[nfbcs] Old braille display, new computer

[Rasmussen, Lloyd]

You'll be getting these online, I expect. And your existing cable may be OK; you need to test that without a device connected to it. 
The company that has the best reputation for these USB-to-serial devices is FTDI. Maybe Belkin is OK, also, I don't know. All I know is that under Windows 10 more attention is paid to whether the device is legitimate or is a knock-off. 

Lloyd Rasmussen, Senior Staff Engineer
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20542   202-707-0535
http://www.loc.gov/nls/
The preceding opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Library of Congress, NLS.


-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via nfbcs
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2018 2:59 PM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
Cc: Tracy Carcione
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Old braille display, new computer

Thanks to everyone for the advice.  I feel somewhat hopeful.  Do any actual stores keep any of these converters in stock, or is online the only option these days?
Tracy


-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of rjaquiss via nfbcs
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2018 2:41 PM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
Cc: rjaquiss; 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'; 'Tracy Carcione'
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Old braille display, new computer

Hello:

     As has been said, you need a USB to serial converter. I use an Aten usb to serial converter. It seems to fully support the rs232 protocol. I am in fact using an old Braillex 66 cell display. Install the USB to serial converter first noting the serial port that gets assigned during installation. Then configure JAWS using the serial port information. Hope this helps.

Regards,

Robert


-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via nfbcs
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2018 7:38 AM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
Cc: Tracy Carcione; 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
Subject: [nfbcs] Old braille display, new computer

I'm trying to get an old Alva 640 to work with a new laptop.  The Alva has a serial connection, and the laptop only has USB.  I have a USB to serial converter cable, but Jaws only has a serial connection option for this model display.  I tried telling Jaws it's a later model Alva, but that doesn't appear to work.

Does anyone have any ideas how I can make the connection work?  The display works well, and I'd like to keep using it.  And a new display is definitely not cheap. $3000 seems to be the standard price.

Thanks.

Tracy

 

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