Alex Mizrahi wrote:
> Hello, All!
>
> i've bought ASUS P5B-VM mainboard, which doesn't have COM port at rear
> panel, has eSATA instead (P5B too). COM1 port is present on mainboard, i
> need separate COM port out panel to get it out. unfortunately, it's not
> available in local stores..
>
> i've bought STLab USB-to-serial adapter, based on Prolific chip. i've
> connected DSL modem to it, and it worked quite well, but system reboots from
> time to time -- i think it's because of prolific drivers, since reboots are
> correlated with high DSL activity, and DSL being turned on/off.
>
> later i found that panel thingie. there are two alternatives for pin-outs of
> such thingies, unfortunately ASUS didn't specify that, but googling showed
> me that it uses AT-EVEREX-INTEL pinout variant (btw, Intel specifies pinout
> in their mobo specs..). but my panel had alternative -- DTK pinout, so i had
> to resolder it.
>
> then i've managed to get internet connection, but still there are problems!
> when connection is on, it's quite good, i'm using it now, and it has no
> problems.
> but it does connect only after i use prolific adapter first -- i connect via
> prolific, disconnect, and then i can connect via COM1. if i try to connect
> via COM1 first, it doesn't connect, and it gots broken (it doesn't connect
> even via prolific) until reboot..
>
> windows modem logs showed me the difference -- in case of prolific, log is
> quite clean. but when i connect via that COM1 panel, there's a lot of junk
> comming from modem, that looks like PPP session initialization.. looks like
> windows can ignore that junk, sometimes..
>
> 01-18-2007 11:28:20.468 - Recv: "}&} } } } }#
> 01-18-2007 11:28:20.468 - Unknown Response
>
> is there any idea what the problem is? can such problems be possible when
> one of wires incorrectly connected? i guess some junk-inhibiting wire is not
> connected :).
> or maybe some configuration is incorrect? i had that DSL working on old ASUS
> mobo fine before, but i don't remember port settings.. i'm now using default
> settings:
>
> 01-18-2007 11:28:20.468 - 115200,8,N,1, ctsfl=1, rtsctl=2
>
> for both variants. connection settings are also same..
>
> alternatively, maybe somebody knows how to make prolific thing working? i
> can't imagine millions of people get reboots every day because of these
> taiwan guys drivers.. but maybe it doesn't work correctly because of
> dual-core processor?
>
> i've already spent 20$ because of these problems, and lots of my invaluable
> time.. starting thinking about changing mobo to Gigabyte -- ASUS idea of
> substituting COM with eSATA (while they still have parallel port on rear
> panel) appears to be idiotic.. and this mobo is piece of crap for many other
> reasons too -- non-overclockable, shitty Intel Graphics drivers..
>
> With best regards, Alex Mizrahi.
>

Maybe the flow control wires are not connected properly.
You may have the TX and RX wired up right, but maybe
the flow control isn't, leading to problems. You could
always pick one up here. The shipping would be more than
the adapter.

http://www.pccables.com/07120.htm

Paul