Review on Impressive IOGEAR USB 2.0 to Serial RS-232 Adapter: GUC232A – Unleash Seamless Serial Connectivity by Darius Carraway

I've been using them for many years for various scientific and robotic applications that require a serial connection. After many tests that didn't work because of high latency or buffering, I came across this model. It works very well and is reliable 24/7/365. If you are having communication problems with your serial application, this could be the solution for you. There are two things to watch out for. First, the cable enters the end of the DB9 converter. The wires there can be brittle, and the shield wire in particular can snap if you pull on it too hard. Avoid rocking back and forth or you'll pull the wire out of the connection. It's not THAT sensitive, just remember to loosen the tension if you have big cable problems or big clumsy feet! Another thing is the software installation. I saw a review here that said it won't boot on an XP machine. It will definitely load BUT you need to make sure you have Flash installed so it can display some silly sprites/eye candy while you install those XP drivers. It drove me crazy until I realized what the story was. Otherwise, it's a top-notch converter.