Say you have a device that uses the old 9-pin male or female DB-9 or RS232 connector. You want to transfer the data to your new laptop or device. Or you want to use your old laser printer. Maybe your cash register uses a DB-9 port and you cannot connect it with your PC.
What to do then?
One simple solution. Getting a USB to Serial DB-9 or RS-232 converter cable or adapter. It will take all your worries away. And make your old device works seamlessly with your new one.
Fun right? But there are some crucial elements to look out for. Otherwise, you might order a USB to DB-9 or serial adapter cable and it won’t work. All of the things related to this issue is elaborated in this article.
Table could not be displayed.Top 5 Best USB to Serial Adapter or Db-9 Rs-232 in the Market
1. Sabrent USB 2.0 to Serial (9-Pin) DB-9 RS-232 Converter Cable
No products found.
If you have an old device that has a DB-9 port, chances are it is useless now in the era of USB and HDMI. But why stay useless but make something by combining both worlds? Sabrent USB 2.0 to Serial (9-Pin) DB-9 RS-232 Converter Cable is the perfect solution for all of those situations. Any PDA, Printer, Data storage devices, digital cameras, modems can be connected using this DB-9 to USB converter. Upon connecting the devices, your pc/laptop will do a handshake and start functioning.
There is a driver CD provided with the cable for the software that does the conversion. With newer operating systems, the software can easily detect if your device is connected to the internet and downloads the latest version of it. If it doesn’t, you can always install it from the provided CD, which does the same work.
The Sabrent USB 2.0 to Serial (9-Pin) DB-9 RS-232 works with Mac OS 9.1 or higher, Microsoft Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/Vista/7/8/10, and Linux 2.4 or above. So you get to use it in almost all of the operating systems out there.
There is however a caution. This male DB-9 RS-232 port has female studs on both sides. Why are they there, no one really knows. So it connects with a female port that your device has and also has studs that accept screw heads. Not female studs. So before buying, make sure you get a converter for a female to male DB-9 RS-232.
Other than that, it is a solid piece of cable that does what it is intended to do.
Pros:
- Fully functioning cable with the latest chipset.
- Works in almost all the available operating systems.
- Includes a driver CD and updates on internet connection.
- Lifetime warranty.
Cons:
- Has female studs on both sides of the 9-pin connector, which is really inconvenient.
2. USB to Serial Adapter, BENFEI USB to RS-232 Male (9-pin) DB9 Serial Cable
No products found.
Another great USB to Serial Adapter is from BENFEI USB to RS-232 Male (9-pin) DB9 Serial Cable. This guy isn’t fooling around. It works as it says it would. Connect to your female RS-232 port and to your pc USB, and you are done! It works like a charm.
BENFEI USB to RS-232 comes in black and is a copper wire-equipped cable that allows data speed considerably better. It works with all kinds of Bluetooth serial adapters, telescopes, amateur radio gear, GPS receivers, routers, firewalls, modems, plotters, embedded character displays, scan tools, sonar units, embedded boards, and so on, which has an RS-232 port. Specifical devices include Garmin eTrex GPS, Seiko Label Printer, iRobot Create, Cisco products.
It supports Mac OS 10.6 and above, Microsoft Windows 7/Vista/XP/2000/ME/98SE/8/8.1.10, Linux 2.4.31, and above. Sadly it does not support Windows 11. So if you are a Windows 11 user, you shouldn’t go for this cable. And if you are using a Mac OS, remember the device that you are connecting is supported by Mac OS. Otherwise, it won’t work.
It has a Prolific chipset. So also pay attention to this. If your device requires an FDTI chipset and you use this cable for connecting, chances are it won’t work. So you will go blaming the cable, whereas it was the chipset. So check before buying. The chipset is a crucial element and one does not work with the other.
It comes in a 1.8-meter length.
Pros:
- Fast connection, speedy transfer rate.
- No male studs on sides.
- Supports various specific devices.
- 18-months warranty.
Cons:
- Does not support Windows 11.
3. USB to RS232 Adapter with PL2303 Chipset from CableCreation
No products found.
This one is a little bit different. If you have a male RS232 port and want to connect it to the USB, this one is for you. Because it has a female RS232 connector, no 9-pin here sir. And it comes in gold plated.
CableCreation’s USB to RS232 Adapter with PL2303 Chipset works with modems, ISDN Terminal Adapter, digital camera, label writer, palm PC, PDA, cashier register, PLC controller, tax printer, bar code scanner, label printer, and any compatible devices. Copper conductor wires make it faster for the data transfer rate. No external power is required.
