HT204377: Apple Computers and Displays: Powering peripherals through USB

Learn about Apple Computers and Displays: Powering peripherals through USB
kpgresk

Q: How do I configure PowerBook Pro USB SERIAL port?

I need to use a MacBook Pro (OS 10.10.5) USB port with a serial circuit board. I want to use the built-in USB serial port (System Information, USB Bus, USB2.0 Serial) but I cannot configure it or have serial communications with my device. How do I do it?

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Sep 27, 2015 5:17 AM

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Q: How do I configure PowerBook Pro USB SERIAL port?

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  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Sep 27, 2015 6:42 AM in response to kpgresk
    Level 10 (188,027 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 27, 2015 6:42 AM in response to kpgresk

    You need to get a serial adopter that works with a Mac. Like:

    http://www.tripplite.com/sku/USA19HS/

    serial adaptor to usb

  • by kpgresk,

    kpgresk kpgresk Sep 27, 2015 3:04 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 27, 2015 3:04 PM in response to lllaass

    Thanks for the reply.

    I have a PLUGABLE USB Serial Connector similar to the one you recommend. I would prefer to use a USB "Printer" cable (which I have) Type A Male to Type B male. I'm trying to connect to a Arduino Mega 2560 circuit board that has a Type B FEMALE input.Photo on 092715 at 5.13 PM.jpg

     

    I don't know how to access the serial port (built in) on my MacBook Pro--I've tried everything I cannot figure out how to access this port. Ultimately I think using Mac's built-in serial connection is the eventual solution.

     

    I can't use the PLUGABLE USB Serial Connector because of it's 9-pin connector, hence the search for an adapter. However, PLUGABLE Product Support writes "Thank you for contacting us about our serial adapter. Unfortunately, there is no connector I know of that will allow you to operate a USB printer from our serial adapter. Even if the pins could be matched, the protocols and voltages are not compatible."

     

    Help is always appreciated. Thanks.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Sep 27, 2015 3:20 PM in response to kpgresk
    Level 9 (60,714 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 27, 2015 3:20 PM in response to kpgresk

    Type B FEMALE input.

    Type B female is a USB port, not a serial port. If both the port you are using and the device you are connecting to are USB devices, there is no longer ANY configuration needed or available. You just plug it in and it works.

     

    The days of 1200 bits/sec, one and a half stop bits, odd parity, and DTE and DCE devices and crossover cables are long gone (and good riddance).

  • by kpgresk,

    kpgresk kpgresk Sep 27, 2015 3:30 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 27, 2015 3:30 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    Well I'm going on 3 months with this hiccup. Here are my error messages. Certainly I'm not doing something right. Nothing's getting through.

      Copyright (c) 2007-2009 Joerg Wunsch

            System wide configuration file is "/Users/Ken/Documents/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/etc/avrdude. conf"

            User configuration file is "/Users/Ken/.avrduderc"

            User configuration file does not exist or is not a regular file, skipping

            Using Port                    : /dev/cu.usbserial

            Using Programmer              : wiring

            Overriding Baud Rate          : 115200

    avrdude: ser_open(): can't open device "/dev/cu.usbserial": No such file or directory

    ioctl("TIOCMGET"): Inappropriate ioctl for device

    ioctl("TIOCMGET"): Inappropriate ioctl for device

    avrdude: ser_send(): write error: Bad file descriptor

    Problem uploading to board.  See http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Troubleshooting#upload for suggestions.

    No files were added to the sketch.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Sep 27, 2015 3:37 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 9 (60,714 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 27, 2015 3:37 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    It is telling a file does not exist:

     

    User configuration file is "/Users/Ken/.avrduderc"

            User configuration file does not exist or ...

     

    That is an invisible file, but it appears it needs to to be present for anything else to work.