What Is A USB To Serial Adapter Used For & Do You Need A Driver For One?

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As technology has advanced, the types of ports on computers have also changed for the better. However, that doesn't mean devices with older connectors and ports are completely useless. You just need the right USB adapters to make them work. One such adapter is the USB to serial converter, which is used for connecting various legacy devices to modern computers. 

The USB to serial adapter has a USB-A port on one end and a serial port on the other. The serial port is most commonly RS232, which is a standard that dates back to the 1960s. Although RS232 is the most widely used, these adapters can also feature RS485 or RS422 serial interfaces. They include a chip that allows computers to communicate with the legacy hardware device. 

In general, these adapters are used for connecting devices, such as printers, scanners, modems, scales, and GPS trackers. They are also commonly used with industrial equipment like Point of Sale (POS) systems, barcode scanners, data-gathering sensors, and microcontrollers. An important thing to note about USB to serial adapters is that not all of them are the same. They can vary in terms of supported baud rates, cable types, duplexing capabilities, and more. So, when buying one, you'll need to consider several factors, like the type of devices you want to connect to, the number of serial ports you need, whether it requires external power, and more.

Most USB to serial adapters require you to install the necessary drivers on your computer. However, some of these adapters offer plug-and-play functionality, in which case the operating system uses a generic driver to communicate through the adapter. In such cases, you may not be able to use specific features, such as adjusting the baud rate, without installing the manufacturer-provided drivers. 

Installing the drivers for the USB to serial adapters is fairly straightforward. You first need to visit the manufacturer's website, search for your adapter model number and download its driver installation file. Then, simply unzip the file, run the installer, and follow the on-screen prompts to finish installing the missing driver. The setup wizard may ask you to reboot the PC to complete the installation. Once you've gone through this process, you can use the USB serial adapter by simply plugging it in.

All in all, USB to serial adapters are quite easy to use. They help extend the life of legacy equipment and eliminate the need for expensive hardware upgrades.