My desktop has few RS232 ports:
- one FTDI RS232-USB converter
- one connected to mainboard
- two on additional PCI card (which also gives me parallel port)
When I got BeagleBoard I had to remove the one connected to mainboard — connected that cable to BB itself. But today I got new package from Atmel: NGW100. And it means need for serial port too…
What for I use all those ports? Developer boards of course :)
- BUG
- BeagleBoard
- At91sam9263-ek from Atmel
- NGW100 from Atmel
To end that crazy situation I am planning to buy extended version of card which I use now but with 6 rs232 ports instead of just two. Will lose parallel port but I never used it and if will ever need it there will be a card with it somewhere in drawer/box.
I never thought that will need so many serial ports…
Couldn’t you replace all those serial ports with some type of serial console server?
@Andrew Eidsness: serial console server would require yet another PC under desk and I do not have spare machine for that.
I was thinking about a dedicated box like this one from Digi (http://www.digi.com/products/consoleservers/digicm.jsp). I was able to find a 16-port version on ebay that I’ve been happy with. I find that I don’t use that many ports at the same time. What I like most about it is that I can keep my desk clean by putting all the boards in my basement (along with a remote power supply).
I use bluetooth to serial adapters. aircable.net has a good selection but there are others and even wifi versions.
Most can be wired to get power (3-12v) through pin 9.
I like the 8 port USB->serial devices with FTDI chips: http://bec-systems.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/work_4.jpg