[TenTec] Pegasus Plus observations

[George, W5YR]

For a year or so I have used the Entrega USB to serial adaptor with no
problems. The unit expands the computer USB port to two additional USB
ports and four serial ports. I believe the model designation is 4S2U.

I use three of the four serial ports presently and all work correctly. Both
expanded USB ports work properly. 

I can highly recommend this unit. It is pricey at about $140 - a year ago -
but the software installs readily and the added ports are accommodated in
my W98SE system with no conflicts. All IRQ and memory assignments are
handled by the software and the computer thinks that it really has all
those extra ports, as witnessed by Device Manager. And they all work . . .

73/72, George    
Fairview, TX 30 mi NE of Dallas in Collin county EM13qe   
Amateur Radio W5YR -  the Yellow Rose of Texas
In the 57th year and it just keeps getting better!


Mark Erbaugh wrote:
> 
> Lee,
> 
> > My system seems to be very touchy regarding serial comm.   It
> > uses USB and USB to serial adaptors.   I tried 6 different
> > adaptors until I found one that would work with the Ten Tec,
> > N4PY and some packet software.
> 
> As you have seen, USB to serial adapters don't appear to be the universal
> solution promised. I had the same results. I purchased a USB to serial
> adapter and it didn't work with N4PY's software nor with my own home brew. I
> discovered that the driver didn't support one of the features of serial port
> coms and contacted the manufacturer. They were aware of the problem and
> allowed me to beta test a new adapter (don't know why they couldn't have
> just updated the driver with the existing adapter). The updated adapter
> fixed that one problem, but then broke something else. I discovered that I
> couldn't run both old and new adapters together as the drivers could not
> coexist and each driver only recognized it's own adapters.
> 
> Then I figured the solution would be to buy a multi-port serial card (no
> USB).  I found that it didn't work either.
> 
> I guess we hams are just trying to connect too much stuff to our computers
> <g>. I think the real solution would be for equipment manufacturers to
> support some sort of multi drop network. Given the state of the art right
> now, I would recommend Ethernet and TCP/IP. I don't know how to do it, but I
> think someone could have some success building and selling a little outboard
> box that would translate Ethernet TCP/IP into RS232 serial. I would think
> that it would be doable with a PIC or Basic Stamp chip and a few other
> parts.  However, since I've not seen such a device, maybe there's more to it
> than that.