Yeah too right
Before the days of memory sticks, the best way to transfer shit between two computers was via hyperterminal serial port. Just worked out of the box, no messing about. Saved my ass a number of times. Putting a 4mb network card driver on a PC which had no CD Drive, and was running NT4 was done via Serial on hyperterminal. Then once the ports started disapearing off new laptop it became a nightmare.

To this day we still keep some older laptops which the network guys use to program cisco switches and stuff, because even with the USB to Serial adaptors they have problems sometimes.

You cant beat legacy RS232!!
(Miggyman, Fri 5 Nov 2010, 11:22, 1 reply)

Voltage levels?
Corners are often cut with the voltage levels. According to Wiki the original spec (1969 or so) says the driver is meant to output at +/-12V and the receiver is meant to recognise signals down to +/-3V. I just measured my own equipment (fnar) and my USB adapter gives 7.74V but the PCI card in my desktop gives 11.46V.
( idonthaveafunnynickname Drink-Aware? Sure. I'm aware I want another drink., Mon 8 Nov 2010, 1:41, closed)