1, Hardware preparation
Firstly, make sure you have a USB to serial converter. This converter can convert a computer's USB interface to a serial interface such as RS-232 or RS-422/485, allowing the computer to communicate with external devices through the serial port. When choosing a converter, please pay attention to its compatibility, performance parameters, and whether an external power supply is required.
2, Driver installation
Connect converter: Insert the USB to serial converter into the USB port of the computer. At this point, the computer may automatically recognize and attempt to install drivers, but to ensure optimal performance and compatibility, it is recommended to manually install drivers provided by the manufacturer.
Download drivers: Visit the manufacturer's website of the converter to download the latest drivers that match your operating system.
Install driver: Double click the downloaded driver file and follow the instructions in the installation wizard. During the installation process, please make sure to select the correct installation option and carefully read any pop-up warning or prompt messages.
Restart the computer: After installation is complete, follow the prompts to restart the computer to ensure that the driver program can be loaded correctly and take effect.
3, Configure serial COM port number
In most cases, the operating system automatically assigns a COM port number to the installed serial device. However, in some cases, you may need to manually change the port number to meet specific requirements.
Check the current port number: Firstly, you need to know the COM port number currently assigned to the USB to serial converter. This can be done through the 'Device Manager'. In the Windows system, you can press the Win+X key, select "Device Manager", and then expand the "Ports (COM&LPT)" section to view the listed COM ports and their corresponding devices.
Changing the port number: Changing the COM port number is usually not done directly through the device manager, but requires specific software tools or registry editing to achieve. However, it should be noted that directly modifying the registry carries certain risks, which may lead to system instability or data loss. Therefore, before attempting this method, please make sure to backup the registry and operate with caution.
A safer method is to use software tools provided by the manufacturer (if available) to change the port number. These tools typically provide a user-friendly interface that allows you to easily select and change port numbers.
In addition, some third-party software tools also provide the function of changing the COM port number. When using these tools, please ensure that they come from trusted sources and follow the instructions provided.
4, Precautions
Compatibility check: Before changing the port number, please ensure that the changed port number does not conflict with other devices that already exist on the computer.
Permission issue: When changing the registry or performing certain advanced operations, you may need administrator privileges.
Backup data: Before performing any operation that may affect system stability, be sure to backup important data.
Stability considerations: Changing the port number may affect the stability and communication quality of the device. Therefore, after making changes, please be sure to test the communication function of the device to ensure everything is functioning properly.
