Keyspan High Speed USB Serial Adapter ( USA-19HS ) Reviews

• Works great with OS X

  
  By on 2004-01-08
  I usually don't write-up reviews, but I am writing this to let those Mac OSX users (inc Panther which is what I am running) know that this adapter does work. I bought this for my Garmin etrex Legend GPS. I use it with my iBook and my Power Mac G4. It was a flawless installation. (1) I installed the Mac OS X drivers (2) told virtual PC to emulate COM 1 using the OS X driver, and (3) Download GPS map data to my GPS. It's that easy! Keyspan has good instructions to set up your serial devices.
  
  

• linux works just fine

  
  By A17QV5CG9ZML88 on 2004-05-28
  Despite the first reviewers comments, the Keyspan 19HS works just fine with linux. The driver for the 19HS was included in the kernel source a while ago. Standard off-the-shelf kernels (2.4.24 and 2.6.5) work without any patches. In addition to regular usb support, my kernels also load the keyspan and usb-serial modules.

  After executing "mknod /dev/ttyUSB0 c 188 0", I am happily communicating with Palms and GPSs using the new /dev/ttyUSB0 device.
  
  

• Good, working product

  
  By A3C5CABSLP2OS6 on 2006-01-19
  Installed the configuration software, plugged it in, and it worked immediately. I am using it with WinXP Service Pack 2, and it communicates great with a complex serial interface to an unusual piece of electronics I have, so its very compatible with "real" serial ports, unlike some other adapters I have tried that seem to only work with modems or PDA docks. The adapter as shipped is actually a small 1"x1.5"x3" box connected to your computer with a 3' USB cable that can be unplugged from it. It has a green LED on top to tell you when it is properly configured as well as when a program has opened that serial port and when it is passing data. Very functional and easy to use; the configuration software even includes tests to make sure the device is recognized and is properly communicating with your computer. The configuration software also ensures that the same COM port is assigned to the device, no matter which USB port on your computer you plug it into each time, unlike previous adapters I've had which created a different COM port each time you plugged the device into a different USB port (very annoying); the driver also has an option to behave like those other drivers, but most people will probably want to always have it act like the same COM port, the default.
  
  
  

• Lets my Mac OS X iBook talk to my GPS

  
  By on 2004-01-03
  I bought this to hook up my Garmin eTrex GPS to my iBook running OS X. It did what it says. I transfer data back and forth without a problem. I use it with National Geographics TOPO map program also available at Amazon.
  
  

• Connect Garmin eTrex to Mac so you can use TOPOS

  
  By A1GODUDV4X8HIM on 2005-06-04
  After trying other USB to Serial Adaptors to get a Garmin eTrex Summit to communicate with an iMac, I am happy to report this one works flawless. (You will need also the Garmin serial connector)
  
  Now you won't have to suffer Windows to use TOPOS with your Garmin.
  
  Want to connect your Garmin eTrex to a Mac so you can use TOPOS, this works, some others don't. (Have not checked this with Tiger, can't think of a reason it would not work)
  
  
• Broke, and Keyspan stole it from me
  By A10XL986HD80CC on 2008-01-24
  My USA-19HS worked ok for a couple of months, then stopped working. It started identifying itself as a a TUSB3410 Boot Device, which Keyspan's website says meant it was defective. I then went into customer service hell. After I posted my info to a tech support forum on their website, they vanished. I poked again a week and a half later, and they came back and told me to mail the device in. I did so. Then they vanished off the face of the earth. No replacement sent to me, no posts to my electronic tech support thread (despite multiple posts by me), and they don't answer their phones (there's a recording saying to visit the website). Eventually, weeks later, after I threatened to go to the BBB, someone posted and said they'd look for my device and get back to me that afternoon. Two days later, nothing again.
  
  The device works fine, but heaven forbid you actually need to get it replaced. At this point, I have neither my dead device nor a refund -- I mailed it in, and it's gone in a black hole.
  
