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| It's here! The Cable Trade-Up Program So, you bought one of my RS232 cables at some point over the last 5 years. You decide to upgrade laptops, but have trouble finding one with an RS232 port on it, or the one you like doesn't have an RS232 port. If that's the case, then this program may be for you. I've designed my new USB cables to be compatible with the ALDL-half (where the OBDI or OBDII-style connectors are) of my RS232 cables. The way this program works - is that you'd send $30 plus the RS232 cable and the little black converter box, and I'd send you a new USB cable, USB-ALDL adapter, and driver CDROM. You'd hang on to your OBDI or OBDII style connector. This way you do not have to deal with any RS232-USB adapters, PCMCIA adapters, or anything like that. For payment, I'll accept Money Order, or if you want to pay here via Paypal, you can click on this button right here to pay ($30), and then send me your cable in the mail. I'll send you the new USB cable as soon as I get your RS232 cord & black box. Expect about a week (3 days to get here, 3 days to get back). Shipping tip - you can print mailing labels online, pay with a credit card, and stick your package in your mailbox. No need to go to the post office. (US PS "Click and Ship"). If you send to me via Priority Mail, your cost is $3.85 for the first pound - and an RS232&ALDL Adapter in a Bubblelope weighs well under a pound. Go to US Postal Service Web Site for more details on click-n-ship. You can mail it to: AKM Electronics Note that this $30 includes shipping, but ONLY to the US and Canada, and ONLY via Priority Mail or Air Letter Post. Any other international customers will need to email me first for shipping quotes. The Next Day / 2nd Day rates listed on my credit card page DO NOT APPLY to this offer, and they will be based on the full rate minus $3.85 from the UPS web site. The only shipping option included with this price is Priority Mail. If you need different shipping arrangements, ask me. If you don't wish to participate in this program, what are your options? Well, you can use either a USB to RS232 adapter, or a PCMCIA to RS232 adapter. For USB to RS232, I've had the most success with the Belkin F5U103 adapter. There are a lot of adapters that DO NOT WORK. For example, the Belkin F5U109/409 adapters - they are based on a different chip set - and they do not work. The ones from Radio Shack do not work. I've heard the Keyspan units work. I'd try to stick with the Belkin F5U103 if at all possible if you go this route. They can be found on ebay. For PCMCIA to RS232 adapters, I've heard mixed results as well (it seems that some laptops are a little easier to work with than others). I'd recommend checking ebay, but do not pay more than $60. If you go to Newegg.com and do some searching for PCMCIA serial, you can find a couple of units - and they have one for around $55 as of April 2005 (it was $45 a couple weeks ago :-/ ). Note, you want a PCMCIA to RS232 (serial) adapter, and NOT a PCMCIA to Serial ATA adapter. The ATA adapter is for hard drives, etc... different type of bus.
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