It supports Mac OS 10.6 and above, Windows 7/Vista/XP/200/8/10, Linux 2.4.31, and above. Windows 7,8,10 can auto-detect and install the software. In MAC OS, the device should support MAC OS, otherwise, it won’t work.
The cable is a Prolific chipset-enabled cable, so make sure you read your device’s compatibility before buying this one. It won’t work if it requires an FDTI chipset.
Some complain that the adapter doesn’t work with Cisco devices. It is because the cable is a DCE or data communicating equipment cable. It is not mentioned there, but it is a DCE. just get a male-to-male null modem adapter and it will work fine.
It comes with CableCreations 24-month warranty.
Pros:
- USB male to RS-232 female cable.
- Gold plated ports make it easy to connect.
- Plug and Play.
Cons:
- Doesn’t mention DCE for Cisco devices. Requires an extra converter for that.
4. StarTech.com USB to Serial Adapter
No products found.
USB to Serial Adapter from StarTech features a USB to Serial RS232 adapter for any device out there. The best part about it is that it has an FTDI chipset. So if you are looking for an FTDI chipset enabled USB to Serial adapter, this is the one for you.
The FTDI supports various devices and is highly customizable. But it doesn’t support devices that require a Prolific chipset. You have to get a dedicated Prolific chipset for them.
It works with any devices like PDA, digital cameras, printers, data storage devices, cash registers, telescopes, court reporting machines, and so on.
This cable supports MAC OS 10.13 and 10.14, Windows 7/8/ Server 2012/ Server 2016/ Server 2019/10, and Linux.
It comes with 1 to 8 serial port connecting options. The price differs in this case. But you get to use the same USB cable to connect to all of those serial devices. Which is really a cool feature. The cable is of 6-ft in length.
There is no fuss about this cable. It does what it says. Just remember it is not made for Prolific chipset devices.
Pros:
- FTDI chipset for customizable options.
- Plug and play option.
- Has 1 to 8 serial ports to one USB output option.
Cons:
- No warranty option upfront.
5. DTECH 10 Feet USB 2.0 to RS232 DB9 Serial Port Adapter Cable
No products found.
DTECH 10 Feet USB 2.0 to RS232 DB9 Serial Port Adapter Cable is an FTDI chipset USB to Serial port Adapter. If you are looking for a long cable for this purpose, this one is for you. Because it has a length of 10 feet.
It works with any RS232 female connector. Supporting devices like router, GPS, Programming machine, barcode scanner, label writers, serial modems, digital camera, card reader, palm PCs, and digital organizer. You can connect it with the device for data transfer, viewing, or even software updates.
The cable has built-in LEDs on the RS232 port, which makes it a little bit easy to connect in the dark. They are calling it the crystal clear blue enrich injection.
It works seamlessly with MAC OS 8 and above, Microsoft Windows 7/8/10, and Linux 2.4.0 or above.
To give a high-performance output, its ports are gold plated.
The cable doesn’t have any problem connecting with any devices as long as it is supported by the OS of the PC.
As it has an FTDI chipset, it won’t work for Prolific chipset-supported devices. Otherwise, it works excellently.
Pros:
- Gold plated pins and ports.
- LED enabled RS232.
- Long length 10 feet.
Cons:
- No warranty information is included.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use an RS232 or DB-9 to USB as a VGA converter?
No. It is made for DB-9 female/male port to USB 1.1 or 2.0 converter. You have to look for a VGA to USB converter for a VGA converter. This won’t work as a VGA converter.
2. Will a DB-9 to USB cable support Ubuntu OS?
Yes. A DB-9 to USB converter will work in Ubuntu OS. But it needs to have an FTDI chipset to work. A Prolific chipset won’t work on Ubuntu OS devices.
3. If I plug the Male USB into a female USB 3.0, will it work?
Yes, it will work. A female USB 3.0 is just the same USB female port as a 2.0. The difference is in the speed.
4. Why doesn’t my device support the serial adapter I bought?
Have you checked what kind of chipset it supports? There is a Prolific one and an FTDI one. If you have the wrong kind of chipset in your cable adapter, it won’t work with your device.
Conclusion
You have to know some information about the device that you want to connect with the USB to. Is the operating system supportive of your device? Is the chipset compatible? Is the DB-9 port male or female? Are there any female/male studs on the sides of the converter? After confirming all of these, you can buy a USB to serial adapter converter. Otherwise, it will be another problem to return and get a new one.