  
• Does NOT work with Linux even though it's advertised
  By AH45425A4S9EY on 2004-03-12
  I got the USA-19HS thinking it would be good to support a company that releases it's products with linux drivers. Well, what a disappointment this was, even though there is a picture of Tux on the box along with the Windows and Mac icons this model is not supported in Linux. I emailed Keyspan support and got an auto-repsonder that said they'll get back to me within 72 hours. It's been 4 days and still no response from them. Luckily this thing worked pretty well in OS X so I sold it to a friend of mine and bought myself another USB serial adapter, a keyspan USA-19, which is an older model with good Linux support. Although I replaced this purchase with another one of Keyspan's products I wouldn't support this company in the future and won't recommend them to anyone else.
  
  
• Does not work with Wacom Intuos 2 serial tablet
  By A2QO0OC19LBCW4 on 2006-02-20
  The new computer we bought to replace an 8 year old model did not come with a serial port. According to the Keyspan website the USA-19HS will support the Wacom Intuos 2 serial graphics tablet. Unfortunately this does not seem to be the case. The Keyspan adapter does work with our Garmin GPS 76, but when the Intuos 2 is plugged in it is not recognized. Did contact Keyspan technical support, but even though the website promises a reply within 72 hours we never got one.
  
  
• Works as advertised
  By A27MNFQ5DR76OW on 2005-08-29
  I bought it to connect a Polar cyclometer to a Powerbook running iSmart software (a Mac substitute for the Wintel software that came with the Polar) and it worked without a glitch
  
  
• Linux users be warned
  By A9XG2K13HQJVH on 2005-11-09
  This product is advertised as working under Linux, and technically it does. Its driver, however, relies on bits of closed-source firmware that are included in the kernel source. Debian-based distributions remove this firmware for philosophical reasons, so Keyspan devices won't work out of the box on these distributions. Rather, a custom kernel compilation (or something similar) is required to get it working.
  
  
• Another Incompatible Device
  By A2EH2CCW9IECKK on 2006-10-24
  Add the following to the list of devices the Keyspan USA-19HS does not work with: Brother PT-PC Labeling system. My Sony Vaio laptop does not have a standard DB-9 serial interface. The Brother labeler needs one. Like many of you in a similar situation, I tried what appeared to be the most popular usb-serial interface adapter. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine why the Keyspan adapter does not work. I used their latest I/O driver and configured the port as com6. This was my only choice. Why wasn't com2, com3, etc., available? Who knows. No user configurable options could make the Brother and the Keyspan talk properly to each other, even thought the Keyspan runs through its diagnostic tests fine. It's very annoying purchasing something this costly, and not having it do the job right. You'd think that something as well-documented as RS-232 serial would be simple as pie. This is one of the oldest computer interfaces in existence. Anyway, now I'm stuck with a useless adapter which seems to have been designed by someone who did not understand what the term handshake means. Pitiful.
  
  
• Works with Garmin GPS III and OS X
  By A1DBMTPF466ZM5 on 2008-02-29
  I purchased this adapter specifically to connect an old Garmin GPS III (dates to 1997) to my Mac G5 running under OS X 10.4.11. After installing the driver from the supplied CD, I connected the GPS III and started up GPSBabel+. With the GPS III's transfer mode set to Host, GPSBabel+ was able to download all of the track logs in short order.
  
  I also tested HoudahGeo, and it successfully read the track logs, also.
  
  Bottom line: It works!
  
  
• Keep using your serial Wacom...
  By A2PFZL7D65LD06 on 2007-02-11
  I'm very happy with this device. I have an older model Wacom ArtZ II 12 x 12 graphics tablet over (10 years old), which uses a serial port. I wanted to continue using it on my current computer rather than spend a small fortune to buy a new tablet that uses USB. All I needed was this Keyspan adapter and a download of the latest XP driver for the tablet from Wacom. I still have to use my Wacom power supply for the tablet (it doesn't get the power from the USB), but that's no big deal. The setup works wonderfully. It cost me $40 for the adapter but it saved me many hundreds by foregoing the purchase of a new tablet! Easy to use and works as promised. I love it!
  
