15-pin to USB connector?

Is there such a thing as a 15-pin (I presume serial) to usb adapter?

Trying to see if I can get my old Real Flight 2 up and running.

I think this is may be you want

https://www.cablestogo.com/product....-_-779078601&gclid=CPvW7Yuml5MCFQO0sgodS201sQ

I have one connecting my computer to the laser cutter

Edit; Maybe not, I misread the post

Don, thanks but that wasn't it. The web site did help out though. I called them and they said it doesn't look as if anyone makes a 15-pin serial to usb adapter.

Time to upgrade I guess . . .

Hi,

if it has 15pins it is most likely either VGA or the game port. They can be distinguished by the layout. The VGA connector has 3 rows of pins, the game port has 2 of them. Both are some quite old analog interfaces, and the game port has become mostly obsolete these days.

"Real Flight 2" sounds like a joystick or something related to me and historical joysticks used the game port so it looks to me this is what you're looking for.

Google delivers lots of results for "gamport usb adapter", so it shouldn't be to hard to find something this way. I have no experience with these devices, so I can't give you a more specific recommendation.

Reinhard

I got a VGA to DVI adapter off of eBay. You might look there.

akpilot said:

Is there such a thing as a 15-pin (I presume serial) to usb adapter?

Trying to see if I can get my old Real Flight 2 up and running.

Click to expand...

I have such an adapter running from my joystick to a USB port. Maybe you could search for a joystick to USB adapter. Maybe like this: https://www.intellesale.com/-item/1223/belkin-components-joystick-adapter.html?r161160

Hope this helps.

akpilot said:

Don, thanks but that wasn't it. The web site did help out though. I called them and they said it doesn't look as if anyone makes a 15-pin serial to usb adapter.

Time to upgrade I guess . . .

Click to expand...

Time to upgrade YES.

Are you sure it is a 15 pin serial port? I know there are 25 pin and a 9 pin serial ports (the 25 pin was on older systems)

You might be able to use a DB-25 to DB-9 adapter, then connect to a DB9-USB. No guarantee, just an idea. Look here at the Serial to Serial.

https://www.cablestogo.com/product_list.asp?cat_id=101



John

Pre-USB PCs and soundcards usually included an analog interface port generically called a "game port", which used a 15-pin D-submini type connector. Note that this is NOT the same type of connector as a VGA monitor plugs into, which is a "high density" 15 pin d-sub, with 3 rows of pins, rather than 2.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_port

This was the standard interface for joysticks, control pads, flight yokes, steering wheel controllers, etc, until USB came along.

I notice the Belkin item on the linked page is out-of-stock, and the $4.31 price sounds a bit on the low side for a gadget like this.

To make a USB port talk to an older style analog joystick, you need 2 analog/digital converters, as well as enough microcontroller "smarts" to convert the A/D outputs (as well as the switch inputs for fire buttons and whatnot) into to a serial data stream and shove it out over a USB port. Even in these days of cheap electronics, that sounds like a bit much to expect in a $4 device.

I have used one of these:

https://www.usb-port.com/rm203.html

with good results, but it isn't as cheap as that Belkin device, whatever it is.

jrcox said:

Time to upgrade YES.

Are you sure it is a 15 pin serial port?

Click to expand...

Yup, John, it's 15, two-row, pins. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Yup that's 15.

I found one just not sure if I want to spend $30, plus shipping. Yikes!

Serial ports are either 9 pin or 25 pin. It sounds like your need may be a USB-to-gameport adapter, like this one: https://www.usbgear.com/ijoy1.html

There are definitely 15 pin serial ports. There's just no standard for them like there is for DB25 and DB9. They are used in networking devices.

Google 'serial db15' and maybe add 'usb' afterward.

I've never seen a 15 pin "serial" (as in RS-232) connector, but 15 pin connectors were once somewhat common on networking gear as an AUI/Ethernet connector. Sun and Digital Equipment made a lot of this stuff, IIRC.

Yes, it is a serial communication protocol, but not what is commonly called a "serial port".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_Unit_Interface

akpilot said:

Is there such a thing as a 15-pin (I presume serial) to usb adapter?

Trying to see if I can get my old Real Flight 2 up and running.

Click to expand...

Doing a quick Google search on "Real Flight 2 controller" turned up a thread with the following posts:

"I have used the RF gen 2 program and I love it. But I have been unable to use it since the new Comp has no 15 pin gameport. I tried a Radio Shack gameport to USB adapter with dismal results. Does ANYONE know of any RC radio controller with a USB connection that works with RF gen 2."

and

"I used a RS Game to USB converter with good results.
Have you tried using different settings on the switch(s)
As I remember you use the last listed mode on the converter.
Then you have to recalibrate the controller."

and

"You could also just put a game port card in the new machine."

and

"You can pick up an USB to Game Port Adapter at RadioShack for $5, Cat# 26-728. It's not on their website anymore so you can't check in-store availability online, but you can call you local store to see if they have one."

and finally,

"yea just get an old soundcard, even the cheapest 10$ pci sound card usually has the game port.. also double check your motherboard manual.. you may have the Midi/Game header and you'd just need the adapter.."

and so on. Sounds like there are lots of options.


tms

Woo-hoo, the internet is my friend.

Took 2muchstuff's advice and went to radio shack and got the USB adapter for, get this, $1.37. The sales clerk couldn't believe the price either. Oh yea, oh yea.

akpilot said:

Woo-hoo, the internet is my friend.

Took 2muchstuff's advice and went to radio shack and got the USB adapter for, get this, $1.37. The sales clerk couldn't believe the price either. Oh yea, oh yea.

Click to expand...

Wow that's great. I hope it works out.

User forums can be a great source of info, but crafting a query that returns the right kind of info can be tough sometimes. Got lucky this time.

Thanks for reporting back,


tms