, but someone has to write those drivers. Icom has > adopted a USB > interface for the IC7600 but it has only provided drivers > for Windows, and > Icom arguably has greater resources at its disposal for > writing drivers than > Elecraft. Because Elecraft chose RS232, it has been > relatively simple for > them to support all the major operating systems Windows, > Linux and Mac OS X, > something I think no other manufacturer does. > > I also doubt that Icom will be interested in writing new > drivers for the > '7600 once that model is obsolete. "Hopefully" they would, > but that isn't a > gamble I'm be willing to take. True, Elecraft isn't Icom. > Then again, in 10 > years time Wayne and Eric may have retired to Florida so > who knows what > would happen? > > You need a cable of some sort to connect the K3 to the > computer, whatever > interface is used. What difference does it make if the > cable for USB ports > has a bulge at one end? > > A serial interface is the safest long-term bet that offers > users the most > choices. You could even remote control a K3 without a > computer at the remote > end using an Ethernet serial device. > > ----- > Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. > * G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com > * KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html > * KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html > > -- > View this message in context: > http://n2.nabble.com/KUSB-Adaptor-tp4038971p4043957.html > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
