How many serial ports are enough?

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…

Related content:

  1. New multi I/O card installed
  2. New architecture on my desk

5 thoughts on “How many serial ports are enough?”

  1. Andrew Eidsness

    Couldn’t you replace all those serial ports with some type of serial console server?

  3. Andrew Eidsness

    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).

  4. tz

    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.

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