Where is the com port ?

Hex

All I seem to have are USB ports and I need a com port. 

JackE

You need a USB-to-RS232 adapter. About $15 from Amazon.

Hex

Thank you jacke but something else is missing. I have a similar cable that is DB9 to RJ11,
but i also need some setup change to say that the USB port is now COM1, COM2, etc

JackE

Once the adapter is plugged in, you go to DeviceManager and either click on PortableDevices or Ports and the adapter should show up with a default Com 1 port setting. Right click on the adapter and choose properties. A box should pop up with a tab to change the Com 1 port setting.

I don't understand what else is missing? Perhaps you better tell me what you're trying to do with an antiquated db9 to phone jack adapter because there may be better or more direct ways to do it with a USB port

Hex

Ok, here goes at an attempt to try and explain what I am doing.
The app is StarGPS from here
https://www.stargps.ca/manual.htm#starpatch

and it asks me to use a Meade 505 cable which I was hoping was the same as what is already have which looks like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Telescope-Converter-Connector-Audiostar-Compatible/dp/B07HL4YFJG

When I say "looks like", the cable that I have was one that I had in my parts box and it has RS232 and RJ11 connectors.
I am hoping that my cable and the Meade 505 have the same pinout. Otherwise I guess that I will have to buy another stupid cable.

And did I say thank you again ?

Hex

Additionally, when I open the device manager I dont see any Ports. This is what I see.

Hex

When I expand the USB port there are 2 of them, 27CA and 27CB. Nothing indicates a COM port

JackE

You need to plug in the USB-to-RS232 adapter first before it'll recognize any com ports. What version of Windows are you trying to use? That Device Manager looks like Win7 or earlier?

Hex

Onward.
I now have a com port, COM 3 but it is disabled. Says:
ETX_LS USB Serial Port (COM 3)
The device cannot start Code 10.

Easwar

Hi Hex,

May I know the full model name of your unit.

Hex

Hex said:

Onward.
I now have a com port, COM 3 but it is disabled. Says:
ETX_LS USB Serial Port (COM 3)
The device cannot start Code 10.

Well, I tried installing a new driver for the COM 3 port and it disappeared.
Sigh.
The driver was FTDI  VCP drivers from here.
https://ftdichip.com/document/installation-guides/

Its windows 7 and I prefer linux but alas.

JackE

OK. Then install LinuxMint Cinnamon 19.3 on that antique laptop alongside Win7. Cinnamon can be easily set it up to have nearly the same look, feel and function of Win7 only faster and still have full access to and able to boot your Win7 partition whenever you want (which won't be very often). Cinnamon 19.3 can handle USB functionality better than Win7. Cinnamon 20.2 just came out a while ago but still has some bugs so stay with 19.3

Hex

JackE said:

OK. Then install LinuxMint Cinnamon 19.3 on that antique laptop alongside Win7. Cinnamon can be easily set it up to have nearly the same look, feel and function of Win7 only faster and still have full access to and able to boot your Win7 partition whenever you want (which won't be very often). Cinnamon 19.3 can handle USB functionality better than Win7. Cinnamon 20.2 just came out a while ago but still has some bugs so stay with 19.3

I will surely try this and I have a question.
The box is an Acer Aspire A0A-150.
The app that I want to run is StarGPS and only runs under Windows. When I have finished installing Cinnamon besides Windows, how do I run the app ?

Does this sound right ?
Initial boot is Linux ?
Have Linux start windows ?
Try and access the app ?

JackE

>>>Acer Aspire A0A-150.>>>

Aye!!! This is a 15 year old XP era laptop! How much free space is left on the boot drive? And how much RAM do you have?