Adding Serial Port to Desktop

Ok, desktop is a Dimension E510 that I got December 2005.

I just bought a nice weather station that sends weather info from
outside to an inside
console. After I get this all set up I want to hook the console up to the
desktop so
I can transfer info to the PC and send it to a website.

To hook the console up to the desktop I will need a special cable. I
can get the cable
in either USB or Serial version. The USB version supposedly has problems.
Everybody
recommend the Serial port version.

Ok, my desktop does not have a serial port. Is it easy to add a Serial
PCI card to the Dell?
I have never added any inside components to this PC before. Haven't even
opened it up yet. I have added a PCI wireless card to my old Compaq before.
Actually, I take it out and put it back in every time I do a complete
factory restore on the Compaq. So I'm an expert on taking
out and adding a card in the Compaq. Will it be the same for the Dell?
Install software, turn off computer, add card, restart, and all done?

you can get either a pic card with a serial port or you can get a usb to
serial cable.
i suspect you would be better off with the pci serial port card. if you
have installed a card before then you will have no trouble with doing so in
a dell. detailed instaructionca can be found in the service manual for your
computer on support.dell.com.
and a card can be have for under $15...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815166003


"Von Fourche" <> wrote in message
news:6E4Gh.8218$ ink.net...
>
>
>
> Ok, desktop is a Dimension E510 that I got December 2005.
>
> I just bought a nice weather station that sends weather info from
> outside to an inside
> console. After I get this all set up I want to hook the console up to the
> desktop so
> I can transfer info to the PC and send it to a website.
>
> To hook the console up to the desktop I will need a special cable. I
> can get the cable
> in either USB or Serial version. The USB version supposedly has problems.
> Everybody
> recommend the Serial port version.
>
> Ok, my desktop does not have a serial port. Is it easy to add a Serial
> PCI card to the Dell?
> I have never added any inside components to this PC before. Haven't even
> opened it up yet. I have added a PCI wireless card to my old Compaq
> before. Actually, I take it out and put it back in every time I do a
> complete factory restore on the Compaq. So I'm an expert on taking
> out and adding a card in the Compaq. Will it be the same for the Dell?
> Install software, turn off computer, add card, restart, and all done?
>
>

No sweat. Adding a serial port is a no brainer. Make sure that you get a
driver CD for it, just in case. It may use a chipset that does not have a
driver built into Windows XP... Ben Myers

On Sat, 03 Mar 2007 01:59:30 GMT, "Von Fourche" <> wrote:

>
>
>
> Ok, desktop is a Dimension E510 that I got December 2005.
>
> I just bought a nice weather station that sends weather info from
>outside to an inside
>console. After I get this all set up I want to hook the console up to the
>desktop so
>I can transfer info to the PC and send it to a website.
>
> To hook the console up to the desktop I will need a special cable. I
>can get the cable
> in either USB or Serial version. The USB version supposedly has problems.
>Everybody
>recommend the Serial port version.
>
> Ok, my desktop does not have a serial port. Is it easy to add a Serial
>PCI card to the Dell?
>I have never added any inside components to this PC before. Haven't even
>opened it up yet. I have added a PCI wireless card to my old Compaq before.
>Actually, I take it out and put it back in every time I do a complete
>factory restore on the Compaq. So I'm an expert on taking
>out and adding a card in the Compaq. Will it be the same for the Dell?
>Install software, turn off computer, add card, restart, and all done?
>