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Gigaware® 6-ft. USB-A to Serial Cable image
 
(based on 29 ratings)
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Brand:Gigaware
Located in:Computers, Accessories, Cables, filters & adapters
Connect your older serial DB9 peripherals to your computer's USB port with this Gigaware cable.
More information for the Gigaware® 6-ft. USB-A to Serial Cable
Product Reviews Summary
Avg. Customer Rating:
 
2.9 stars
(based on 29 reviews)
46% of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Customers most agreed on the following attributes:

Pros:
Durable construction(12), Highly compatible(9), Improves performance(5), Reliable(6), Strong connection points(8)
Cons:
Limited compatibility(5), Unreliable(8)
Best Uses:
Computer equipment(11), Networking(4)
Describe Yourself:
Brand buyer(3), Quality oriented(20)
Primary use:
Business(11), Personal(18)
 
doesnt work with VISTA
By Homey from Miami, FL on 11/11/2008
Pros:
Durable construction, Strong Connection Points
Cons:
Limited Compatibility
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Forget the vista applications or anything to do with vista for this......install the xp version and it works fine!

 
Works Very great! (And very simple)
By Michael Fox from Caribbean on 11/11/2008
Pros:
Durable construction, Highly Compatible, Improves Performance, Reliable, Strong Connection Points
Best Uses:
Vinyl Cutter
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Business
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

after trying all types of cables I finnaly got a good cable for my vinyl cutter. Vinyl Express Linx S60.

Thanks

 
Driver will pretend to load in Vista,
By Capt'n KitVerified Reviewer from Marietta, GA on 11/5/2008
Cons:
Bad Driver SW, Unreliable
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Downloaded latest package from website to get "Vista Diver." Driver pretends to load but won't work in Vista. Makes product useless.

 
STRONG PRODUCT, NOT A CHEAP PRODUCT
By LORDTOOLVerified Reviewer from PUERTO RICO on 11/2/2008
Pros:
Durable construction, Highly Compatible, Strong Connection Points, XP frendly setting
Cons:
No cons
Best Uses:
FTA Receiver
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

FTA COMPATIBLE GREAT

 
Does NOT work with Mac osX
By MacTraveler from Terra Firma on 10/20/2008
Pros:
Not worth the price
Cons:
Not Compatible with Mac
Best Uses:
Networking
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Business
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I bought this hoping it would work with my Mac. It does not!!!! Now I have to use more gas to go back to the store to return it and then go someplace else to find one that will work and that's reliable!!!!!!!

 
simply works!
By abVerified Reviewer from Portland, OR on 10/10/2008
Pros:
Durable construction, Easy installation
Cons:
None
Best Uses:
Computer Equipment, Software development
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Business
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

This adaptor is used on a Toshiba Win XPpro laptop.
Installation was very easy. Although the Addendum to the installation manual describes a setting that needs to be changed in the Hardware Device Manager of Windows, it was not necessary on my computer. It simply works. It appears to have a very durable enclosed "soft" plastic housing.

 
Garmin GPS serial port using Vista
By Comp Sailor115Verified Reviewer from PNW on 10/5/2008
Pros:
Durable construction, Highly Compatible, Improves Performance, Strong Connection Points
Best Uses:
Computer Equipment, Connection to Vista
Describe Yourself:
Value Oriented
Primary use:
Personal

I am using the Gigaware 26-949 6' Serial to USB cable to connect Garmin GPS units (GPS 152 and ForeTrex 101) to Windows Vista, SP-1. This to run Updater (updates GPS unit firmware) and EasyGPS (Trip and waypoint manager). The Vista driver supplied via CD with the cable and available via download from the Radio Shack site did not work properly and was producing Framing Errors. I uninstalled the Vista driver and installed the 2K-XP version and things went smoothly from there. I used 9600 baud and COM3 for the GPS 152.

 
No problems here
By CountryComputersVerified Reviewer from Colorado Springs, CO on 9/30/2008
Pros:
Durable construction, Highly Compatible, Improves Performance, Reliable, Strong Connection Points
Cons:
No cons
Best Uses:
Computer Equipment, Networking
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Business
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I bought one three years ago, and it has worked flawlessly for me on Gateway, Dell and HP laptops running Windows XP and Vista. It has connected to my Palm, other computers, and numerous Cisco, Nortel, and Bay Network routers. I use it reguarly for my network consulting business. I had tried ones from other retailers and was not satisfied. Either they did not work or were unrelieable. This one worked from the start, and I have earned many times it's purchase price.

