Skip to main content

Adapters Bring Together the Old and the New, & That’s Good!

When it comes to connecting accessories to computers, it is not always with a USB to USB cable. Even after the invention of the USB standard, the various types of serial connectors stayed. Everything did not immediately switch to USB entirely. This is when manufacturers started to find a middle ground because they did not want their accessory to be useless (or, out of time) in a short time. So, they started making devices that could connect to a computer via its USB port while the device itself retains its serial port. They shipped their device with a USB to serial adapter.

These cables and chips are low cost. So, when you try to connect any device using these, you might face issues because, along with the cheaper hardware, there is usually also an issue of driver compatibility. As this USB to serial adapter cables are supposed to be for short term use, they are not made with future software in mind, or even more than one software (in terms of Operating System) in mind. You are less likely to upgrade your printer every two or three years, but your computer is definitely getting regular software updates, making your printer more incompatible with each update. However, a simple fix for this is always having the latest software drivers as well as firmware updates for your printer.


Another use case of USB cables is that if you want to connect something that solely connects via a serial connector then you can get a USB to serial adapter cable. This increases the lifespan of your device by making it forward compatible with a USB standard, something that is generally widely available, as the words USB standard suggest.

USB cables have evolved from carrying data slowly and only enough power for it to work, to carrying data much faster, as well as being the gold standard in fast charging.

You can plug in serial adapters into the newer devices along with the compatible software. The drivers are generally available to download and install. You have to make sure to get the right cable for your requirement before buying it.

Use Cases of a USB to Serial Adapter:
  • To set up a printer that may be older, you have to get a compatible USB to serial adapter and install drivers on your computer.
  • Get the maximum use out of your older printer using a USB to serial adapter because even if your computer or laptop may not have a serial port, it definitely has a USB port. Therefore, you can plug in your printer with this adapter.
  • Another area that will require a USB to serial adapter is when you want to connect things like barcode scanners or receipt printers to point of sale devices. Newer point-of-sale devices usually don't have a lot of I/O ports. Therefore, if they only have a single USB-C port, you can connect a USB-C hub to it, which allows you to connect a charger to it, as well as a barcode scanner, receipt printer, and a card machine to it.
With so many adapters and cables to take care of, it would make sense to upgrade all your devices to the latest USB cables. However, it is better to use adapters to the maximum value of your product rather than keep upgrading to each new technology because that only increases the hardware trash. With limited resources, that might not be the best idea to continue throwing out older devices.

Adapters can breathe fresh life into older devices and you can use them for way more time than the constantly upgrading industry wants you to.

Dongles are too bad considering they are the one keeping your devices for being obsolete too fast. Read here to know why that is.

If you found these Articles useful, here are some other articles that may be of interest.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the Difference between C13 and C15 Power Cords?

There is an array of power cords available in the market. It can get quite perplexing to choose the one that will fit your needs. In order to know more about them, you must have more information about these cords. This article will acquaint you with   IEC C13   and   IEC C15   power cords   and how they are different from each other. But before that, let us understand what IEC is. IEC stands for International Electrotechnical Commission. Every cord is standardized by IEC before it is introduced in the market. These cords use the letter “C” which is followed by the number in their cords. Let’s get back to understanding the difference between IEC-C13 and C15 connectors. Some of them are mentioned below. Difference of a Notch One of the most apparent differences between the two connectors is the notch on C15 connector. Although C15 looks quite similar to C13, it has a little groove opposite the earth. The IEC-C15 connectors also work in the C14 outlets. But the IEC-C13 connector
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Improve Your Internet Speed

When your internet speed is slow, you start blaming the game. But it is important to find out the root cause behind that. Today, we are here with a list of solutions which you can apply to achieve an ideal internet set up rendering high-speed data. Here’s how you can increase the internet speed: Choose The Mobile Operator Wisely There is a smart way of doing that. Find out the mobile service provider which would give you the fastest service at your preferred locations. Gather a group of friends with various mobile devices and perform a speed test together. You can even organize a speed test meet up where you can visit your friend’s house turn by turn. Note that, it is important to restart the Wi-Fi connection before you run the test. You can achieve faster speeds by even switching the service providers with each other. Fix The Wi-Fi Dead Spots You can run the speed tests in the areas where you use Wi-Fi to find out if it’s a dead spot. If you encounter a problem at that p
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Distinguish Between C5 and C7 Power Cords?

There is no doubt that the functionality of electronic equipment is significantly influenced by the power cords. When you choose to work with electrical appliances, you may have come across several kinds of cords including c5 power cords and c7 power cords .  However, what is crucial is understanding that these two power cords are not the same entirely. They come with significant differences. Wondering what those are? Well, before you pick between these for your electronic gadget, let's discover the difference they both share. What is Meant by c5 Power Cords? The first types of cord are the C5 power cords which are basically three-pronged and are also known as the "Mickey Mouse" connectors. This is because they have a very unusual design and are used for laptops and other compact electronic devices.  These types of power cords connect easily to the power source and come with a Clover shape connector that fastens to the power adapter. One of the main advantages of the c5
Post a Comment
Read more