serial port to usb cords

[STOICH]

I have been having stability issues with my serial port to usb cord. I hear this is pretty common. Are there any other options? can the VGA port be used instead?

[Piledriver]

I have been having stability issues with my serial port to usb cord. I hear this is pretty common. Are there any other options? can the VGA port be used instead?

No, but you can buy USB adapters that work properly.
Frys sells a dual serial adaptor that I use that's been bulletproof fo $20.
http://www.frys.com/product/5814543

Have you turned the buffers all the way down in the driver settings?

There's a long thead on what works on msextra.

TS also runs fine in Linux you may have better luck if you have a slow laptop.
You could run off a USB stick...

Keep the USB cable short, extend with a $2 serial extension.

[STOICH]

I have been having stability issues with my serial port to usb cord. I hear this is pretty common. Are there any other options? can the VGA port be used instead?

No, but you can buy USB adapters that work properly.
Frys sells a dual serial adaptor that I use that's been bulletproof fo $20.
http://www.frys.com/product/5814543

Have you turned the buffers all the way down in the driver settings?

There's a long thead on what works on msextra.

TS also runs fine in Linux you may have better luck if you have a slow laptop.
You could run off a USB stick...

Keep the USB cable short, extend with a $2 serial extension.

run off of a usb stick? I have one... how does that work? That brings up a good point. I'm not particulary crazy about the idea of taking my laptop to the desert to build a tune, my car is a cop-magnet so third gear pulls on the street are a little 'iffy'. If there was another way to run TS, that would be awesome...

[Piledriver]

Well, for logging ONLY, there's Shadowlogger and MSlogger for Android, I'm using it on a free HTC Hero that I was given and fixed the USB port on.

There are also Palm solutions for logging only, and of course you cold install a IOX with the SD logger option, or upgrade to MS3, also with SD card..
(may have some tuning capability, have not tried it, need recent Palm, the older stuff doesn't seem to work on MS2 w/recent FW)

If you wanted to spend big$$ one could get a win7 tablet with an ATOM chip and run Linux or Win7 on it (to support Java and TS)
Or just find a cheap netbook, or pick up a Gobook 3 laptop like mine for <200, it's essentially desert-proof, and could be used to kill zombies.
Mine came with a car mount/dock.

An android version of "full" tuning software for tablets is in the works, but still aways out.

[MinamiKotaro]

I got my usb-to-serial from Office Depot. It was not the cheapest one but the next one up in price. Something like $10-12. It has served me very well.

[aircooledtechguy]

I used Office Depot as well. . . No problems.

[Clonebug]

I used one from Radio Shack.

Clonebug

[STOICH]

I have found the issue seems to be related to the short in my dizzy, the cord will work fine until the dist. has malfunctioned, then I have to let it sit overnite before it will work again.

this engineering stuff is a bitch !

[aircooledtechguy]

I have found the issue seems to be related to the short in my dizzy,

O.K. I'll ask. . .

Why are you using a dizzy when you have so many other, better ignition choices??

[STOICH]

I am growing slowly my friend... Only recently have I seen the light, am still new to the whole DIY EFI stuff... Eventually, all this distributor crap will go away, but for the mean time- it would be great if it were just 'running' I am and always will be interested in better suggestions, and it seems I have started a few fires in other chats about which ways are best. At this point, the trick seems to be just getting all the little demons out of the way so that I can start actually tuning alittle bit. So I ask, on a 16valve - originally CIS engine, How do you think I should do it?

[STOICH]

So after all kinds of adjustments, and help from a good buddy, The computer is now controlling timing, and is running like a bat out-of-hell. Thanks to all of those who had insight without too much grief. Of course it was all related. Even the cord stability issue is seemingly gone now that I am no longer using the MSD to overheat the distributor. Thanks again.... damned baja is going to work tomorrow in the morning for the first time in a decade And this weekend... on to intercooling!

[Dale M.]

COOL.........

Dale