I am an advanced user, so understand how to set up the COM ports...this is the only difficulty I have had, with the exception of my son playing with it and leaving it where the dog could chew it to peices last night. Overall it has been a great product, but less advanced users might have problems setting up COM ports as the documentation does not go into great detail

 
One of the best USB to Serial Adapters
By MannyVerified Reviewer from Chicago,IL on 9/25/2008
Pros:
Highly Compatible, Reliable
Best Uses:
Computer Equipment, High-End Equipment, Networking
Describe Yourself:
Value Oriented
Primary use:
Business
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I have used about 5 different usb to serial cables before finding out about this cable. The audio company Shure (microphones..) recommended this cable in their trainings. It has worked better than any other USB to serial cable to date, always connecting me to the equipment I need to work with and with the appropriate responsiveness. Issues may occur, but don't forget with Windows you can assign it to any serial port that is available.

 
AHHHHHH
By Hannah the mad ape. from new york, new york. on 9/25/2008
Cons:
Flimsy Construction, Just wont connect, Limited Compatibility, No Performance Gain, Piece of dog doo, Unreliable, Weak Connection Points
Best Uses:
Throw it in the garbage
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I am mad! This didnt work at all. I paid more than 39 and less than 41 for this and it just dont work. I didnt recieve my software cd with it because RADIO hut dont carry them anymore! BS.

 
Worked with Garmin Etrex, Vista & XP
By SpotALoony from Cary, Illinois on 9/14/2008
Pros:
Easy to install
Best Uses:
Connect old device
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

From everything I have read on the web using a USB to serial device is a coin flip as to whether it will work or not. I had just returned the Dynex version to Best Buy (it didn't work under Vista and blue-screened XP) so I decided to take a chance on the Radio Shack version. It work perfectly under both XP and Vista, allowing me to connect my old Garmin Etrex Legend to MapSource and the Garmin Web Updater.

There's even a little addendum sheet which tells you how to assign the COM port under various OSs.

The big warning here is that when I asked if I could return the USB to Serial Cable if it did not work the answer was "only if the package has not been opened". I decided to take the chance and it worked out.

 
Useless
By sam from lost somewhere in the western hemisphere on 8/31/2008
Pros:
Durable construction
Cons:
Doesn't work with a mac, Limited Compatibility
Best Uses:
Landfill
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

It was for my palm PDA but it won't connect to my new mac.

 
works with my La Crosse 2308
By deepskyVerified Reviewer from Missouri on 8/20/2008
Pros:
Durable construction
Describe Yourself:
Value Oriented
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Works great with my La Crosse 2308 weather station. I installed the included driver for Win XP on my new notebook computer with no serial port, set the com port to com 1 following the instructions, and it worked on the 1st try. I tried 2 other serial usb adapters with no luck.

 
No driver download!!!!!!! Dont buy it!!!
By walice_drel from NY on 8/9/2008
Cons:
Limited Compatibility
Best Uses:
Computer Equipment
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Business
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I lost the CD that came with it, Now its a worthless piece of junk. [...] you have to buy a new one and put more money in there pocket. Dont buy it, I repeat dont buy it. You will be sorry if you lose your disk or it gets old.

 
Works well when you install properly
By NA from Poughkeepsie, NY on 7/18/2008
Pros:
Auto short-cut installed, Durable construction, Highly Compatible, Improves Performance, Reliable, Strong Connection Points
Cons:
Must set up correct port
Best Uses:
Computer Equipment
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Once I followed the directions the driver installed fine. Must properly set up the port for use, also. But once that is done this works very well.

 
Works great on Vista - follow directions
By Tron from US of A on 7/4/2008
Pros:
Durable construction, Highly Compatible
Best Uses:
Computer Equipment, High-End Equipment
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Worked great on my Toshiba laptop running Vista. Must follow directions, install the Vista driver, and once installed must configure for a COM port and resources that don't conflict... I suspect most who have problems don't understand COM port conflict resolution, since many don't have experience with RS232 any more.

