IBM/ Laptop with a DE-9 pin Plug for diagnostics connection

[bigmace2004]

Hi all, just wondering if any one knows what old laptop's have a DE-9 Plug connector Male, so my friend can get his diagnostics software working. Hopefully I can get a cheap one off the bay or someone. Ideally with windows 98

Looks like this serial port.

[Ant]

most older Dell and Vaio have a comms port, as do the IBM T series.
you can use a PCIMCIA card to add a full comms port to a later laptop without a DB9.

DISABLE the onboard modem though whatever the case, can cause grief otherwise

[schnaarf]

serial to USB converter? I use them for NMEA data input to my laptop and they work fine.

[e21Jason]

I got pansonic toughbook cf-27 basic but great for the garage

Jason

[bigmace2004]

Cheers, very helpful, apparently he has tried the converter cable with no luck. PCIMCIA card seems like a cost effective route.

[Speedtouch]

My Advent 6416 has one.

[schnaarf]

Cheers, very helpful, apparently he has tried the converter cable with no luck. PCIMCIA card seems like a cost effective route.

I've found that some converters block certain languages which might be why your mates didn't work

[bigmace2004]

Ok Schnaarf what converter do you recommend

[Ant]

forget the USB route dude.

trust me, DB9 is the way forwards !

[aeberbach]

forget the USB route dude.

trust me, DB9 is the way forwards !

USB works fine. I've done many embedded projects requiring a fully programmable serial port and Keyspan's USB-to-serial adapters are great, even the four port version is good.