  
• Finally!!!
  By A1MSUYEB5MA0HQ on 2007-03-05
  This adapter works PERFECTLY with my Garmin eTrex Legend GPSr! I have tried many others with no success and was about ready to concede defeat, but thank goodness for a referral to this product from a fellow geocacher.
  Try this one first, don't waste time and money with anything else. Another plus is the super fast shipping time, I ordered it on Monday and received it Thursday, even with the free shipping from Amazon!!!
  THANKS KEYSPAN for a wonderful product, that works!
  
  
• Works great - IBM T40, XP SP2
  By A3JKI0TRX4YWVW on 2007-05-05
  KEYSPAN USA-19HS USB to Serial adapter:
  
  Summary:
  I had a device that came with a USB-Serial adapter from FTDI Chip that only worked intermittently, was poorly documented, and the vendor ignored my e-mail. The KEYSPAN USA-19HS worked flawlessly, is well documented, and comes with a powerful utility (which I did not need).
  
  Details:
  
  Recently I acquired a "Duplimate Mark IV bis" duplicate bridge card dealer. It uses a serial connection to the host Windows computer. I'm using an IBM Thinkpad T40 running Windows XP SP2.
  
  The computer has no serial ports, but the Duplimate came with an adapter, as well as a serial cable. That adapter has a captive USP cable, and a DB9-F connector for the serial device (unusually, with screws - no independent serial cable needed). The adapter was identified only by manufacturer, FTDI Chip. It came with a mini-CD, which I explored and used to print out the manual. I eventually deduced that the adapter was an HL-340, which I found stamped on the DB9 connector and as the name of a folder on the mini-CD, but not in the manual. I installed a driver in that folder, and got the dealer to work - kind of. It would actually deal a hand only about half the time, otherwise taking several seconds to report a communications error. By the time I had hit Ctrl-A to restart dealing for the fifth time on a deal, I was wondering what I would do if it refused to deal. FTDI Chip has a web site, and I downloaded a driver from there - no use. I did perform a successful reinstall without using the HL-340 folder directly, with no change in results. A detailed e-mail to FTDI chip produced no response. If you ever have a chance to buy something from FTDI Chip - DON'T!
  
  Two days ago, I ordered the KEYSPAN USA-19HS from Amazon for just under $32, with free shipping. It arrived today, and I put it through its paces. It comes with a full-size CD. First, I removed the old driver. When I installed the Keyspan software, which must be done with the adapter disconnected, the driver went right in. (I also took the time to register the product.) A Keyspan USB Serial Adapter folder appeared on my Programs menu, and it contains a powerful and potentially useful Keyspan Serial Assistant - as well as the manual in HTML and PDF. Don't read the manual on CD - it's slow - wait to read it on your computer. The manual is excellent, tho you may not need it.
  
  The adapter has a short detachable USB cable, which is probably fine for most applications; but if you need a longer one, you can substitute. Using the serial assistant or Start-Control Panel-System-Hardware-Ports confirmed that the newly connected serial port was COM3. The DB9-M connector has nuts for the screws on a typical serial cable, so it would not mate with the Duplimate, which also has nuts. No problem, I had the serial cable that came with the Duplimate. While using the extra cable is not as convenient, I judge this to be the correct implementation, because it will mate with captive or specialized serial cables. Because my WinDup software was already configured for COM3, I was able to fire it up and start dealing immediately. No more communications errors, no more waiting to hit Ctrl-A if the machine did not start dealing immediately. It always started dealing as soon as I inserted the next board.
  
  
• Works Great - Simple installtion
  By ATSGH2MRQLLYR on 2007-10-24
  Simply put it works as stated with Microsoft Vista. I did have to download a driver from their website, no big deal. Installation was straight forward and the unit works great. I would recommend it.
  
  
• keyspan usb serial adapter
  By A2OFYJZJP1GUY on 2005-09-06
  this is the one to buy MAC users, dont waste your time buying belkin just to try some cheesy hack only to fail and return it. Buy Keyspan first.
  
  
• Worked perfectly right out of the box
  By A3FYPM6MTU1047 on 2006-03-21
  The Keyspan USB serial adapter USA-19HS worked perfectly right out of the box, the first time. Since it's already a null modem, didn't even have to use the pesky little null modem. I recommend using Zterm if you're a Mac user like myself.
  
