Q: USB to SERIAL for Colibri

Hi, My new notebook computer does not have a serial port. Currently I'm using a usb to serial cable made by SiteCom ( www.sitecom.com ). The cable does partly work with my colibri and LXE software. Usually I'm able to download the logger, but sometimes there is a transfer failure. I cannot download or upload turnpoints. I can change the flight data (pilot name, type of glider, etc). The colibri does also beep when using the old LXFAI software, it even shows the logbook with stored flights, but during transfer the program gives an error message I have set-up the usb to serial cable as com 1, 19200 baud, data bits 8, parity none, stop bits 1, flowcontrol hardware. In the advanced settings I have experimented with checking and unchecking the 'use fifo buffers'.

Anyone with some better fixes and set-up for this?

Best regards, Ruud.

Ps. I know it's officially not allowed to use additional hardware between the computer and GNSS-FR. How many years before I can retire my old Pentium 133 notebook? )

Uh, speaking with my GFAC hat on, why exactly do you believe that you can't use additional hardware between the computer and GNSS-FR? To my knowledge, the Sporting Code and Approval documents impose no such restrictions during the download process. We are fully aware of the need for USB to serial converters for some of the newer computers, and there is no intent on the part of GFAC or the IGC to prohibit their use.

As for retiring your notebook, GFAC has defined a Windows-based API for download, validating, and converting flight logs. This will supplant (and likely eventually replace) the present DOS-based short programs, plus make it easier for third party programs such as SeeYou and Strepla to support downloads from all flight recorders. Plus, USB to serial converters actually tend to work properly with Windows-based programs.

Apart from quoting the regulations you're, with or without your GFAC hat on, not able to help me with the corect set-up of the usb-to-serial cable? You're right if you say they 'tend to work'.... Yeah, but with a lot of problems.

Still waiting for the first GNSS-FR with USB(-2.)

Ruud.