I recently bought a Compaq laptop. My problem is the laptop doesn't support(has no 9 pin connection) the 9 pin download cable provided with the Astech ProMark 2. Any sugestions??

David,

Two Options:

First you could consider returning your Compaq laptop and specify the replacement laptop has one DB-9 I/O Serial Port.

Second, there are Companies that produce & sell PCMCIA Type II Slot cards that have 1,2, or 4 DB-9 I/O Serial Cable connections.

One Company that comes to mind: "Socket". I have one of their PCMCIA Type II cards that features a (2) DB-9 set-up. It works quite well.

Most all Laptop PC's have (2) PCMCIA Type II card slots. This is probaly the least expensive solution.

Another option might be a USB to serial adaptor. You plug the adaptor into the USB slot; the other end has a serial connector. All versions of Windoze after the first version of Windoze 95 should support USB.

I got one for a laptop (Dell Latitude CP1) that did not have a serial connector. Seems to be the wave of the future. Cost was about $50 at a local Best Buy.

David,

Can we say oops!! Just kinding.... I just bought a dell laptop.... It has a 9 pin and 2 usb ports.

I want to have the wireless capability also so I can get some control info out in the field. Any ideas on this?

I think you can do a USB to serial adapter like Donald said.

Good Luck,
Paul Michael Va LS

One of the guys here bought a USB to serial cable adaptor for his laptop. He said it works for receiver downloads.