USB to serial converter

[dark7flame]

Hello all,

I have an older piece of equipment (OPHIR LaserStar power meter) that is designed to generate readings via a Parallel (Serial) Port, however, I have no ports open to use.  I have a USB-Parallel converter which should do the trick - I know it works because I tested it with a printer.  However, I cannot find a way in MAX or Windows to detect the device when connected using this converter.  I think that I need to create a virtual port, but I do not know how to do it despite reading the forums.

In short - how can I get my Parallel-port device to function over USB using the converter?  Is it something I have to do windows-side or VISA side?  And then how do I do it?

LV 8.2

Win7, WinXP

Newest VISA and MAX

[Wayne.C · Accepted solution]

dark7flame,

Virtual port is usually created by driver for USB converter.  It sounds like the driver for your converter is geared at printing only and not a true parallel port. 

[Dennis_Knutson]

Your description is very confusing. The subject says 'USB to serial' and in the body you have "Parallel (Serial)". A parallel port and a serial port are very different and you really need to determine what you actually need. What is the physical connector on the instrument? What does the instrument manual say about the actual port type?

[dark7flame]

It is a parallel printer port or DB25 (the kind used for printers in the 90s but it is labelled as a serial port in Windows XP) differing completely from a RS-232 or "comm port" (the kind used for miscellaneous peripherals before USB was made available, labelled as a comm port in Win XP).

You are correct: It is intended only for printing purposes.  What a letdown.