The device I was interfacing had numerous reports of failure, and mine failed to connect the first time also. I then changed the configuration of the COM port for the adapter and it worked flawlessly.

 
DON'T BUY
By NellyVerified Reviewer from Miami, Florida on 7/2/2008
Cons:
Doesn't Work
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Business
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Didn't work for the hardware that i needed it. Radio shack told me I could return if it didn't work, and then they wouldn't take it back. I'm very upset! I'm sorry I didn't check these reviews before buying it.

 
i'm on my 4th pipece of JUNK now!
By MadAsHell from Milwaukee WI on 7/2/2008
Pros:
Strong Connection Points
Cons:
Limited Compatibility, Unreliable
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Business
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

JUNK! I've now bought 4 of these things and none work longer than about a year. Now they won't work with my new Dell Precision M90 at all. It will load once in awhile but it leaves me stranded 99.9% of the time. Can't trust. Does anyone make a reliable one?

 
SAVE YOUR MONEY
By Bill from New Mexico on 6/27/2008
Cons:
NO SUPPORT, WON'T INSTALL
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Business
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Won't install on Toshiba Laptop - Install Shield runs, it says it loads, and it simply isn't there!

 
didnt work
By tylerVerified Reviewer from new hartford ct on 6/16/2008
Cons:
Didn't work, Radioshack wont take back
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

didn't work. im stuck with it now because radioshack won't take a return. computer won't even install driver for it.

 
First Installation Worked Great
By Tech Guy from New York on 6/13/2008
Pros:
Highly Compatible, Improves Performance, Reliable
Best Uses:
Computer Equipment
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Business
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Preformed my first installation over the phone with no problem. Very easy to install so long as you follow directions, which are very detailed, and be sure to check the COM port it installs on (preferably COM 1). Works very well (much better than most other adapters) for digitizing tablets.

 
Doesn't comunicate with pc.
By Todd from Dallas, Tx on 5/26/2008
Cons:
Unreliable
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

It will not comunicate clearly with my ECU.

 
Works with some but not all devices
By JeffVerified Reviewer from Los Angeles on 5/24/2008
Pros:
simple install
Cons:
Unreliable
Best Uses:
Networking
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I purchased this to connect my HP running VISTA 64 bit to a 2002-era Garmin GPS. It installed just fine. One directional transmit from the Garmin to the PC (using NMEA) works fine, but two-directional transfer using the Garmin protocol fails. (It all worked fine on my old XP with built-in serial port). Messing with buffering doesn't help. I'm returning it tomorrow.

 
Right cable for programming HAM radios
By Grover CVerified Reviewer from St. Cloud, MN on 5/24/2008
Pros:
Durable construction
Cons:
A little pricey but
Best Uses:
Computer Equipment
Describe Yourself:
Value Oriented
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Needed a cable to program my HAM radio since my laptop does not have a serial port. Installation was fast and flawless. Just follow the directions and setup is done.

[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]

 
works great on vista , xp
By angelmedina1Verified Reviewer from puerto rico on 5/15/2008
Pros:
Durable construction, Highly Compatible, Strong Connection Points
Best Uses:
Computer Equipment
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

works great on my 2 computers vista and xp no problems up to now. read the instruction for vista

 
Great Product !
By Mark from Pittsfield Massachusetts on 5/14/2008
Pros:
Reliable
Best Uses:
Computer Equipment
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I just loaded the software and the cable did the rest. Works great..


Mark

 
It just don't work
By Frank Vazquez from Fort Myers, FL on 5/12/2008
Cons:
It wont install, Unreliable
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

It was impossible to complete installation after several tries, it just stop at the beginning.
I had to return it.

 
Doesn't work
By Tony from Johnson City, TN. on 5/11/2008
Cons:
Unreliable
Primary use:
Personal
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

This product simply does not work and there is no one listed for any product support.

 
Junk
By Chris from Oscoda, MI on 5/5/2008
Cons:
Unreliable
Describe Yourself:
Quality Oriented
Primary use:
Business
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Simple instructions that don't work. Instructions say to use the available "n" port that doesnt't register. [...] No tech manual available on the provided CD or through radioshack. Don't buy.

Customer Reviews about the Gigaware® 6-ft. USB-A to Serial Cable at Radio Shack
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