[Coco] COM Retention

[Robert Hermanek]

Yes I think you're correct, I was confused, thinking this "retention" 
was referring to some other feature, because the cheaper unit (4 port 
with com retention not actually advertised on NewEgg) also performs this 
retention function--apparently each serial port in the unit has it's own 
serial # and these are stored in the registry along with their port # 
(COM5, COM6 etc).

I have to reiterate the drivers are great--you can change port #'s at 
will, and tweak all of the buffering issues that can occur when your 
byte-by-byte serial stream has to be converted into usb data packets.  
I've got the cheaper version in my hands now, and all in all very happy 
with it.  I have not confirmed (yet) that it will manage drivewire 
communications, but guessing it will if I configure it to flush the 
bytes out to the serial port every 10ms or so... anybody remember how 
long the coco will wait for a drivewire server response before timing out?

-RobertH

On 2/2/2013 10:13 AM, Tony Cappellini wrote:
>
> We use many of the Startech (and others) 16 port USB-Serial adapters 
> where I  work
> The driver for this device has worked great. The systems have been 
> rebooted many times,
> the COM ports have not changed. Imagine having to reassign the COM 
> ports on any/all of the
> 16 * x COM ports that we are using, whenever the system was rebooted. 
> It would be quite a waste
> of time.
>
> COM port retention has no bearing on use with the coco, it's merely a 
> convenience.
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:53:42 -0600
> From: Robert Hermanek <rhermanek at centurytel.net 
> <mailto:rhermanek at centurytel.net>>
> Subject: [Coco] COM Retention
> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com 
> <mailto:coco at maltedmedia.com>>
> Message-ID: <510BE506.9020202 at centurytel.net 
> <mailto:510BE506.9020202 at centurytel.net>>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Looking at StarTech USB to Serial adapters, they have nice 4 port units
> for around $60, and they use the FTDI chipset, so nice drivers that you
> can tweak a lot of the usb-to-serial behaviors. In particular looking at
> ICUSB2324 model on Newegg.  However for about $20 more you can buy
> similar units with "COM retention." Anyone have an explanation as to
> what that is, and whether it would be helpful/hindrance when interfacing
> with coco?
>
> -RobertH