  
• Doesn't Work with Magellan GPS
  By A22VLGD25FCXAS on 2006-08-23
  This adapter cord did not work with my Magellan SporTrak GPS. Magellan's own cord did not work either. This one did work with a glucose meter reader. It was twice as expensive as the two cords found that did work with the GPS unit. This one had its own configuration software and allowed for faster speeds, neither of which I need. I did return this cord for a full refund, including shipping, from Amazon.
  
  
  
• If you have a Mac, this is the one to get!
  By A26L2KHG5SPP6S on 2007-02-23
  This is the best USB-to-Serial product I've found if you are a Mac user. I routinely use it for programming Cisco switches and routers and it works great. KeySpan seems to be the one company that has their act together and keeps on top of driver development for both Windows and OS X. Highly recommended.
  
  
• Works Flawlessly with both WinXP and Mac OS X
  By A2UV15SBLOEMWV on 2007-05-25
  Originally bought to connect my Palm M105 to a Mac G5 running OS 10.3, then to an Intel Mac Mini with 10.4.9. I chose the Keyspan USA-19HS because it was recommended on the Palm Computing website. Easy installation, no errors, fast transfers - works great! I have since moved my original adaptor to a WinXP machine, where it connects a serial Oregon Scientific weather station - again, flawlessly - and have ordered a second one for my Mac.
  
  
• Keyspan USA-19HS
  By ALBFHBCIDW974 on 2007-12-14
  After reading reviews I bought this to work with my MacBook Pro, 2GHz, Intel Core Duo, 1.5GB SDRAM, running MacOS 10.4.10 and ZTerm v1.1 beta7. You 1st have to load the driver, then select the USA19H1d1P1.1 as the serial device from the Settings-->Modem Preferences. Works like a charm after that.
  
  
• Works with Home Theater Master remotes
  By A27RJDXV9QVIFI on 2008-03-05
  I am a custom home theater installer, and want to pass along that this adapter works wonderfully well with Universal Remote's Home Theater Master lineup.
  
  
• Very well supported by drivers
  By AEF2S8F69F25O on 2008-06-13
  I ordered this item because it said it supported OSX, and I have an old tablet (a Wacom Artz II 12") that I wanted to use with Table Magic (open source tablet drivers for old Wacom tablets on OSX). I had a different brand/model of adapter for my older GPS, and that worked in a very limited way in Windows, but I could not get that older device to work with this tablet on Windows, Linux, OR OSX.
  
  With this device, I was able to get the tablet working with all three!
  
  
  Highly recommended.
  
  
• Does the job exactly like advertised
  By A39Z62S3U7R1HN on 2008-08-14
  I bought this product to use with my Garmin GPS which comes with a serial connector. I might have spent a little over five minutes making the connection between the GPS and my computers USB port and it was up and running right away. No problems at all .... Does it's job !
  
  
• Great product: does exactly what I need
  By A1QGTDNERKQA5U on 2008-09-21
  Using this on a MacBook Pro running OSX 10.5 leopard. Works flawlessly to control my SUN boxes. Reliability is 95% (I've had this thing do strange things, but it was probably my fault...) This one's a little more expensive than others, well worth it...
  
  
• Keyspan high Speed USB Serial Adapter
  By A2TATXSA3SFWQJ on 2006-02-21
  Works as advertised. No outages, reliable.Peripheral equipment manufacturer (Signwarehouse) recommended Keyspan.
  
  
• works as advertised
  By A2RQL85HU995R8 on 2006-03-13
  very compact, easy to pack and take on the road. I have used to connect RedHat and Solaris serial port to a windows XP laptop that has USB, but on serial port.
  
  
• VW code reader
  By A1U5D6BFTDTDFU on 2006-03-13
  An excellent product for the right price. The technical support/help is also excellent. I recouped the purchase price in my first use of the product.
  
  
• Dissappointed
  By A1G4GEOQOA3MCN on 2006-03-25
  Could not get this to work with my device. Tech Support was slow and ultimately gave up.
  
  

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