Hibn

Hi everyone. I'm adding another post to this very old thread. This is the reason I joined, lol! I just recently purchase the ProChrono chronograph, and did hours of research trying to determine if I needed to buy their USB dongle and cable. This forum post was by far the most informative. I went ahead and ordered the digital USB kit. I took apart the USB dongle, and it indeed has an FTDI chip: FT232RL. Other than that, it's just a USB Type A plug, and a female 3.5mm stereo jack. There are some small ESD (electrostatic discharge) chips on the PCB, but other than that it just looks like several surface mount resistors and capacitors. The post before this links to a possible adapter that might work. From my own research on FTDI's website, this was the closest module I could find that they sell (and link directly to). I can't add links, so we'll see how this goes: site1: www . ftdichip . com/Products/Modules/USBRSxxx.htm USB-COM232-PLUS1 site2: apple.clickandbuild . com/cnb/shop/ftdichip?productID=99&op=catalogue-product_info-null&prodCategoryID=89 With that module, one would only have to make an adapter to go from the 3.5mm stereo plug to the Rx/Tx/Gnd pins on the DB9 connector. I haven't verified, but it was mentioned in an earlier post on this same thread, that the signal levels coming from the ProChrono are serial level. Meaning, if your computer has a serial port, or if you have a USB to serial cable (any brand), then it seems you could build your own cable easily. Skip the USB dongle, buy a 25' 3.5mm stereo cable from monoprice (or the online discount cable site of your choice), and get a DB9 connector kit. Some wire cutters/strippers, some solder, and maybe a little electrical tape, and you'd have a cable. The ProChrono software is a free download from their website, so making your own cable for under $50 shouldn't be too hard. Cheers!