[drats_users] USB adaptors

[Dan Smith]

> I wish we could put somewhere on the D-RATS site which adaptors "seem
> to work" and which ones don't.  I know that everyone's results may not
> be the same, but at least we might have a chance picking one that has
> worked for others.  I realize that Dan doesn't really want to
> recommend anything (I wouldn't either).  I have a computer without
> RS-232 ports, and I don't even want to try D-RATS on it because of the
> unknown quantity of USB adaptors I might need to try.
> Just my thoughts...

Here is the problem with that:

First, there are only a few companies that actually make USB adapters. 
All the others just manufacture the plastic around the chip (and 
sometimes configure the chip to do specific things).  These companies 
tend to use whatever chip variant (and sometimes even different chips) 
according to the supply availability the week of production.  They can 
hide these differences in the driver so that you don't really know or 
notice which variant you have.

Further, I have *only* had trouble with specific adapters on Windows. 
Anything with a prolific chip on Linux seems to be fine.  I'd hate to 
discourage someone from buying a cheap one that is easily available 
because they think it might not work when in fact it would.

With that said, I'm not averse to listing some particularly heinous 
adapters, if there is good reason.  I also have no problem listing the 
ones that are a sure bet (like the Keyspan adapter).

If someone would volunteer to collect and filter reports of specific 
adapters (brands, model numbers, revisions) and send me a list, I'll 
post it in a FAQ entry or something similar.  Sound okay?

-- 
Dan Smith
www.danplanet.com
KK7DS