So the problem is that the Palm has a USB cradle. It's proprietary too, I believe. I think that the optional serial cradle (if it's an option for you) is proprietary as well.

The single best solution here is to obtain a serial cradle if that is an option.

When you attach a USB to Serial adapter to the laptop, the software assigns a virtual Com port address. You can then connect a standard Serial device to the adapter and use it. This depends, in your case, on having a serial cradle. If you do, you don't even need the adapter. There are no serial to USB adapters, unfortunately.

To summarize:

You really need a serial cradle for the Palm.

Sorry.

Bill

: Yes, the Franklin Software is actually an extension to Outlook, and it syncs with the Palm via the Palm's docking cradle which is connected to the PC. Pretty standard setup for a Palm, just different software. Nothing to do with the PC docking station here.

: I hope that helps.

: Dave

: : I'm having a hard time picturing the exact setup. The Franklin software resides on the laptop? Are you trying to connect to the docking station or the Palm?

: : Bill

: : : Hi,

: : : The system in question is a Dell Latitude C800, USB Host controller is Intel 82801BA/BAM.

: : : The problem is this:
: : : We have recently purchased a new Palm device, which has a docking cradle which ONLY connects via USB.
: : : Trouble is, the user needs software (Franklin Planner for Palm) which licences the Intellisync software, which ONLY supports COM ports. We are told an update to this software to support USB is several months away.

: : : The question is, is there a way to either fool the system into assigning the USB port a COM port number, or an adapter which will plug into the Serial port, and allow us to connect a USB device at the other end? There seem to be many adapters to go the other way but I don't even know if this connection is technically possible.

: : : Thanks for any assistance,

: : : David Van Vugt