FAQs: USB SERIAL ADAPTERS / USB RS232 CONVERTERS

Q:   What is the correct procedure for installing the USB drivers?
Q:   How do I know the drivers are installed successfully?
Q:   Why is there a yellow icon in the device manager? How do I solve the problem?
Q:   Why Windows Vista automatically install the drivers but the COM ports are not usable?
Q:   Can I use both channels of the USB-232A-1 simultaneously?
Q:   Can I use the USB-Dual-RS232 product (USB-232A-1) with the Full-duplex monitoring cable (CBL-Full-1A) for the 232Analyzer software?
Q:   Can I use the USB products with CommFront's port-powered converters for RS485 / RS422 / TTL networks?
Q:   How do I perform a loopback test for my USB-RS232 adapters?  
Q:   What is USB2.0? My PC comes with USB1.1 ports only, will the product work?
Q:   How do I change the COM port number(s) assigned to my USB-Serial adapter?
Q:   How do I change the latency timer of the USB products?
Q:   What is the output voltage of  your USB to RS232 converters?  
Q:   Do your USB products support custom baud rates, such as 76.8kbps?
Q:   Are the USB products Windows Vista 64-bit compatible?
Q:   Where can I download the latest drivers for CE6.0 or other OS?
     
     
Q:   What is the correct procedure for installing the USB drivers?
    1. Drivers are included on the CD supplied with the USB-Serial adapter. Insert the CD into the drive. Note: For Windows Vista, please disconnect your PC from the Internet before installing drivers; otherwise, Windows Vista will search for and install the drivers automatically from Windows Updates and cause errors.
    2. Connect the USB-232-1 or USB-232A-1 to an available USB port, and the "Found New Hardware Wizard" will guide you through the installation process. Note: When prompted to connect to Windows Updates to search for drivers, select "No, not at this time" and follow the instructions for installing from the CD.
    3. If it is the first time you install the driver for CommFront’s USB to Serial device, you will need to install the driver twice. One is for the “USB Serial Converter”, and the other one is for the “USB Serial Port”. Note: Do NOT close the 2nd “Found New Hardware Wizard” window while installing the driver.
     
Q:   How do I know the drivers are installed successfully?
    Open the "Device Manager" and make sure the USB-Serial adapter(s) show under "Ports (COM & LPT)" and "Universal Serial Bus Controllers". Also, make sure there is no yellow exclamation icon over the two items.

Perform a loopback test by using CommFront's 232Analyzer software to ensure that the COM port(s) are functioning correctly.
     
Q:   Why is there a yellow icon in the Device Manager? How do I solve the problem?
    One or more yellow icons will show in the Device Manager if the drivers are not installed properly. Possible causes: User did not disconnect the PC from the Internet while installing drivers on Vista machines, or the 2nd “Found New Hardware Wizard” window was closed before driver installation was completed.
 
    To solve the problem, please refer to the user's manual and reinstall the drivers.
     
Q:   Why Windows Vista automatically install the drivers but the COM ports are not usable?
    The drivers are not available via Microsoft Windows Updates; however, Windows Vista will search for and install the drivers via Microsoft Windows Updates by default, because the drivers are incorrect, which causes the COM ports to be unusable. To avoid this problem, please disconnect your PC from the Internet before installing drivers.
     
Q:   Can I use both channels of the USB-232A-1 simultaneously?
    Yes, USB-232A-1 is a USB-to-dual-RS232 adapter, for which both RS232 channels can be operated simultaneously, just like having two separate COM ports on your PC.
     
Q:   Can I use the USB-Dual-RS232 product (USB-232A-1) with the Full-duplex monitoring cable (CBL-Full-1A) for the 232Analyzer software?
    Yes, the two RS232 channels of the USB-232A-1 adapter can be operated simultaneously, which provides a perfect match for the full-duplex monitor cable (CBL-Full-1A) used in the 232Analyzer software.
    Note: to improve the accuracy of the 232Analyzer's timestamps, change the latency timer to 1 msec. Please refer to "How do I change the latency timer of the USB products" for details.
     
Q:   Can I use the USB products with CommFront's port-powered converters for RS485 / RS422 / TTL networks?
    The USB-Serial adapters do not just add RS232 ports to your PC's USB ports. By combining the product with the port-powered RS232 <=> RS485/RS422/TTL converters, it can also be used as a USB to RS485/RS422/TTL converter, or even as an opto-isolated USB to RS232/RS485/RS422 converter.
     
Q:   How do I perform a loopback test for my USB-RS232 adapter?
    Perform a loopback test by using CommFront's 232Analyzer software (included on the CD supplied with the converter): Connect pins 2 and 3 of the DB-9 connector (RX to TX) and run the program. Then send commands from the software, you should receive an echo of the commands sent. By performing a simple loopback test like this, you can test both the transmitter and the receiver of the adapter. This is very helpful when you are in doubt about the performance of your USB-RS232 adapter.
     
Q:   What is USB2.0? My PC comes with USB1.1 ports only, will the product work?
    USB2.0 is a superset of 1.1 that allows much higher speeds than the older USB1.1 standard did. USB2.0 is backward compatible. A USB2.0 product (both USB-232-1 and USB-232A-1 are USB2.0 compatible) can be used even if your PC comes only with USB1.1 ports.
     
Q:   How do I change the COM port number(s) assigned to my USB-Serial adapter?
    To change the COM port number(s) assigned to your USB-Serial adapter, follow these steps:
 
1. Open the Windows Device Manager (under "Control Panel\System\Hardware").
2. Right-click on the COM port you want to change (under "Ports (COM & LPT)").
3. Left-click on "Properties".
4. Click on the "Port Settings" tab.
5. Click on the "Advanced..." button.
6. Use the drop-down list to select the COM port number you want to use.
7. Click "OK".
8. Click "OK" again and close the Device Manager.
     
Q:   How do I change the latency timer of the USB products?
    To change the latency timers (response time) for the USB products, follow the instructions below:
    1. Open the Windows Device Manager (under "Control Panel\System\Hardware").  
    2. Right-click on the COM port you want to change (under "Ports (COM & LPT)").  
    3. Left-click on "Properties".  
    4. Click on the "Port Settings" tab.  
    5. Click on the "Advanced..." button.  
    6. Under the "BM options", select the desired latency timer from the drop-down list, it ranges from 1 to 255 msec (default: 16 msec).  
    Note: to improve the accuracy of the 232Analyzer's timestamps, change the latency timer to 1 msec.  
Q:   What is the output voltage of your USB to RS232 converters?  
The output voltage of our USB to RS232 converters (Pin 3: TX line) is about
-9VDC. Most of the port-powered products require a -7V to -15VDC from RS232's TX line, which can be supported by our USB to RS232 converters.		  
Q:   Do your USB products support custom baud rates, such as 76.8kbps?  
    Yes, our USB products support custom baud rates, such as 76.8kbps. However, some parameters need to be changed, the user manual is available here. Note: the chipset used for our products is FT232B.  
Q:   Are the USB products Windows Vista 64-bit compatible?  
    Yes, both USB-232-1 and USB-232A-1 are Windows Vista 64-bit compatible, the products are Microsoft WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) certified.  
 
Q:   Where can I download the latest drivers for CE6.0 or other OS?  
    You can download the latest drivers for CE6.0 or other OS from FTDI's website, here is the link: http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm. Note: the chipset used for our products is FT232B.